Adventure with Purpose
Scroll down to learn more about our funding campaign to return the ship to the Sea.
-Wade Davis, National Geographic Society
from the alumni
About the Heraclitus
RESEARCH VESSEL HERACLITUS, the Chinese-junk research ship built by the Institute of Ecotechnics in 1975, has sailed the world’s oceans for over forty years, traveling more than 270,000 nautical miles in every sea except the Arctic.
Over the course of its twelve epic expeditions, the ship has been a nautical home to hundreds of seafarers from all walks of life, hailing from over fifty countries.
The Heraclitus is a floating platform for arts, science, ecology and adventure. She conducts citizen science in marine ecologies, documents cultural oral history in coastal areas, and collects data documenting the quickening cycle of decline in our oceans from warming, acidification, and other impacts on the ocean ecosystems resulting from climate change impacts.
legendary sailing ship heraclitus rebuild nears completion - support with a donation
Seamanship Training | Documenting Impacts of Sea Rise | Ocean Education & Research
Adventure with purpose can be hard to find, but the Research Heraclitus offers exactly that. The 84′ Chinese Junk with a ferrocement hull is one of the most exceptional seafaring vessels ever built. It has decades of experience conducting expeditions to remote coastal cultures, serving as platform for numerous citizen science initiatives, documentary films, and conducting training programs for hundreds of individuals of all ages in seamanship.
Since 1975, the Research Vessel Heraclitus has been documenting remote coastal areas, conducting citizen science programs, collecting data in marine ecologies, mapping and monitoring coral reefs in the Caribbean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, SE Asia and the Pacific, making film documentaries and logging over 100 hours in oral history documentation of the SeaPeople of the Mediterranean: lighthouse operators, fishermen, ship’s captains describing their lives and changes observed over the last few decades. The documentation from the Mediterranean Oral History expedition are being made available through a digital commons in 2025.
Why Now?
The Ocean biome of Planet Earth faces possible ecosystem collapse, species extinction and coastal communities will take the brunt of the impact from sea rise. We are here to continue to sail the worlds oceans, witness and document, educate and train the next generation of ocean going explorers.
The Heraclitus hull is now fully restored and ready to be sealed, and one step closer towards being back in the ocean. With your help, we can finish the rebuild and be back at Sea in 2025 and launch into a new era of planetary exploration.
Donations in USD & Pounds are tax deductible.
UK Donations claiming Gift Aid contact us here.
For those donating in euros, donate here. *Donations in euros are not tax deductible.*
Donation Perks
$25 – This perk will get you a recorded video tour by a Heraclitus crew member of the rebuild site in Roses.
$50 – Your choice of 1 E-Book, each of which was written by founders of the Heraclitus and the Biosphere 2.Select ‘The Wastewater Gardener’ by Mark Nelson or ‘Me and the Biospheres’ by John Allen.
$75 – CAPTAIN’S Magic 11oz Ceramic Mug
$100 – Organic Cotton Cap
You will also receive an e-book written by the founders
$150 – Heraclitus Tee exclusively designed for our 2024 campaign.
$200 – Private Tour of Synergia Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Synergia Ranch is home to the headquarters of the Institute of Ecotechnics, Synergetic Press, and the think tank which gave rise to Biosphere 2. Up to 4 guests.
To receive your perk, send an email with the subject line “Perk Item”
