When the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) held a “Name Our Ship” competition in order to get the public to cast their vote on the title of its new £200 million polar research vessel, they were likely a little frustrated that the Internet returned with the name “Boaty McBoatface”.
Garnering over 200,000 votes, Boaty McBoatface was the runaway leader in a competition that also included names such as It’s Bloody Cold Here and Ice, Ice Baby, though the NERC is now examining whether or not it should officially use the name.
A note posted on the UK Parliament’s website reads:
“NERC’s Name Our Ship competition saw hundreds of thousands of votes cast to name a new polar research vessel, and a decision is awaited on whether the most popular entry—RRS Boaty McBoatface—will be used.
The Committee is currently holding an inquiry into science communication, and explores the Name Our Ship competition and NERC’s broader public engagement strategy in this context. NERC representatives are also asked about the science that this £200m ship will support.”
Many became inexplicably enamored with Boaty McBoatface after it received its new name, so NERC making the decision to give it a different name likely wouldn’t win them any new fans. Science Minister Jo Johnson, who will make the official decision, has previously suggested that Boaty McBoatface wasn’t a “suitable” name for the ship, so it’s looking likely that the council will commit to a different title for it.
The decision will be made on May 10th at Wilson Room, Portcullis House.
