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‘Passionate’, ‘brilliant’, ‘exceptional’, ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘inspirational’.
Just some of the praise shared by visitors who came onboard the RRS Discovery (2012) in Dundee for the 100 years of Discovery event earlier this month.
That’s right. RRS Discovery (2012) opened its doors and lowered its gangway to the public and offered a rare opportunity to look around the research vessel to celebrate 100 years of ocean research.
Welcome to Dundee
The RRS Discovery (2012) arrived in Dundee to a warm welcome on beautiful sunny September evening, sailing into port guided by the new Tay Discovery pilot boat.
A crowd turned out to see her join her ‘great-grandmother’ ship, the original RRS Discovery, in the historic Scottish City of Discovery for a special centenary.
The celebrations mark 100 years since the original Discovery was designated the UK’s first Royal Research Ship, a pivotal moment in the history of marine science which launched a legacy of oceanographic exploration and an enduring spirit of ‘discovery’.
The five-day long series of events were organised in close partnership with Dundee Heritage Trust and other collaborators including UKRI Natural Environment Research Council, the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology Scotland (MASTS) and the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS).
‘A really interesting window into the world of science research on the high waves’
‘One of the best things I have ever done in Dundee’. High praise which was echoed by many of the 2,500+ visitors to the RRS Discovery (2012) and Discovery Point.
We started our tours in style with exclusive school and university visits on the Friday and welcomed visitors of all ages across the weekend. We loved meeting so many people who were interested in finding out more about the work our researchers and scientists are doing.
With the RRS Discovery (2012) just completing a research expedition off the coast of Scotland, looking at offshore wind farms, it was a great opportunity for locals to find out more.
Our guests really loved hearing about the smallest superstars of the ocean world – plankton!
Why does plankton matter? Well, in short, plankton supports almost all life in the ocean, from huge whales down to fish populations that the global food supply relies on. These tiny organisms also have huge impact on the atmosphere too, significantly regulating the climate by helping to lock away carbon in the deep sea! Oceanic plankton is also the biggest producers of oxygen! (Spoiler alert – we’ll be looking to explore more about this topic in a future post.)
A legacy of marine research
We spotted some familiar faces at our events, from crew families and friends to former staff, including crew members from previous Discovery vessels (the current RRS Discovery is the fourth to bear the legendary name) and even a former member of staff who played a key role in the design of the current ship!
We were also honoured to welcome Dr Tom Farley onboard both Discovery vessels, the original and the 2012.
Tom is the grandson of Sir Alister Hardy, a distinguished marine biologist who served as chief zoologist to the original RRS Discovery during its first expedition after being formally designated a Royal Research Ship in 1925.
It was while onboard the RRS Discovery that Sir Alister first trialled his new invention, the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) - a device that remains a key tool for global plankton monitoring today, 100 years on! A true legacy of scientific research.
Witnessing Dr Farley walking in his grandfather’s footsteps and sharing his own memories of Sir Alister was a truly wonderful experience.
Scientists on film
Marine research has a key role to play, vital to our understanding of the world around us, as well as informing the future of the environment, through climate change and rising sea levels and temperatures as well as the ecological evolution of marine life.
Those stories will be told through a series of short videos presented by Patrick Aryee, an internationally-published author and wildlife presenter with a passion for the natural world.
Patrick joined us in Dundee to interview key figures from the National Oceanography Centre to discuss their work, as well as explore the lasting legacy of the first RRS Discovery and those early research expeditions.
We can’t wait to share these insightful mini-documentaries with you, keep an eye out for more updates!
Evening reception
Amid the tours and exhibitions, we also found time for a special evening of celebration to officially open our new exhibition.
We brought together guests from a variety of fields, showcasing the important research taking place. From Scottish politicians, local councillors, oceanographic experts and community leaders, not to mention a few familiar faces from the Discovery family (past and present) - it was a lovely occasion that highlighted and celebrated Discovery and those who have sailed in the name of science.
The RRS Discovery (2012) is owned and funded by UKRI-NERC.