Education Matters: Mote Marine Laboratory |  Teaching Kids the Magic of the Underwater World

By Simone Knego | February 2023

Mote Marine Laboratory is one of the oldest marine research laboratories in Florida. The facility began in 1955 in a one-room laboratory, the Cape Haze Marine Laboratory, in Placida, Florida. Dr. Eugenie Clark—nicknamed “The Shark Lady”—was a world authority on sharks and fish. She built the Cape Haze Laboratory with the support of the Vanderbilt family as a place to study the oceans and share that information with the world. 

The lab was later renamed in honor of William R. Mote, a major benefactor whose contributions helped the research lab grow in size and reputation. Today, Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is located on City Island in Sarasota, with field stations in eastern Sarasota County and the Florida Keys. Their scientists conduct research on all seven continents, and their efforts have grown to include more than twenty diverse marine research programs.  

Virtual learning at Mote started in 1989 with Robert Ballard, best known for discovering the shipwrecks of the Bismarck and the Titanic. He is a retired naval officer and was one of the people on board the Alvin, a crewed deep ocean submersible exploring the wreckage of the Titanic. That deep ocean event in the 1980s inspired many teachers and students to write to Ballard, wanting to learn more, which led him to create the JASON Project in 1989. 

The JASON Project was an educational program that used video and audio satellite feeds and, later, the internet to allow students to follow various expeditions. Mote would bring students to their auditorium to watch videos of the STEM-based adventures Dr. Ballard would go on in places such as Belize and the Galapagos. 

In 1996, Mote began its own distance learning program, bringing high-energy, multimedia science lessons right into the classroom using interactive video technology. Their lessons featured the research of actual scientists working at the lab, with interviews showing how their interests led them to their careers.

According to Jason Robertshaw, Mote’s Virtual Learning Program Manager, “Mote is known for its international research programs, but we also expand the boundaries of our education programs through virtual learning. Our passionate STEM experts connect with audiences of all ages around the world to share the inspiring, life-improving science happening at our lab. Our goal is to enhance understanding and appreciation of our oceans through engaging STEM programs that spark curiosity while fostering conservation connections.”

Today, Mote has courses that cater to school-age children, teachers, and lifelong learners. There is an incredible range of virtual opportunities for both students and teachers. Adult education opportunities are available on-site and virtually, where the public can participate from the comfort of their own home. Mote delivered live learning events to more than a hundred organizations in 2022, reaching over 10,000 participants.

In addition, last year, Mote Marine Laboratory reached over 200 children through Connected North, a program that connects Canadian Indigenous students in grades K-12 with live, interactive virtual learning experiences. It also provides access to educational resources for students and teachers in remote communities, supporting them where they live. This relationship will continue in 2023.

According to Robertshaw, “Our approach is to bring high production values to our live events using a combination of science game shows, animations, green-screen effects, and live animals. While the focus is always based on the research at Mote, the programs are far more than just a talking head. Combined with our award-winning customer service, we make the magic of the underwater world come alive regardless of physical location. We love sharing our passion for the amazing creatures that live in the seas and exploring all things aquatic with our learners.”

Current learning opportunities include:

SEA TREK

SEA Trek is a virtual STEM program with 30 to 60 minute segments for children in grades K-12 with multiple topics to choose from, including sharks, manatees, and coral reefs. The SEA Trek program is aligned with State and National Science standards and includes free supplemental media and lesson plans.

The SEA Trek program has received numerous accolades and awards over its twenty-year history. This includes numerous pinnacle awards, the highest recognition for engaging learners across the globe given by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration.

SEA ME READ

SEA Me Read is an engaging program with options for Pre-K through 4th-grade students. A  Mote specialist reads a storybook aloud with students and then engages in a learning segment to “help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension.” There are six different options, including a storybook about Eugenie Clark, founder of Mote Marine Laboratory.

SEA Show

SEA show offers free virtual lessons on specialty STEM topics throughout the year. These lessons are geared toward elementary and middle school students but are suitable for all ages and a great choice for homeschool audiences. Here are the upcoming topics through April:

February—I Love Oceans—Learn all about the life cycles of the sea, from baby sharks to hatchling sea turtles and more. For Grades K – 6. Tuesday, February 14, 2023, 1:00 pm ET.

March—Does it Grow in the Ocean—Learn about seaweed, seagrass, mangroves, and more as we find out what grows in the ocean and how the science of aquaponics can help feed people too. For Grades K – 6. Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 1:00 pm ET.

April—Does it Go in the Ocean—Earth Day: From reducing microplastics to composting, learn about eco-friendly actions that span from Earth Day to World Oceans Day with Mote Aquarium. For Grades K – 6. Wednesday, April 19, 2023, 1:00 pm ET

April—Goodnight at the Aquarium—Remake Learning Days presents: Say goodnight to your favorite sea creatures as we virtually visit them after dark. Get up close and personal, and learn about their habitats, behaviors, and conservation efforts. All ages. Thursday, April 27, 2023, 5:30 pm ET.

ENDLESS OCEANS

Endless Oceans is part of the lifelong learning opportunities at Mote. This is a semester-long course for anyone 18 and older who would like to learn more about the world of marine science through an engaging series of in-person lessons and hands-on experiences hosted by Mote education professionals. Although the program began in January, sign-up is still available for individual classes. The program will be offered again in the Fall. Alternatively, the class can be taken as a self-paced course completely online (but without the field trips).

On November 13, 2020, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium broke ground for their new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park, a state-of-the-art facility that will have over 110,000 square feet of space and exhibits totaling one million gallons of water. 

“At Mote Science Education Aquarium, science is the attraction, as it is the heart of our mission,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO. “This spectacular new facility and campus will embody our vision of Oceans for All, doubling the number of visitors whose lives are enriched by marine science each year and providing no-cost opportunities for all schools to utilize specialized teaching labs to ensure that every child has the opportunity for hands-on marine science and technology experiences. The oceans are connected to everyone, every place in the world, and our goal is to ignite within each visitor a greater degree of curiosity to learn more about the oceans and their critical value in providing the oxygen we breathe, food, medicine, economic impact and overall quality of our lives.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Mote, contact Kevin Cooper, Vice President for Communications and Strategic Initiatives, at kcooper@mote.org.

To support Mote Marine Laboratory’s ongoing endeavors, please visit mote.org or call 941-388-4441.