As Slate reported this weekend, the online vote to name a new polar research vessel to be operated by Britain’s Natural Environment Research Council was won in a landslide by the suggestion Boaty McBoatface. In this blogger’s opinion, the story is a triumph of good-natured playfulness that has had the effect of drawing public attention to a worthy cause. Unfortunately, it seems that British science minister Jo “Dr. Buzz Killington” Johnson is not as happy with the results as I am. From the Guardian:
“The new royal research ship will be sailing into the world’s iciest waters to address global challenges that affect the lives of hundreds of millions of people, including global warming, the melting of polar ice and rising sea levels,” [Johnson] said.
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“That’s why we want a name that lasts longer than a social media news cycle and reflects the serious nature of the science it will be doing. There are many excellent suggestions among the 7,000 names put forward by members of the public and we’ll make a decision as to which one should be put forward for the royal warrant when we’ve had a chance to review them all.”
No surprise that a government that still needs the queen’s permission to name a boat (a “royal warrant”) would reject the will of the people, I guess.
Lamey McLameface!
