Journey to Awe
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This website is a companion to interactive exhibits being prepared and shown as a part of a Scripps Institution of Oceanography MAS MBC capstone project.
This project harnesses the emotional power of awe through light, imagery, and interactive technology.
By blending science with visual storytelling, we invite you to explore the ocean in ways that spark curiosity, empathy, and a deeper sense of connection to the world beneath the waves.
Let the colors settle in your mind. Let the beauty move through you like a tide.
Now take a deep breath... and feel the awe.
Awe
Awe is that moment that stops you mid-thought, when something vast, surprising, or deeply moving pulls you out of yourself and makes you see things differently. It’s a quiet jolt of wonder that shifts your perspective.It’s not just about beauty or scale; awe pulls us out of routine and makes us feel part of something bigger.
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Psychologists and neuroscientists are now unpacking how awe works and why it matters. It turns out, awe doesn’t just feel good. It rewires our perspective, stretching our sense of time, sharpening our thinking, and nudging us to be more generous and open to others. When we feel awe, we think less about ourselves and more about our place in the world.
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Some scientists believe awe evolved to help us cooperate and connect. Instead of just looking out for ourselves, awe shifts our attention to the collective to the group, the ecosystem, the community. It helps us make sense of complexity, brings people closer together, and can even spark a stronger sense of meaning or purpose in life.
Awe, beyond beauty
It’s easy to stand in awe of the oceans beauty but there’s just as much wonder in how it works. The interactions among algae, tiny creatures, giant creatures, sunshine, tides, and people all create a dynamic, living system that’s constantly changing, connecting, and sustaining life.
About the Images
The images on this site were collected from SCUBA dive in the Monterey Bay, tidepools along the California Coast, and touch tanks in the Birch Aquarium, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and on the Scripps Campus.