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
WHOI Sea Grant receives funding to support community-driven marine debris solutions
WHOI Sea Grant among recipients; funding will support innovative marine debris prevention and removal
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👽️The answers are out there.👽️
Bring your questions about the search for life in the Universe to a @nasa live Q+A this afternoon, featuring #WHOI scientist Rich Camilli!
Kicking off at 1pm (ET) on YouTube and X, Camilli and Graham Lau of @bluemarblespace will talk about #intelligentrobots that can explore, analyze, and adapt to new environments without human intervention. Their explorations of Earth’s ocean are key to the search for signs of alien life on other #oceanworlds.
Camilli and WHOI engineers are featured in a NASA+ documentary about an expedition to explore the undersea volcanoes of Santorini, Greece with autonomous underwater vehicles that can make their own decisions.
Join the Q+A (or get notified when it`s live) at the bio 🔗
📸 by Mike Toillion/NASA
Aug 29
🌅#MITWHOI Joint Program student Hiroki Nagao witnessed this sunrise over Nunap Isua Archipelago, #Greenland from the deck of @rvneilarmstrong last summer.
He was part of a research cruise that`s monitoring the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or #AMOC. This system of #oceancurrents moves heat into higher latitudes and pumps oxygen and carbon into the deep ocean. Meltwater from the Greenland ice sheet threatens to weaken this crucial ocean circulation system, and scientists like Nagao are working to understand the global impact of changes in the region.
📸 Hiroki Nagao © WHOI
Aug 29
🤖Can engineers design #robots with the scientific reasoning of a human #astrobiologist?
Join WHOI scientist Richard Camilli and his intrepid engineering team in exploring the undersea #volcanoes off of Santorini, Greece to find out! Their mission: discover whether #curiousrobots are capable of searching for signs of life remotely– here on Earth, and on other #oceanworlds.
📲Watch the full episode from @nasa at the 🔗 in our profile!
📸 by Mike Toillion/NASA
Aug 28
🏫🍎👕 Friday is the last day of our #BacktoSchool sale! 😱
Send them to class in style (and refresh your own look) with marine-themed gear from the #WHOI Shop!
Use code Back2School through August 30 to receive a 10% discount!
📲 Gear up for a great year at the 🔗 in our profile!
Aug 28
🎈With the mountains and glaciers of Liverpool Land as a backdrop, scientists land on the island of Immikkeertikajik Uunertertalik, northeast Greenland.
They`re looking for helium-rich hot springs in order to learn more about this relatively rare gas. #Helium is critical to many modern technologies, including MRIs, nuclear energy, and material analysis. But known reserves of helium are rapidly being depleted.
📸 by Peter Barry © WHOI
Aug 28
#MITWHOI Joint Program student Ciara Willis snapped this #blueshark while working with University of the Azores scientists to measure large pelagic sharks off the Azorean coast.
The camera on the right is fitted with a laser system that allows scientists to estimate the overall length of each shark. This one measured about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long!
📸 @sea.willis © WHOI
Aug 27
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