In May 2000, an International Colloquium took place in Brest (France) entitled, History of the calculus of Longitudes, The proceedings will soon be printed by Presses Universitaires de Rennes. This colloquium was organized by the Université de Bretagne Occidentale and the Ecole Navale (The French Naval Academy). We now propose another meeting, as a continuation of the first successful one. For this second colloquium, we have chosen the following subject Imagine and Devise the Best Route.

The aims of the meeting are :

1. An international colloquium of high scientific and academic standard

From Ulysses, who, for the greater benefit of literature and poetry, took the worst route to sail back from Troy to Ithaca to the modern competitors helped and inspired by people plotting a course for them with a huge bulk of information, choosing the best route on the sea is a constant preoccupation. These seven following points could contribute to define the themes we would like to tackle.

1- According to the sailors' targets (exploration, trade, military actions, scientific testing, races, piracy) there has been much change in the criteria taken into account
. 2- The state of scientific and technical knowledge has also modified the very notion of Best Route just as the ship herself, her propulsion range, crews have done it.
3- Taking into account the fair wear and tear of the ships (hulls, engines, sails) according to the roure chosen is also one of the parametters that should nott be left aside.
4- Making strategic decisions such as those that led to the construction of the Panama and Suez Canals also belong to our topic.
5- Such as any problem of optimization, this one also has a mathematical aspect and it is worth studying the history of the best routes imagined with what people knew of the initial conditions at the time.
6- Ships are not the only one to be involved, some animals also have to chose their best way up. This could be another chapter of our colloquium.
7- Ecological considerations are also to be reckoned with in the definition of the Best Route and any idea on that matter is welcome.

From Technical Sciences History we can tell that the solution to this problem is infinitely delicate and complex but exiting and we wish to receive papers to get a better understanding of it. We do not set chronological or geographical limits to the papers. We will try to devote a full session to the present state of this situation, in which the current methods of optimization would be spoken about.

2. A cultural initiative for a wide audience

This meeting will be associated with the activities of the Mission culturelle de l'Université de Bretagne Occidentale. We wish to integrate two high quality statements for the people living in Brest. Authors and topics will have to be chosen later. This statement should hinge around the roots whose stories are deeply linked with Brest. The first topic will be entitled : what ships for what ports? or what were the ships from Brest used for?

The second will deal with the Irish expeditions of the French Revolutionary Navy : Hoche, from Brest to the Irish coast.

If the very nature of the papers is sure to guarantee a high scientific standard, they should nonetheless be interesting for a majority of the people, especially from Brest. Indeed, many of them, even if not specialists or professionals of what will be at stake, are aware enough of the problems set by sailing to attend these meetings.

3. At the anniversary of the Naval Academy

The events planned to celebrate the 250th anniversary will be of sheer size. They will be supported by many organizations (City Council, French Department, Ministries, Navy, Historical Institutions, Academies, Cultural services, privates organisations). The project will gather several activities. It would be a good idea to integrate our colloquium Best Route in this whole project. It could be one of the main elements and therefore get communications means, premises, logistics that will be set up for its success. For sure, in its history the Naval Academy had had to deal with the topic of our Colloquium ; so it will normal to make room for papers dealing with the Naval Academy brought to this topic.

This colloquium will be organized to occur at the end of June, 2002.
(probably June 17, 18, and 19)

Suggestions must be sent before September 15, 2001 to:

Vincent Jullien,
Professeur d'histoire et philosophie des sciences à l'UBO
20, rue Duquesne,
BP 814, F 29285,
Brest Cedex
FRANCE

e-mail: vjullien@wanadoo.fr

or

Bruno Ramstein,
directeur des enseignements scientifiques et de la recherche à l'Ecole navale