Holland Talks Visionary Speakers + Community Conversation
The Holland Talks lecture series invites nationally and internationally recognized experts to lead community conversations about timely and provocative ideas that challenge and broaden understandings of a wide range of topics, including science, technology, the arts, ethics, and philosophy.
Each event in the ongoing lecture series will convene diverse audiences for a ticketed lecture event, alongside programming in the community to expand the conversation and elevate Omaha as a home for cultural and civic discourse.
Winter Speaker
Dr. ROBERT BALLARD
Friday, February 20, 2026
Tickets On Sale Now!
Doors Open: 6PM
Lecture Begins: 7:30PM
We’re excited to welcome renowned ocean explorer Dr. Robert Ballard for a special Holland Talks lecture. Dr. Ballard is best known for leading the team that discovered the wreck of the RMS Titanic, and his work has transformed how we explore and understand the deep ocean. During this event, he’ll share stories from his groundbreaking expeditions, the science behind deep-sea discovery, and the technologies that make the impossible possible. This experience invites families and lifelong learners alike to connect Dr. Ballard’s first-hand stories with the immersive exhibition Finding Titanic: The Secret Mission. Join us for an exciting evening bringing history, science, and exploration together in a memorable way.
Holland Talks tickets include free admission to the Luminarium, including time before the lecture to explore the museum. Onsite restaurant Fig. will be open until 7:30PM, offering dinner and drinks before the event.
General Admission: $20
Luminarium Members: $15
Robert D. Ballard, Ph.D.
Dr. Ballard is Founder and President of the Ocean Exploration Trust; Professor Emeritus of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. He is an Explorer-At-Large at the National Geographic Society, Commissioner for the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, and a Research Scholar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He served in the U.S. Navy for more than 30 years and continues to work with the Office of Naval Research. A pioneer in the development of deep-sea submersibles and remotely operated vehicle systems, he has taken part in more than 165 deep-sea expeditions. In 1985, he discovered the RMS Titanic, and has succeeded in tracking down numerous other significant shipwrecks, including the German battleship Bismarck, the lost fleet of Guadalcanal, the U.S. aircraft carrier Yorktown, and John F. Kennedy’s boat, PT-109. In 1977 and 1979 he has also discovered hydrothermal vents and “black smokers” along with their exotic life forms living off the energy of the Earth in the Galapagos Rift and East Pacific Rise.
The author of numerous books, scientific papers, and articles, he has been featured in several National Geographic television programs, including “Secrets of the Titanic” a five-part mini-series, “Alien Deep with Bob Ballard.” and, in 2019, “Expedition Amelia.” He was a special advisor to Steve Spielberg on the futuristic television show seaQuest DSV. His honors include 23 Honorary Doctorates, National Geographic’s highest award, the Hubbard Medal, and a National Endowment for the Humanities Medal. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2014.
Dr. Ballard’s autobiography, INTO THE DEEP, was released in 2021 and a National Geographic television special, “Bob Ballard: An Explorer’s Life” is currently streaming on Disney+. The Secretary of the US Navy announced in December of 2022 the naming of a Pathfinder class Navy Vessel, after Dr. Ballard. The USNS Robert Ballard which will be completed in February 2026.
Thanks to the Generous Support of the Holland Foundation
Holland Talks is made possible through a generous grant from the Holland Foundation. The late Dick Holland established the Holland Foundation to support the arts and education in Omaha. The Foundation funded the original Holland Lecture Series from 2005 through 2017, setting the stage for thought-provoking dialogue in our community.