14 Mai 2025
From maritime voyages of discovery to scientific expeditions
As part of the series of lectures organised by the Association des Amis du Laboratoire Arago (AALA) in conjunction with the exhibition From Glacier to Oasis, Stéphane Blain presented :
From maritime voyages of discovery to scientific expeditions: the example of Kerguelen
The aim of the great maritime expeditions from the 17th century onwards was to discover new lands and exploit them. Scientists very quickly became part of the crews, and the acquisition of new knowledge thus became an objective in itself. Some of these voyages have remained famous, such as that of the Beagle, which took Darwin on board. The end of the 19th century marked a new turning point with the organisation of expeditions dedicated entirely to science. Since then, these expeditions have become more sophisticated and complex. The Kerguelen archipelago, now a UNESO world heritage site, is no exception to this chronology. The conference, held in conjunction with the 9th Art-Cherche exhibition ‘From Glacier to Oasis’ currently on display on the Sagol esplanade, illustrates these different facets: Discovery, exploitation, research, protection
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)