Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution takes home two Telly Awards

Annual award honors video and television excellence across all screens

Woods Hole, Mass. (May 29, 2025) – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has been named a gold and silver award winner at the 46th Annual Telly Awards. With over 13,000 entries from across the globe, the Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, and production companies. Alongside WHOI, this year’s winners include Pixar Animation Studios, Hearst Media, MTV Entertainment Studios, NASA, and more.

Hurricanes and the Ocean is a Telly Gold Winner under the General -Education & Discovery category. Animated by WHOI Senior Science Illustrator Natalie Renier and narrated by Scott Dickson, Hurricanes and the Ocean is a visual explainer of how hurricanes form and the variables that contribute to their intensity. Spanning hundreds of miles, hurricanes are the biggest storms on the planet.

“At WHOI, we see digital storytelling as a powerful tool to bridge the gap between complex research and public understanding,” said Craig LaPlante, Director of Digital Media at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. “Our goal is to translate scientific insights into clear, compelling narratives that help people see the deep connections between ocean science and everyday life.”

The Many Milestones of Alvin also won a Telly Silver in the General – History category. In 2024, WHOI’s human-occupied submersible Alvin celebrated 60 years of service. In its more than 5,200 dives, Alvin has provided over 3,000 researchers with unprecedented access to the deep ocean, enabling extensive observation as well as data and sample collection.

“Since 1964, science has evolved, and so have Alvin's capabilities,” said Elise Hugus, WHOI’s Assistant Director of Digital Communications. “Over time, Alvin has become synonymous with WHOI’s commitment to ocean research and exploration. The Telly Award is wonderful recognition of the incredible breakthroughs Alvin has made possible and the people behind them.”

“Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, shaping truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world’s most pressing issues,” shares Telly Awards Managing Director Amanda Needham. “The Telly Awards is uniquely positioned to meet the industry where it’s actually making work, be that on television or TikTok.”

The full list of the 46th Annual Telly Awards winners can be found at www.tellyawards.com/winners/

###

About Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a private, non-profit organization on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, dedicated to marine research, engineering, and higher education. Established in 1930, its primary mission is to understand the ocean and its interaction with the Earth as a whole, and to communicate an understanding of the ocean’s role in the changing global environment. Top scientists, engineers, and students collaborate on more than 800 concurrent projects worldwide—both above and below the waves—pushing the boundaries of knowledge and possibility.

About The Telly Awards 

The Telly Awards are the premier award honoring video and television across all screens. Established in 1979, The Telly Awards receives over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and 5 continents. Entrants are judged by The Telly Awards Judging Council—an industry body of over 200 leading experts, including advertising agencies, production companies, and major television networks, reflective of the multi-screen industry The Telly Awards celebrates. Partners of The Telly Awards include NAB, RunwayML AIFF, ReelAbilities Film Festival, Film Fatales, FWD-Doc, Stash, Production Hub, Ghetto Film School, Future of Film, We Are Parable, Video Consortium, SeriesFest, and Green The Bid.