Exceptional Darwin Leaders to drive global change over the coming decades
CHANGE THE WORLD
Join us as we embark on a journey of discovery to re-trace Charles Darwin’s voyage around the globe.
CHANGE THE WORLD
Join us as we embark on a journey of discovery to re-trace Charles Darwin’s voyage around the globe.
OUR MISSION
DARWIN200 is a planetary conservation initiative which aims to change the world for the better.
We are sailing a historic tallship around the world following Charles Darwin’s voyage aboard HIMS Beagle two centuries ago.
Using our ship as a floating laboratory and media platform, we will harness the legacy of Charles Darwin’s passion for natural history to engage worldwide audiences and advance global conservation.
Discover our project goals below & join our mission.
Where are we on our Global Voyage?
Our journey will consist of 32 voyage legs and we will be making landfall at key locations where Charles Darwin stepped ashore. But where are we now….
50.3755° N, 4.1427° W
DEPARTED
15th AUG
2023
FROM
PLYMOUTH UK
01
GOAL 1
EMPOWER
Train exceptional DARWIN, LEADERS, one from each of 200 countries and states around the world. These young conservationists will become tomorrow’s environmental leaders.
02
GOAL 2
INSPIRE
Create the WORLD’S MOST EXCITING CLASSROOM to reconnect global audiences with nature, science and conservation.
03
GOAL 3
solve
Undertake citizen science RESEARCH PROJECTS tackling many of the world’s most critical environmental problems to engage global audiences in practical solutions.
DARWIN Leaders
DARWIN200 is selecting the world’s top young (18+ year old) conservationists – one from each of two hundred countries and states around the world.
These exceptional young conservationists (known as ‘Darwin Leaders’) are carefully chosen for their abilities, initiative and determination. Many have already accomplished inspiring conservation feats (such as setting up projects to save endangered species or efforts to educate audiences in their home countries). All show the raw, burning passion to protect the natural world and drive positive change for a better future.
From August 2023 to July 2025, groups of 4-8 Darwin Leaders will travel to our ship in each of the ports Charles Darwin visited, using our ship as a floating laboratory and media platform.
World’s Most Exciting Classroom
During the DARWIN200 2023-2025 Global Voyage, our goal is to engage with millions of students at schools across the planet via continuous streams of free online activities, research projects, experiments, lectures, competitions and weekly ‘nature hour’ events.
We call these outreach activities ‘the world’s most exciting classroom’.
All our outreach activities will be completely free of charge for students, teachers and the general public. Our goal is to engage 200 million students worldwide during our two-year global voyage and for years to come.
Research
In continuation of Charles Darwin’s work aboard HMS Beagle, the DARWIN200 ship will offer a unique platform to support 8 research projects into many of the world’s most critical environmental problems. Results will be displayed via live data feeds, results presentations, online lectures and interviews with the professional teams of researchers behind each initiative.
12.02.1809 – 19.04.1882
CHARLES DARWIN
In 1831, at the age of 22, Charles Darwin stepped aboard HMS Beagle in Plymouth, England to being a five year journey around the world. DARWIN200 builds on Charles Darwin’s legacy to educate global audiences about the threats our planet faces and the inspiring conservation work that can save the natural world.
FACTS &
FIGURES
200
200
Million
Reaching 200 million students worldwide
50
Meter
Historic tall ship Oosterschelde
32
Voyage Legs
8
Interactive Citizen Science Research Projects
2023
Voyage starts
The Global Voyage will be undertaken aboard the historic 50 metre long tall ship Oosterschelde. Built in 1918, this uniquely restored, three masted schooner is one of the most beautiful historic vessels afloat.
press releases
After setting sail from the Gambier Islands, we set course for Tahiti – through a region dotted with hundreds of islands and corals reefs
While these land masses can pose challenges for navigation, they also absorb ocean energy. Which for us meant some of the calmest and most beautiful sailing conditions of the entire voyage.
In fact, the conditions were so good that we would have arrived in Tahiti too early.
So with this extra time we took a detour to explore two extraordinary islands: Fakarava and Mo’orea.
Fakarava is a massive coral atoll and home to some of the richest underwater life we’ve ever witnessed.
Here we had the chance to scuba dive several times – not just to film the vibrant marine live but also to continue Maria’s coral reef transects.
The reefs were bursting with colour, teeming with life in every direction: from crabs and tiny reef fish, to turtles and sharks.What struck us most was the sheer density of life.
After Fakarava, we sailed to Mo’orea – a different but equally stunning island with jagged green peaks rising out of the sea.
