The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has published the Arabic edition of the book ‘Voyages of Discovery’ by British author Tony Rice, as part of the Centre’s Kalima Project for Translation.
The book was translated into Arabic by Dr. Muhammad Ziyad Kubba and reviewed by Muhammad Fathi Khedr. It takes readers on a panoramic tour through the halls of the Natural History Museum in London, presenting it not merely as a place for displaying fossils and specimens, but as a living space populated by the legacies of those who shaped modern knowledge. These pioneering figures dedicated their lives to exploration and paving the way for scientific concepts that changed how we view ourselves and the planet we inhabit.
Throughout its chapters, the examines the key features that marked the journeys of explorers and naturalists who preceded the modern technological era, when discovery was an adventure fraught with dangers, and the primary scientific tools consisted ofa quill, a paper notebook, and hand-drawn illustrations. Using these simple tools, the first theories of genetics and evolution were developed, creating a new understanding of biodiversity and humanity’s place within the fabric of life.
Rice dedicates a significant portion of the narrative to the unsung heroes, illustrators, scientists, and artists, whose dedication made the visual and intellectual material we draw upon today possible. These include figures like Maria Sibylla Merian, who travelled to Suriname in 1699 to document the life cycle of butterflies, and William Bartram, who depicted North American flora and fauna using a precise scientific and artistic methods.
The book also highlights prominent artistic experiences that accompanied major expeditions, such as that of Sydney Parkinson, who participated in Captain Cook’s first voyage aboard the ship HMS Endeavour; Georg Forster on the second voyage aboard the HMS Resolution; and Ferdinand Bauer, who was known as one of the most prominent natural history illustrators during his journey with Captain Matthew Flinders aboard the HMS Investigator.
The author goes on to review Charles Darwin’s famed voyage aboard the HMS Beagle, describing it as a landmark moment in the history of science. He argues that many of the findings of that voyage would not have been formulated without the visual and artistic documentation that preceded it – work which enabled scientists such as Alfred Russel Wallace and Henry Walter Bates to develop the concepts of natural selection.
The book also highlights the contributions of Sir Hans Sloane, particularly his collection of Jamaican specimens , including the first scientific definition of milk chocolate, and his early documentation of the island’s natural history.
Author Tony Rice’s style is marked by scientific accuracy and clarity. It reveals a deep historical and intellectual awareness of the nature of scientific work in its early stages, and the circumstances that shaped its paths. This makes ‘Voyages of Discovery’ a book on the history of science as much as it is a study into the cultural and artistic narratives surrounding scientific efforts.
Rice is a prominent figure in his field. He served as curator of the crustacean collection at the Natural History Museum in London before leading the deep-sea research team at the National Oceanography Centre, which is part of the Natural Environment Research Council in the United Kingdom.
He has a PhD in marine sciences from the University of Liverpool and has contributed to more than 200 scientific publications, ranging from academic research to reference books.
The book’s translator Dr. Muhammad Ziyad Kubba was born in Aleppo in 1951 and holds a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Known for his specialised translations in general linguistics and neurolinguistics, his work earned him the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) in the Translation category at the 2010-2011 edition, as well as the Best Book Translated into Arabic category at the Kuwait International Fair in 2002. Dr. Kubba has worked as a professor at various prestigious Arab universities, including University of Aleppo, King Saud University, and Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh.
The Arabic edition of ‘Voyages of Discovery’ is published as part of the ongoing efforts by the Kalima Project for Translation to enrich the Arab library with renowned scientific and intellectual works, allowing Arab readers to learn about the development of Western scientific thought and engage with its historical and human achievements.
