Environmental research group scrambles as Internet calls for ‘Boaty McBoatface’

The U.K. nonprofit organization turned to the Internet to name its new research vessel. PR pros didn’t expect the popularity—nor that a silly name would rise to the top.

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The Natural Environment Research Council is learning that lesson. It recently turned to the Internet to crowdsource a name for its newest polar research vessel:

Find out about the science that happens on our polar ships https://t.co/cB8BVEw0pI #NameOurShip #BoatyMcBoatface pic.twitter.com/WOIxfwGJxA

— NERC (@NERCscience) March 20, 2016

“Shackleton. Endeavour. Falcon. These are just some of the names suggested for the UK’s next world-class polar research ship as part of a campaign launched today for the public to put forward names for the state-of-the-art vessel to be built in the North West of England,” NERC said in its press release announcement.

The poll, which was launched Thursday, has been so popular that on Sunday the poll website crashed due to the number of people voting.

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