Education Matters: Mote Marine Sets Sail Toward New Science Educational Aquarium

By Tom Reese | March 2024

In the fall of 2020, Mote Marine Laboratory broke ground on the construction of its new, state-of-the-art Science Education Aquarium located adjacent to Nathan Benderson Park near University Town Center in Sarasota. This project is a rebirth of its current aquarium located on Lido Key. 

The new, centralized location will allow them to expand educational efforts and continue to provide free resources and experiences to Manatee and Sarasota county public schools. It is expected to open to the public this winter.

HISTORY OF MOTE IN SARASOTA

Mote has a rich and storied history in Sarasota before eventually becoming the global research and education institute it is today. The original founder, Dr. Eugenie Clark, became vastly interested in sharks and marine life at a very young age after visiting a local aquarium. In 1955, she founded a small one-room laboratory to conduct research. Little did she know, that tiny laboratory would eventually grow to now include over 25 diverse marine research programs that have made significant impacts across the globe, as well as one of the largest public aquariums in Florida. 

Today, Mote is an independent, nonprofit marine research institution of world-class marine scientists committed to the belief that the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans begins with research and education.

This new Science Education Aquarium (SEA) will transform Mote’s ability to provide informal science education and enhanced levels of ocean literacy to much larger and more diverse populations from around the world. Mote SEA will serve as a regional hub for enhancing STEM skills and education through a marine science lens, with the aim of inspiring every student in our community from kindergarten through high school, with the primary concept of “Oceans for All.” 

“One of our main focuses here is education. This new aquarium will be largely focused on educating the public and students not only about the impacts of Mote Research, but about Marine Science in general and helping people get inspired and interested in the field. Hopefully we inspire more people to be the next Eugenie Clark,” says Kaitlyn Fusco, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Mote. 

In its current operation, Mote’s education programs reach an audience of over 60,000. This includes a range of students arriving through field trip programs across the region, as well as programs geared toward families and programs specifically designed for adults and post-education. There’s also a full digital learning studio through their website to reach audiences around the world. However, its current location limits the possibilities for learning and reaching larger audiences. 

“We get kids all the time that have never come over the Ringling bridge to our current facility,” says Aly Busse, Associate Vice President for Education at Mote. “This is an amazing place for a research laboratory, not a great place for a public aquarium because it’s really inaccessible. This new location will be much more accessible for a wider number of students and families.”

WHAT TO EXPECT AT MOTE SEA

When you first walk into the new facility next year, you’ll immediately be greeted with three different interactive STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teaching laboratories that will host educational programming available to all local schools. By offering these free experiences to students, it ensures each child in the area has the chance to discover marine science and technology up close and personal. Complimentary family passes will be offered to all Title-1 students in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and their families so that entrance prices are not a barrier to prevent young students from exploring and learning. 

Mote SEA will also include four workforce development laboratories to provide upper-level students, such as high school or college students, opportunities to work alongside Mote scientists and get hands-on working experience regarding ongoing research projects. Some of these projects include coral restoration, aquaculture, veterinary science, and conservation science. 

“We really want younger students to become familiar with STEM skills and feel a sense of belonging in marine science,” says Dr. Kristen Ranges, Mote SEA Education Coordinator. “Our goal is to spark interest in these kids and have them come back for camps, join their schools’ science clubs, and to understand that this is a career field with a variety of opportunities for them now and in the future. We want them to be able to see and work with scientists to really understand what a career in marine science research and other related STEM professions involve.” 

Learning about different marine wildlife and their ecosystems is a driving focus for students involved in these educational programs and field trips. The new aquarium will feature penguins for the first time at Mote, a stunning array of sharks, Atlantic and Pacific coral reef species, manatees, and much more throughout over one million gallons of space. These exhibits provide glimpses of the deep sea and other remote habitats, including Mote research sites from around the world.

EXPECTED IMPACT

Mote SEA is being developed on about 12 acres in the Sarasota County-owned Nathan Benderson Park. The new facility will be easily viewable by people traveling on I-75, which equates to approximately 43 million drivers annually. This site will also double the number of residents and visitors within an hour’s drive of the aquarium. 

The economic impact of Mote SEA will be significant. The construction of the facility is expected to produce $280 million in direct and indirect expenditures. Once completed, Mote SEA will provide about 260 employment opportunities and approximately $28 million annually in economic benefits for the state of Florida. The new aquarium is expected to see about 700,000 visitors, which is nearly double the current rate on Lido Key. This includes approximately 70,000 students with free access to its school programs annually. 

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

While the new educational programs will not go into effect until next year, there are still plenty of things to do now at the current aquarium. Shark Pups & Grownups is an early childhood STEM program for kids ages 2-5 that includes classes for sign language, science tool exploration, role play, games, and a take-home craft. Kids attend these classes with an adult or parent and get hands-on experience to inspire them at a young age. Other programs for kids aged 6+ to experience with their family include Dip Netting in the Bay, Seashore SEAfari, Animal Encounter, and online virtual resources. 

There are also several programs and activities geared toward teens and pre-teens such as day camps, summer camps, homeschool days, and programs directly associated with their schools. A wide variety of internships are available for college students and adults.

FOR MORE INFORMATION and a full list of available educational opportunities, please visit www.Mote.org/education.