Rediscovering the Journey of Charles Darwin, the historic sailor

A ship, reminiscent of the HMS Beagle, has set sail on a two-year voyage to study the current challenges of the seas and nurture a new generation of global environmental leaders. The Oosterschelde, carrying 200 young ecologists, has visited various locations, including the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Fernando de Noronha, and Salvador, among others.

The voyage, part of the Darwin200 project, is inspired by Charles Darwin's groundbreaking expedition over 200 years ago. Just like Darwin, who was 22 years old when he embarked on his original expedition, the young ecologists on board the Oosterschelde are at the beginning of their careers, between 20 and 25 years old.

The Oosterschelde's Atlantic crossing lasted ten days, and at each port, a group of young naturalists arrives to exchange scientific knowledge and environmental activism with local scientists. The ship's crew consists of seven professional sailors from the Netherlands.

The young scientists are studying the main problems currently facing the oceans, such as plastic pollution, overfishing, acidification, climate change, and more. Iro Tsarmpopoulou-Fokianou, an environmental activist, has highlighted overfishing as a significant concern that has depleted fish populations in the ocean.

In addition to the young ecologists, several paying passengers travel on the Oosterschelde port to port to help finance the voyage. The aim is to train global environmental leaders during the voyage, with the ultimate goal of broadening the horizons of science and deepening human knowledge, much like the most important and first voyages of a naturalist around the world.

Maritime traffic, including excessive marine noise and collisions, is a concern due to the high volume of ships traveling worldwide. The Oosterschelde's voyage also addresses this issue, as it seeks to raise awareness about the impact of human activities on the marine ecosystem.

The theory of evolution, published by Charles Darwin, changed our way of thinking about the natural world. The Oosterschelde's voyage continues this tradition, demonstrating the importance of scientific exploration and the training of future leaders in the field of conservation. As the vessel docked in the UK, marking the end of its journey, the impact of this modern-day voyage of discovery will undoubtedly be felt for years to come.