Oceans at MIT

Oceans at MIT is a group of researchers dedicated to understanding, protecting, and harnessing the world’s least explored and most vital frontier -- the ocean. The groups represents diverse fields, departments, and perspectives, but through interdisciplinary research and education programs, we are making important progress in understanding the roles that the oceans play in supporting life on Earth. Oceans at MIT is part of the MIT Global Environmental Initiative, which is developing sustainable solutions for the planet’s growing population.
Exploring Earth’s Most Important Frontier -- the Ocean.

The oceans cover 71 percent of the world’s surface and constitute 99 percent of the planet’s livable habitat. In fact, the Earth’s oceans are the largest space inhabited by living organisms in the known universe. Moreover, much of humanity lives on or near the coast, so our activities directly affect and are affected by the ocean.

The very well-being, prosperity, and sustainability of the human condition rely on the functioning of Earth’s oceans and life within it. But the impacts of pollution, overfishing, and climate change on the oceans pose significant physical, ecological, social, and economic challenges for humanity.

Just as important, we have yet to tap the oceans’ full potential as a resource. The oceans are vast storehouses of food, energy, and drinkable water, and we must learn how to exploit those resources sustainably.

Researchers in fields from robotics to acoustics, marine ecology to environmental engineering, and economics to public policy are now looking to the oceans for answers to many of the world’s most compelling challenges. Oceans at MIT is a robust interdisciplinary initiative integrating the strengths of departments, centers, and laboratories across MIT and at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), an essential partner in the work ahead.

An Urgent Mandate that Spans Disciplines and Institutions -- It is not possible to overstate the importance of the oceans to the future of life on this planet. The reciprocal effect of the oceans on Earth’s climate and of climate change on the health of the oceans presents crucial challenges. The sea level is rising. Arctic ice is melting. The increasing pollution and acidification of the oceans could endanger marine life, ecosystems, and the economies dependent upon them. Just as important, we have yet to tap the ocean’s full potential as a source of solutions to many of the planet’s pressing challenges.

We must observe and quantify what is happening to our oceans, devise ways of harnessing the ocean’s bounty without damaging it, and contribute to the framing of innovative public policies that take into consideration a deep understanding of marine processes, climate change, ocean engineering, trade, economics, alternative energy innovations, and myriad other fields and industries.

The Oceans at MIT initiative is the strategic integration of MIT and WHOI resources to address the problems and the possibilities inherent in our oceans. Collaboration is key. Marine biologists must work with mechanical engineers to develop robots to explore the deepest regions of the oceans. Energy experts must work with entrepreneurs to commercialize alternative forms of energy. Climatologists must work with public policy experts to regulate emissions. Oceans at MIT brings subject experts like these together across disciplines and institutions to achieve more than they ever could in isolation.