Wednesday 9 September 2009

The Beagle returns to Montevideo!


This year will be unforgettable for all of us who appreciate the work of Darwin and the evolution theory. Not only did we have the pleasure of a superb congress in Punta del Este last week, which included a presentation by philosopher Daniel Dennet, but also we will enjoy a historic visit.


A Re-enactment of Darwin’s expedition arrives in Montevideo late October. It was launched on September first from Plymouth, England and should be calling in Montevideo, Uruguay at the end of October. The ship, Stad Amsterdam will be playing the part of HMS Beagle

As you surely know, on December 27, 1831, Darwin left Plymouth on the voyage which later formed the basis of his book On the Origin Of Species By Means Of Natural Selection, and at the beginning of this month the ambitious expedition left for the same route – complete with one of Darwin's descendants, Sarah Darwin among the crew.
The role HMS Beagle is played by the Dutch clipper Stad Amsterdam that will be carrying renowned historians, scientists and even actor John Malkovich who will feature on the voyage to be filmed for a new series which will be broadcast to millions on Dutch and Belgian television.
Sarah Darwin’s departure marked the beginning of the incredible 8-month trip around the world. “Beagle, on the future of species” is the European project of the Dutch and Flemish public broadcasting companies VPRO and Canvas. As Charles Darwin contemplated the origin of species on Earth, the producers and their guests on the Beagle project will address their future.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150th year since publication of his world-changing book.
The expedition will take the crew across the Atlantic, to Brazil and Patagonia, around Cape Horn and up the west coast of South America, from the Andes mountain range to the Galapagos Islands, across the Pacific to Australia and back to Europe via the Cape of Good Hope
The tentative schedule for the Atlantic ocean is that this week “Beagle” should be arriving in Tenerife, Canary Islands. October 12 to 16, Rio do Janeiro; Montevideo, 23/25 October; Buenos Aires, 26/30 October; Bahía Blanca, November 2/5, Puerto Madryn and Punta Arenas, Chile, November17/20.
More info: http://onthefutureofspecies.nl/