Beneath the waves, Mo’orea still held plenty of marine life, but also signs of stress. Here we observed an abundance of crown-of-thorns starfish, which feed on coral as well as patches of bleaching and algae.
It was eye opening to see this comparison – the potential for a healthy reef and some of the threats they face in today’s changing world.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney
We mentioned that Pitcairn Island is one of the most remote inhabited places on Earth. To put that in context – the nearest other people are over 400 miles away, or in our case, a 3 day sail to our next destination in our recap: Mangereva, in the Gambier Islands.
Mangareva is an interesting place, though the community there is small, the local industry is global – this region is one of the world’s largest producers of the elusive and highly prized black pearl.
While here, Jut Wynne concluded the fieldwork portion of his Canoe Bug Hypothesis research by collecting his final samples around the Gambier Islands.
(stay tuned – we’ll be sharing some exciting content about this soon)
As Jut’s research chapter closed, we opened a new one. We welcomed Maria Bollerup, an expert diver, renowned for her expeditions exploring new underwater caves. She joined us here in Mangerva to continue a coral survey project first launched in Fernando de Noronha by Rannvá Jørmundsson.
In Mangerva, we had the opportunity to carry out coral transects beneath one of the black pearl farms – a rare opportunity to observe and document the reef health in this area of industry .
The goal of these coral transects is to establish baseline data so that we, or future researchers, can return to the exact sites in years to come and assess how the coral ecosystems have changed over time.
During our time in French Polynesia we continued these transects throughout the region, from the remote Fakarava atoll, to Mo’orea and Tahiti.
Of course, while undertaking these transects we were also able to document the spectacular underwater life, which you will see in upcoming posts!
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #mangareva
The next leg of our voyage was a particularly exciting one as we had the opportunity to land at one of the most remote inhabited islands on the planet: Pitcairn Island..
Famous as the refuge of the Bounty mutineers, the island today is still home to a small community.
Due to being in the middle of the Pacific, large swells are common and landing on the island is not easy. Thankfully the locals know the waters very well and were able to safely ferry us from the Oosterschelde to the shore.
After clearing immigration, and getting a very unique stamp, we set off to explore.
Some wandered the town, while others hiked around the island trails.
For expedition entomologist Jut Wynne and a few enthusiastic voyage crew, this was a unique opportunity to conduct research: collecting invertebrates as part of his ongoing fieldwork to test the Canoe Bug Hypothesis.
This is the theory that ancient Polynesians may have inadvertently transported insects between islands inside plant gourds carried in their canoes.
After 2 unforgettable days on the island, we had to say our goodbyes.
The locals were incredibly generous, sending us off with a bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables – much appreciated, as we were running low on board.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #pitcairn
After our time in the Galápagos, we made a detour from Charles Darwin’s original route aboard the Beagle.
Darwin sailed straight to Tahiti.
We, on the other hand, decided to take the scenic route.
From the Galápagos, we journeyed south to the remote island of Rapa Nui, followed by stops in Pitcairn, Mangareva, and then finally rejoining Darwin’s path in Tahiti.
Rapa Nui – or Easter Island – is located over 2000 miles from continental Chile. It is perhaps best known for its iconic Moai statues.
Did you know that all of these statues were carved from a single volcanic outcrop in the north of the island and then trasported over great distances across rugged terrain.
How this feat was done remains part of the island’s mystery.
But like many places we’ve visited, Easter Island also faces its own unique environmental challenges.
We had three Darwin Leaders here, each researching a different topic:
– The study of local bird life
– The regeneration of soils
– Plastic pollution on the shores of the island
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #rapanui #easterisland
We had the fortune of spending 3 weeks in the Galápagos Islands
From the very beginning of this voyage, the Galápagos had loomed large in our minds.
In life, you sometimes set your expectations so high that you can become disappointed by even the extraordinary. But in the Galápagos, this couldn’t be further from our reality.
The islands are, by definition, extraordinary.. Everywhere you look, nature takes centre stage – not only physically, but in the minds and hearts of the people who live there.
Sea lions on benches, marine iguanas basking on the shore, sharks circling the ship at night.
Every moment here felt special.
From welcoming 11 inspiring young conservationists – each working on fascinating projects with local NGOs. To hosting Galapagos schoolchildren aboard the Oosterschelde, to sailing beneath the iconic Bartolomé Island.
This was a true highlight of the voyage.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #galápagos #evolution #wildlife #conservation
Join us for the next episode of The World`s Most Exciting Classroom — streaming LIVE TODAY, Thursday, June 12th at 9am Eastern / 2pm UK! 🌍📚
– Watch live or later via the link in our bio.
