The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) is one of the world's foremost centres for ocean research, founded in 1930. Its campus is visible from the village — the research vessels tied up at the WHOI dock are some of the most recognisable sights in the harbour. The institution employs around 1,000 scientists and engineers and has been involved in some of the most significant ocean discoveries of the 20th and 21st centuries, including the discovery of deep-sea hydrothermal vents in 1977.
Public access to the campus is limited, but WHOI operates a small exhibit centre (Ocean Science Exhibit Center) that is open to visitors during summer. It gives a good introduction to the institution's research, with displays on deep-sea exploration, ocean circulation, and climate. The dock area and the quay outside the main campus are freely accessible and worth a look for the research vessels alone.