“Bertrand and I have known each other for years and we share the same belief that we must invest in technology to find solutions for the future. The Solar Impulse project, in guise of a solar-powered aircraft, is such a great way to attract attention to the issue of solar energy. We need to harvest the fact that the sun is bathing us in energy all day long instead of burning fossil fuels.
I had the opportunity to posthumously award the Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society to Bertrand’s father, Jacques Piccard, together with Don Walsh for their dive to the world’s deepest point, the Mariana Trench and one of my lifelong dreams was to do the same. I finally did in 2012, to the depths of the Mariana Trench’s Challenger Deep.
I used to joke that I make movies to finance my expeditions but I’m not so sure it’s a joke anymore. I’m certainly as excited about an expedition project and building new technology for exploration as I am about making a movie.”