The recent Titan tragedy appeared in media worldwide and mesmerized the nation, perhaps because the Titan represented a collection of humankind’s greatest fears (drowning, claustrophobia, darkness, cold, a ticking countdown clock, etc.) all wrapped up in a carbon fiber cocoon. By one account, CNN alone had over 100 people interviewed on their network during the week, including Captain McLaren.
Coverage spawned unprecedented scrutiny on the use of extreme tourism to fund exploration, whether regulation stifles innovation, and at what cost. It encouraged me to pause and ponder the risks inherent in exploration.
This op-ed appeared in the June 28 Denver Post. That version is paywalled, but you can read pick-up here in the Greeley Tribune: