The naming of Belgica II, the new Belgian research vessel that will succeed the Belgica at the end of 2020, was announced on 25 April 2019 and caused a great deal of ink to flow. However, if originality and cinematographic creativity had been the most important selection criteria, the new vessel would have been called “Gamma Ruspo”. This name was suggested by the students of class 4B of the Institut de la Providence de Champion, Namur. A reward was also announced for the most original video, so the students were expected on Monday 20 May in the military port of Zeebrugge, to sail on the Belgica for half a day. Captain Haddock’s shadow will be hanging over the North Sea…
On November 6th, 2018, the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office launched a contest in order to determine the name of the new Belgian oceanographic vessel. After a first phase in which schools could suggest names (accompanied with an explanatory video) and a second phase where everyone could choose one of the six selected names, the Minister for Science Policy announced the chosen name on 25 April 2019: “Belgica II”. The winning class, 1LA from Liège’s Athénée Maurice Destenay could enjoy a cruise on the Belgica the same day.
Nonetheless, a second laureate was chosen to reward the most convincing video, emphasising originality. For this prize, a jury determined that the class 4B of the Institut de la Providence de Champion (Namur) had realised the most original production. Their video was inspired by the comic heroes Tintin and professor Calculus, and states why they would have called the new vessel “Gamma Ruspo”. On 20 May 2019, this class also benefited from an excursion with the RV Belgica.
The Institut de la Providence, a green school interested in marine sciences
On the initiative of its direction, professors and students, l’Institut de la Providence is a school which has been engaging in multiple initiatives in terms of environmental protection for a long time: installing photovoltaic panels, replacement of all lighting with LEDs, managing beehives with a didactic hive in the classroom, signing of the “Green deal sustainable canteens” contract, soft mobility week from 20 to 25 May 2019, investment in recyclable cups and water fountains, environmental certification process, etc.
It is thus no surprise that the students of class 4B of the Institut de la Providence de Champion have heard of the naming contest in their French class. Before suggesting a name for the successor of the Belgica, everyone was invited to investigate and learn more about this venerable vessel. Consequently, the teenagers learned that it collects important information which contributes to thinking about sustainable fisheries, offshore wind turbines, mining activity in the deep sea, or offshore energy production and storage. The pooling of information made it possible to launch lines of thought to formulate original names for the successor of the Belgica.
Gamma ruspo
After a flamboyant debate, 4B went for originality. What if we called this vessel “Gamma Ruspo?”.
Gamma rus what? The “Gammarus pulex” is a type of shrimp, “ruspo” means “I search” in latin, and there is no need to explain the link between the word “Gamma” and the world of science.
The name being chosen, it was time to go through the second part of the competition: film a one and a half minute video presenting the suggested name in an original way. A small group of students turned into a film crew and at the end of January, without anybody’s help, they shot a video in which typically Belgian characters (Calculus and Tintin) are associated with the playful and scientific universe of “C’est pas sorcier” (French educational television programme). The result was quite successful on the internet and aroused reactions as far as Austria (the video has been translated in the three national languages).
The outcome
In February 2019, the decision was made: “Gamma Ruspo” was not selected as one of the names from which the public could choose. The students were rather surprised to hear that the new Belgica was named… “Belgica 2”! They didn’t think this contest would result in this choice, although it is a strong mark that honours Belgian marine research’s history and tradition.
However, the Providence students were fair players, admitting that the name they suggested perhaps lacked readability. Although they were a little disappointed, they were still satisfied to have participated in the competition with a nice group work and a cool video.
April 2019, big surprise: a message from one of the contest organiser informed them that their video has won the award for being the most creative submission.
Dominique Rappe, the 4B’s French teacher, reacts: “It’s great that the class is rewarded, because many have gone really far in their thinking, proving their interest in biology, climate, and sciences in general. The film crew has been completely autonomous, and it is their intuitive talent that has been rewarded. Everyone is delighted that they were able to go on an excursion with the Belgica on Monday 20 May. We prepared the visit so that the youngsters could gather a maximum of information from the scientists that were carrying out research on that day. They also questioned the military staff that operates the vessel. The class even offered a little animation (song) in recognition of the adults that welcomed them in their professional environment.”
