The Beagle Project is is an ambitious undertaking to mark the 2009 bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth by building a replica of HMS Beagle and sailing it around the world stopping at the same locations as Darwin. Aboard will be an international complement of young scientists. They will compare their observations with those made by Darwin from 1831 to 1836.
The project is the brainchild of David Lort-Phillips and Peter McGrath. The former is an organic farmer from Pembrokeshire in the UK and a descendant of John Lort Stokes, the mate and surveyor on the Beagle. The latter is an experienced sailor with a background in zoology.
This is a grand undertaking – on a scale commensurate with the source of their inspiration – and I wish them every success with it. A blog about progress with the project can be read here or accessed from this site’s “Links” section.