– Follow the Oosterschelde and the DARWIN200 team as they sail from Ascension to the Azores — their final stop before returning to the UK!
– Meet Marcelo Rheingantz, biologist and wildlife hero, reintroducing native animals to Brazil’s Tijuca National Park.
– Try a brand-new experiment in your classroom.
– Play Kahoot for a $50 gift card prize!
– Discover the latest Curiosity of the Week.
It’s science, exploration, and inspiration — all in one incredible hour. Don’t miss it!
#Darwin200 #STEMeducation #WildlifeConservation #WorldsMostExcitingClassroom
The Galápagos Islands are perhaps the most iconic location in Charles Darwin’s journey, and arguably the most influential in shaping his theory of evolution by natural selection.
These islands captivated Darwin, and they continue to captivate the world today.
The Galápagos are the epitome of a wildlife mecca.
Nowhere else do species exist with such bold adaptations, shaped by their isolation and environment, in such close proximity and abundance.
Of course, this was one of the most anticipated destinations of the entire DARWIN200 voyage. We were retracing Darwin’s footsteps, literally, sailing into the same archipelago that help transform how humanity sees the natural world.
Darwin was astonished by the wildlife, writing:
“Extreme tameness…is common to all the terrestrial species…A gun is here superfluous; for with the muzzle I pushed a hawk off the branch of a tree.”
Rather comical, but also incredibly accurate.
Shortly after arriving we noticed an otherworldly feeling in the Galápagos, a place where, for the most part, nature rules.
And, while we didn’t go around prodding hawks, we would notice that if you were still and didn’t move, many of the animals would come up to you. They were just as curious about us.
Stayed tuned to see what we got up to in the Galápagos.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #Galápagos #galapagosislands
Peru is one of the most ecologically and geographically diverse countries on Earth – and it provided the perfect backdrop for one of our most epic weeks of Darwin Leader projects.
The Oosterschelde was based in the small coastal town of Ancón, near Lima. But to truly capture Peru’s stunning variety, our 6 Darwin Leaders travelled far and wide across the country.
From studying birdlife in the high-altitude region of Cusco, to researching manta rays along the northern coast, to exploring the rich plant diversity of the Amazon, each team was immersed in a completely different environment.
What made this week so unique was the sheer scope of it.
During most Darwin Leader weeks, the teams usually work in the same region. So while the conservation topic may be completely different, the environment and some challenges may be shared. But in Peru, when we all came together at the end of the week, it felt like we had travelled to six different countries.
The diversity of wildlife, climate, landscape, and conservation was astonishing.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #peru
At the heart of conservation are people.
Here at DARWIN200, we talk a lot about nature, wildlife, and science. But what truly drives conservation forward – what brings hope – are the people behind it.
Everywhere we go, whether it’s Cape Verde, Fiji, or Valparaíso, we meet passionate individuals from all walks of life and cultures. Despite their differences , they share one common goal: protecting our natural world. This goes for the conservation orgnaistaions and each and evey Darwin Leader. We are always inspired by the drive and passion of these people.
We visit these places to learn about local conservation work. But one of the joys of this travel is exploring new corners of the world, experiencing landscapes, communities and cities that are entirely new to us.
Few cities have captured our imagination quite like Valparaíso, Chile.
Colourful, bustling, creative – Valparaíso pulses with energy and character. Charles Darwin himself was taken by its charm, calling it “the jewel of the Pacific”
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney
Our time sailing through the Strait of Magellan was full of wildlife – from colonies of sealions and seabirds to the largest animal on Earth, the Blue Whale.
But one species became a regular companion on this stretch of the voyage:
Peale’s Dolphins (Lagenorhynchus australis)
These agile cetaceans inhabit the cold coastal waters of southern South America, and we were lucky enough to encounter them frequently during our passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific back in January 2024.
Often, they would ride the bow wave of the ship. But every now and then, they’d surprise us with an acrobatic display: bursts of energy and leaps from the water.
We remember one young dolphin in particular doing six jumps in a row!
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #pealesdolphin
What better way to celebrate World Oceans Day than with the largest animal to have EVER lived on Earth:
THE BLUE WHALE (Balaenoptera musculus)
Among all the wildlife we’ve encountered on this voyage, this moment stands out as one of the most unforgettable
As we finished our journey in the Chilean Fjords and exited into the Pacific Ocean we were joined by not one, but 3 Blue Whales who stayed with us for over 2 hours. Toward the end, Humpback Whales even joined, making their own display in the distance.
