Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is the world's premier independent organization dedicated exclusively to ocean research, technology, and education. We combine state-of-the-art science, engineering, and ship operations to unravel the mysteries of the deep and devise science-based solutions to planet-wide problems.
RECENT NEWS
Ocean Pavilion kicks off COP28 with powerful declaration
Ocean leaders deliver Dubai Ocean Declaration, underscoring the sea’s vital role in regulating our climate
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🎁 💡🎁 Need some inspiration this holiday shopping season? Elevate your gift-giving game with amazing finds from #WHOI`s online store! Discover a range of fantastic ideas for the #ocean-lovers on your list, from shirts and onesies to hats, ornaments, and puzzles.
🌊🔬 Best part? Your purchase supports ocean science! Unwrap the joy of giving and make a meaningful impact this season at shop.whoi.edu
#GiftsThatGiveBack #HolidayShopping #SupportScience
Dec 2
#WHOI President & Director Peter de Menocal and @scripps_ocean director Margaret Leinen celebrated the opening of the Ocean Pavilion at @cop28uaeofficial this morning!
Now in its second year in the UN #climate conference #BlueZone, the Ocean Pavilion hosts panel discussions, immersive theater, and meeting space with the goal of advancing ocean science as a cornerstone of global climate policy.
Follow #OceanPavilion for updates over the next two weeks—or sign up for our newsletter at oceanpavilion-cop.org.
#ForOurBluePlanet #UniteActDeliver #SpeakForTheOcean 📸 by Elise Hugus ©️ WHOI
Nov 30
The first North Atlantic right whale of the season has been spotted! 🐋 🥹 The calf seen with its mother, Juno, off Cane Island in South Carolina recently was no more than four days old at the time. Calving season for the critically endangered North Atlantic right whale starts in mid-November and continues through mid-April. Seven more adult females have been sighted from North Carolina to Georgia this month, all with potential to become mothers over the winter.
📸: @CMAquarium, taken under NOAA permit #26919. Funded by United States Army Corps of Engineers. #NorthAtlanticRightWhale #CriticallyEndangered #CalvingSeason #OceanofHope #WHOI
Nov 30
War is making it harder for Arctic scientists to collect important #climate data. Just ask #MIT_WHOI joint program student Emma Bullock (@e.jaq12), who studies mercury in Arctic groundwater. In an op-ed for Oceanus magazine, she explains how the Russia-Ukraine conflict has created gaps in climate #research– at a time when we need it most.
📲 Find out how climate data is another casualty of war at the link in bio.
Nov 29
📣 This week, several #WHOI climate scientists and #MIT_WHOI joint program students are heading to @cop28uaeofficial in #Dubai to participate in panel discussions and call for #science-based, #ocean-focused #climate #solutions.
🌊 With 34 other global marine science and philanthropy organizations, WHOI is hosting an #OceanPavilion inside the @un conference’s official meeting area, or #BlueZone. The Ocean Pavilion creates a collaborative space for leaders in ocean science, engineering, policy and philanthropy to highlight the ocean’s critical role in climate solutions.
📲 Learn more about how we`re making waves at #COP28 at the link in bio!
Nov 29
The world’s largest iceberg is on the move for the first time in 30 years. The mineral dust it leaves behind as it melts can have a profound impact on ocean life.
#WHOI scientist Catherine Walker explains to @BBC what makes these icebergs so life-giving. Read the article at #linkinbio
Nov 29
OUR WORK
WHOI is at the forefront of groundbreaking science and technology development, unlocking the mysteries of our ocean, its connections to life on Earth, and solutions it may hold to some of our most pressing environmental challenges.
Our scientists and engineers lead more than 800 concurrent projects, tackling some of the most challenging and important problems of our time, from climate change and ocean pollution to sustainable food and energy production.
We operate a fleet of research vessels and vehicles, including two large ships (R/V Neil Armstrong and R/V Atlantis), a smaller coastal research vessel, the iconic human-occupied submersible Alvin, and dozens of other underwater robots.
Through our higher education programs, including the prestigious MIT-WHOI Joint Program, we train new generations of ocean scientists, engineers, and leaders-providing access to cutting edge facilities and unparalleled access to the sea.
WHOI plays a leading role in ocean communications, sharing our insights and knowledge about the ocean to the general public, policymakers, educators, and more, so we can make wise decisions about our ocean, our planet, and our future.
FEATURED PROJECTS
We have over 1,000 scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff working around the globe and cutting edge laboratories to push the boundaries of knowledge about the ocean.
Ocean and Climate Innovation Accelerator
Bringing together industry, academia, and philanthropy to develop and accelerate new climate change solutions.
Ocean Twilight Zone
Exploring the globe-spanning region beneath the sunlit upper ocean where life thrives
Ocean Worlds
Discovering the links between life in our ocean and the search for life beyond Earth
Marine Microplastics Initiative
Investigating the fate of microplastics and their impacts on marine life and human health
Super Reefs
Searching for corals around the world to help ensure a future for reefs in a warming ocean
Ocean Observatories Initiative
The NSF-funded program measures physical, chemical, geological and biological properties from the seafloor to the air-sea interface.
HADEX
Research and exploration of the deepest parts of the ocean, Earth’s final frontier
Reef Solutions
Working to protect corals and reverse the global decline of reef ecosystems