Galathea 3’s research mission

It will be the high quality of its research that defines Galathea 3, when the expedition circumnavigates the globe from August 2006 to April 2007. This was clear from today’s press meeting at which the Danish Expedition Foundation set forth the itinerary and the 69 projects* which have won their passage on board VÆDDEREN.

Dato 29.11.2005

“Galathea 3 is a sign to the world that Denmark can and will contribute to research efforts – and help to resolve the many significant issues that preoccupy people both at home and abroad”, says Helge Sander of the Ministry for Science, Technology and Innovation.  “The driving force behind the individual research groups is a real quest for knowledge and insight.  All plans have been through quality inspection by research councils and have proved themselves to be excellent projects with wide-ranging perspectives.”

The Danish Exploration Fund had the final say as to which projects were selected.  However, as Director Morten Meldgaard explained, feedback from the Research Council was a central feature of the planning stage:  “Validity of the scientific work is the raison d’être of the Galathea 3 and its related activities- communication, training, etc,” he said.  “Although the Council plays only a guiding role, we chose to keep their evaluation at the heart of things.  Consequently all the successful projects have their stamp of approval.”

Various research teams in both Danish and foreign universities and institutions have contributed to the Galathea 3 projects.  Natural science dominates the enterprise, but a number of projects with human interest are present.  Amongst the themes are biological processes, climate change and earthquakes.  A range of activities will tackle the problem of our relatively small amount of knowledge of the animal and plant life of the oceans.  The smaller forms of life – bacteria, plankton and algae will be on the agenda during many of the stages of the journey.

Ethnographical studies will similarly cast a wide net, but will concentrate on the erstwhile Danish colonies in Tranquebar and the West Indies.

A resume of Galathea’s projects can be downloaded here.

*Amendment to original press release.  18 of the projects are to be run by the National Museum’s Tranquebar Initiative.

Further information: The Danish Expedition Foundation, Lisbeth Nannestad Jørgensen, Press and Communication.  Tel: + 45 35 32 41 84, mobile + 45 22 82 66 48.