We were completely awestruck, surrounded by this natural marvel developing around us.
On World Oceans Day, the planet celebrates the oceans and draws attention to the growing need to protect them.
These gentle giants represent just one part of the intricate, complex, beautiful web of ocean life – that we risk to lose.
Let this be a celebration of not just awe – but responsibility.
We all have a role to play. Whether that be by reducing plastic consumption or by simply sharing your own awe of the natural world with others, to get them to care.
A message that we hold close is from the Senegalese Conservationist Baba Dioum:
“In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught.”
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #southamerica #worldoceansday #bluewhale
There are a few different ways to travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific….
But at the southern tip of South America, your options are limited:
Around Cape Horn – the infamous, treacherous route.
Or through the Strait of Magellan – a winding, somewhat sheltered, natural waterway carved between mainland South America and Tierra del Fuego…
During our world voyage, we would eventually do both. But in January 2024, we first took the inland route.
Rather than making a direct line to the Pacific, we chose to continue north through the Chilean Fjords. This turned out to be one of the most visually breathtaking stretches of the entire journey.
We sailed through glacier valleys, surrounded by steep cliffs and snow capped mountains, and visited a remote village hours from any civilization.
A standout moment was our visit to the Brüggen Glacier (also known as the Pío XI Glacier). This is one of the largest glaciers in the Southern Hemisphere and we were there entirely by ourselves. No other boats. No noise. Just us, the glacier and the deep echoing cracks of shifting ice.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #southamerica #glacier
From the Falklands we set out on a course back toward the South American continent – with Punta Arenas, Chile on the horizon.
Punta Arenas is located on the northern side of the Strait of Magellan, the course of water separating the mainland from the Tierra del Fuego archipelago.
The landscape here was rugged, wild, a true frontier. It felt like the edge of the world
Upon arrival, the ship remained in Punta Arenas for essential maintenance. Which, in this part of the world, was not easy. The region is notorious for its howling winds, which battered the Oosterschlededay and night.
During this period, we had a series of 8 different Darwin Leader projects spanning the region, stretching as far south as Puerto Williams and as high as Torres del Paine.
This was the most southerly point of our voyage – at least until our return journey, 12 months later, where we rounded the infamous Cape Horn.
From here, the path turned north again, but this time tracking the west coast of South America.
But first we had to reach the Pacific Ocean, on a journey that would become one of the most spectacular voyages of the entire trip…
Sailing through the Chilean Fjords.
Stay tuned for the next post on this.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #southamerica
We were nearing the end of 2023 and continued southwards on a journey that would take us through to the New Year.
From Puerto Madryn, we sailed to the Falklands island. A passage that would take us into some notoriously rougher waters.
Living on a ship creates a sense of detachment from the outside world. The ship becomes your own little world, running on its own time and sometimes its own calendar. On the 25th we were still at sea, in some rough oceans so we made the decision to wait until we had made landfall to celebrate. In 2023 we actually had our Christmas on the 28th of December. A bizarre but fun anecdote of ship life.
Don’t worry, New Years wasn’t belated. We made sure to be welcoming the start of 2024 on time. And what better backdrop than a picturesque anchorage of Carcass Island.
Our time in the archipelago was full of adventure, exploring several islands each teeming with life. Elephant seals basking on the beaches, albatross nesting on the cliffs, colonies of penguins waddling around with fluffy chicks in tow, Commerson’s Dolphins escorting us back to the ship – it was a wildlife haven.
2023 was just the beginning. In only four months, we’d witnessed and got to share some really incredible moments.
What stories did 2024, and 2025 hold?
We will find out as we continue sharing #darwin200reflections – our current series recapping the voyage so far.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney
After Rio de Janeiro, our journey continued south – stopping in Punta del Este, Uruguay and Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
At sea it is well known that sunsets can be spectacular, but on this stretch of the journey it felt like the sky was trying to compete with itself for the best sunset day after day.
As evening fell, everyone would drift to deck,patiently awaiting a display, almost like arriving at a theatre.
There’s something uniquely visceral about sunsets at sea. Maybe it’s the sound of the ocean that acts like nature’s white noise that accompanies it. The world just seems to slow down.
During the global voyage, we have be lucky enough to have so many moments like this, and what better foreground than the beautiful @dutchtallship Oosterschelde.
#darwin200reflections #darwin200 #oosterschelde #charlesdarwin #worldvoyage #historicjourney #sunsetsatsea
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