In March, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), which funds the British Antarctic Survey, opened a competition. This was to name the new research vessel that will operate in the Antarctic. And to embrace the new world of the Internet, a website hosted the competition, Name Our Ship. And quite quickly, something happened.The website provides information about the boat itself, and a bit on the history of Antarctic exploration, and an opportunity to submit a name, as well as vote on previously submitted entries.
After much publication, the competition opened on the 17 March 2016. But by the 23rd March, less than a week later, the Independent reports that Boaty McBoatface leads online vote to name £200m research vessel. More scientific or explorer related names, such as Sir David Attenborough, Henry Worsley were relegated. The following tweet marked the end of the competition on April 16th. The delay obviously marked a dilemma on the selection of the name.
We’ll announce the name of our new polar research vessel in due course. Follow @nercscience for updates #NameOurShip pic.twitter.com/mgSZ4gCDNL
— NERC (@NERCscience) April 18, 2016
But today, they announced (after some controversy and a selection panel and ministerial intervention), that the vessel will be called RRS Sir David Attenborough. Boaty McBoatface will live on as an unmanned submersible aboard the ship.
We are pleased to announce the name of our new polar research vessel, RRS Sir David Attenborough #NameOurShip pic.twitter.com/Xwgs9xIGkm
— NERC (@NERCscience) May 6, 2016
So while the Internet didn’t get to choose the name of the vessel, despite the perceived promise on the web-site, it did get a lot of publicity, and involvement from people. But does the democracy that the Internet offers drive the behaviours we expect.. I think not.
