Transforming how the world sees the ocean and ocean science.

Room 71 is an innovation studio at WHOI — developing disruptive ideas to address one of the greatest barriers facing ocean science: the gap between how the world sees the ocean and what it really is.

We live on an ocean planet, but we’re a terrestrial species evolved for life on land — we’re wired to understand the world above water, not below it.

We think we know the ocean. We don’t.

We consistently underestimate the ocean’s complexity, importance, and its potential for humanity — potential that can be unlocked through ocean science. Room 71 exists to change that.

Why 71?

The surface of the ocean covers 71% of our planet, and it hides a world that’s otherworldly and not what people imagine.

Room 71 is led by Richard Vevers, an award-winning innovator in ocean science communication.

What goes on in Room 71

Disruptive Communication

Despite decades of ocean science communications, the ocean remains widely misunderstood.

Communications typically rely on familiar, comfortable messaging and imagery that reinforce what people already think they know, rather than change misunderstandings. At Room 71, we take a different approach: we aim to disrupt how people think about the ocean and ocean science:

Raising awareness of global ocean misperception and the reason why.
Reintroducing the ocean with a completely new narrative - revealing how to see, think, and talk about the ocean.
Developing creative strategies to communicate ocean science effectively even to those who misperceive it.

Example Projects

A project to reveal how, as terrestrial animals, we’re not wired to understand the ocean - our perception is wildly different from reality.

Introducing and teaching a simple new method of understanding the ocean inspired by ancient knowledge combined with modern ocean science.

Getting people excited about ocean science through innovative ocean technology - we repositioned and rebranded WHOI’s innovation hub.

Making ocean science unignorable - Room 71’s Marketing Sprints take inspiration from the movie industry, creating ‘blockbuster’ visuals to promote ocean science.

Disruptive Tech-Design

Technology has the potential to engage new audiences who normally overlook ocean science. However, the opportunity is often missed as performance takes priority over engaging aesthetics.

At Room 71, we use bio design to help ocean science technology perform better, capture interest, and spark curiosity about the science behind the technology. After all, nature has spent millions of years refining solutions for maximum performance, and creates forms that people find instinctively appealing.

RESQ

A multipurpose underwater robot inspired by the form of a leatherback sea turtle. The shell is designed to improve hydrodynamics and minimise the energy required for deep diving.

Deep Venture

A full-ocean-depth robot designed to transform our ability to explore deep-sea environments, inspired by the form of a deep-sea Chimaera - that thrives in one of the harshest environments on the planet.

Remora

A new concept for a tag for sharks and other megafauna inspired by the remora fish - an animal that’s beautifully designed for hitching a ride on larger animals.

Disruptive Science

Pure science (or basic science) seeks to expand fundamental knowledge. Applied science builds on those discoveries to develop practical solutions but it remains a challenge to turn either into policy.

At Room 71, we take a different approach. We start with the outcome we're trying to achieve and work backward — optimizing the science, communication, and strategy to produce the action we’re looking for.

Ocean Communication Academy

Disruptive communication is most disruptive when adopted by others. That's why we created the Ocean Communication Academy — to teach what Room 71 is discovering.

Through talks, workshops, and intensive courses we’re teaching how to create breakthrough ocean science communications that inspire support for ocean science.

Richard Vevers teaaching the Ocean Communication Academy

The Space

Breakthrough ideas rarely happen in isolation. They happen when scientists, engineers, strategists, and partners come together to see problems differently. The Room 71 space is a creative hub built for that collaboration.

Designed to inspire new thinking, Room 71 is an studio and space that celebrates Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s legacy of innovation — a place to imagine the future of ocean science.

About Richard Vevers

A former advertising executive, artist, and underwater photographer, Richard Vevers has pioneered groundbreaking ocean communication initiatives for the last two decades. These have included taking Google Street View underwater, the Catlin Seaview Survey, and the Emmy-winning Netflix documentary Chasing Coral.

Through bold storytelling, disruptive ideas, creative partnerships, and innovative technology, Richard has helped mobilize significant support for ocean science and conservation worldwide.

Partnership Opportunities

We are currently looking for brand partners who are interested in amplifying and accelerating Room 71’s work.

We look for partners who can benefit from supporting disruptive ocean science and communication and offer opportunities and expertise that ocean science needs.

A great example is our partnership with Ponant Explorations — the world’s leading luxury expedition cruise company. Together we are reimagining educational travel — offering pioneering science missions to remote regions where guests can be part of the science and discover the ocean is not what they imagine.

Please contact us to discuss opportunities.

Room 71 has partnered with PONANT Explorations to reimagine educational travel, offering pioneering science missions to remote regions where guests can participate in the science and learn to see the reality of the ocean.

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