Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is a research organization founded in 1930 and dedicated to understanding the ocean and its connections to all life on Earth. It is a community of scientists, engineers, and explorers who conduct research across ocean science, marine engineering, underwater vehicle technology, and ocean observatory development.
The institution operates a fleet of research vessels and develops advanced underwater vehicles to enable exploration from coastal waters to the deepest depths. It also builds and maintains ocean observatories for the continuous monitoring of marine conditions and ecosystems. These capabilities support its core mission of advancing knowledge about the global ocean.
A significant part of WHOI's work involves education. It runs academic programs aimed at training the next generation of ocean leaders, providing them with access to its cutting-edge research facilities and seagoing platforms. This dual focus on research and training positions the institution at the intersection of scientific discovery and workforce development in the marine sciences.