Our research philosophy
The ocean is a vast and formidable place to work, yet knowledge of the ocean is crucial to understanding its relationship to the rest of the planet, including humans. WHOI scientists and engineers take on difficult questions in challenging environments in order to expand our knowledge of this critical part of the earth system.
Areas of Research
WHOI scientists and engineers address a wide range of questions to form a multi-dimensional picture of the global ocean and its relationship to the rest of the planet, including human society. Areas we study include
- Climate and oceans
- Coastal science
- Ocean life
- Ocean resources
- Pollution
- Seafloor and below
- Tools and technology
Departments, Centers & Labs
Nearly 400 scientists and engineers at WHOI are organized into one of six research divisions and also address a range of cross-disciplinary issues through several centers and labs as well as four Ocean Institutes.
The Ocean Institutes
WHOI’s four Ocean Institutes focus research around key, interdisciplinary issues and also provide in-house funding to scientists who are pursuing high-risk, high-reward lines of inquiry.
Programs & Projects
WHOI directly manages or contributes to a number of community-wide scientific efforts that help advance ocean research both nationally and internationally.
Technology Transfer
Many advances by WHOI researchers have proven commercial applications, and the Institution remains committed to making this technology available to potential partners.
Scientific Facilities & Services
WHOI offers a variety of facilities and services for use by researchers inside and outside the Institution.
Recent Publications
Caswell, Hal, Sensitivity analysis of discrete Markov chains via matrix calculus, Linear Algebra and its Applications (2013)
Salihoglu, B., Neuer, S., Painting, S., Murtugudde, R., Hofmann, E. E., more..., Bridging marine ecosystem and biogeochemistry research: Lessons and recommendations from comparative studies, Journal of Marine Systems (2013)
Tornabene, Luke, Ahmadia, Gabby N., Berumen, Michael L., Smith, Dave J., Jompa, Jamaluddin, more..., Evolution of microhabitat association and morphology in a diverse group of cryptobenthic coral reef fishes (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Eviota), Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution (2013)
Engelstad, Anita, Janssen, T. T., Herbers, T. H. C., van Vledder, Gerbrant, Elgar, Steve, more..., Wave evolution across the Louisiana shelf, Continental Shelf Research (2013)
Skjoldal, Hein Rune, Wiebe, Peter H., Postel, Lutz, Knutsen, Tor, Kaartvedt, Stein, more..., Intercomparison of zooplankton (net) sampling systems: results from the ICES/GLOBEC sea-going workshop, Progress in Oceanography (2013)