Y
our yacht is in its best shape when
its working on the water. The
expense and care that goes into
moored crafts often doesn’t justify
the short spells of leisure in return. So,
what are some ways to engage your boat in a
continued and beneficial manner?
After over a decade of using the ocean as
a classroom, laboratory and studio, I wanted
to take this concept aboard a sailing vessel.
‘The boat’ provides a literal and
conceptual learning environment. Wooden
ships are among the most complex wooden
structures devised by man – three-
dimensional sculptures built from countless
pieces fitted together like a jigsaw. They offer
a unique platform for education and enquiry.
Also, they provide access to a cross-
section of ecosystems, the constant need for
critical thinking, applied concepts, physics
of sailing, energy and resource management,
physiology of diving, socio-ecology, marine
ecology, and building improvised technology.
In today’s complex landscape of ecological
cascades, economic pressures and the
dwindling health of our natural resources,
I’m among those in the field of research and
conservation who believe in the value and
urgency of creating educational avenues for
youth and communities.
I believe there is an unmatched learning
and value instilled from direct connection,
immersion and a sense of belonging. As
such, my core goal has been to generate a
sense of biophilia (an innate and genetically
determined affinity of human beings with the
natural world) and systems-thinking among
youth around the Indian Ocean region.
For me, there is no better way to
experience the ocean than from a boat, which
gives access, mobility, perspective and reach
while providing an intimate interaction with
this universe unto itself.
Imagine being able to understand the
concepts of maths and physics through the
art of sailing and the science of diving.
Imagine living on a floating structure, where
participating in the engineering and integrity
of your home is critical.
Imagine being inspired to ask questions
and seek answers from the waters
surrounding you. Imagine becoming deeply
familiar with the bio-chemical soup we call
our ocean.
Imagine being a part of communitiesthat rely on this most vital ecosystem and
resource. Imagine the impact it can have on
how we understand, think and respond.
‘The Vessel For Inquiry’ project is the
coming together of this vision and was piloted in
June 2018, aboard the Diva Andaman schooner
in Phuket. We used the boat as a free, open-
source and mobile learning platform to change
the way people interact with our oceans.
We believe impactful experiences and
creating an interconnected view of systems
help students and practitioners:- become aware of the fact that each of our
lives and work is intrinsically linked to our
ecosystems - develop an integrated understanding of
technology, ecology, critical thinking,
improvisation, regional complexities - begin to thrive in and enjoy their learning
environment - feel a tangible connection with their
ecosystem
We will be hosting several schools
and mixed-interest groups for a series of
educational voyages in Phang Nga Bay. Each
learning expedition is designed to cover a
wide range of topics from diving, mangrove
documentation and plankton analysis to
coastal economics, oceanography, woodwork
and marine engineering.
The diversity of topics linked to the ocean
help illustrate the many connections that exist
between humans and marine systems. And
voila, without preaching about conservation
or preservation as a linear process, every
participant has embodied a deep motivation to
conserve and protect their ocean.
Next year, ‘The Vessel for Inquiry’ will set
out its gangway for long-term artist residency
programmes and providing sponsored
positions for researchers or institutions who
require continued access to the Andaman Sea.
We see this as the beginning of
revolutionising the use of yachts and are
working towards developing a network of
vessels that can actively participate in and act
as tools for:- water-based education
- large-scale ecological monitoring
- research vessel networks
- citizen-science labs in port cities and towns
And hopefully, more yachts in this region
will have reason to be working on the water.
http://www.earthcolab.com
http://www.divamarine.comWith the ocean as her classroom for most of her adult life, marine and coastal
expert Tasneem Khan is now piloting a boat-based project out of Phuket that
seeks to involve more students and yachts in education and research.
WORKING ON THE WATER
COLUMN Tasneem Khan
Happiest underwater or with her feet in a swamp, Tasneem Khan
is a biologist, educator, sailor, photographer and diver. Formally
trained in zoology, she has spent the last 13 years in the fields of
ecology, conservation, education and art, including seven years
with the Centre for Island Ecology, Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Environmental Team. Co-founder of Earth CoLab, Khan has created
‘The Vessel For Inquiry’ – a mobile and floating laboratory and
studio aboard the Diva Andaman – in order to explore the Andaman
Sea from the perspective of scientific research, education and art.TASNEEM KHAN