Going Green - Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Mote SEA is a 146,000-square-foot facility dedicated to marine science, education, and immersive public experiences. They also are participating in a variety of education and ecological experiences.

 Florida's Coral Reef Comeback

Florida’s Coral Reef is in crisis, with only 2% of its living coral cover remaining—a stark reminder of the urgent need for action. 

Mote Marine Laboratory is leading the charge with a science-driven revolution in coral reef restoration, having already restored over 216,000 corals to  Florida’s waters and achieved the world’s first documented spawning of restored massive and branching corals. These breakthroughs mark a pivotal step toward self-sustaining reef populations and renewed hope for an $8 billion economy and the communities that depend on it. Building on this momentum and as part of the new Mote SEA, the organization is launching new workforce labs as a cornerstone of its Coral Reef Restoration Program. These state-of-the-art labs will serve as training centers, equipping the next generation of scientists, technicians, and marine conservationists with hands-on skills in coral cultivation, restoration science, and advanced breeding techniques. 

 

Groundbreaking Seagrass Restoration to Protect Florida’s Coastal Ecosystems

New Research and Education Efforts at Mote SEA Aim to Tackle Seagrass Decline and Advance Restoration

With the opening of the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), the innovative Seagrass Restoration Technology Development Initiative, which is designed to address the critical decline of Florida’s seagrass populations, is getting an infusion of excitement. Mote SEA will serve as a hub for groundbreaking research and hands-on education in seagrass biology, ecosystem restoration and microbial ecology.

 

Restoring Coral and Seagrass Species: Mote SEA is Revolutionizing Ocean Science, Ethical Standards and Optimizing Aquaculture Operations with Artificial Intelligence 

Imagine an ocean where technology and marine science unite to restore life, protect coastal communities, and unveil unprecedented discoveries. The Mote AI for Marine Science (Mote AIMS) Center is one of the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) centers focused exclusively on marine science research and education.  Featured as one of the five work force development labs at the Mote Science and Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) is an AI Lab.  The AI Lab is one of the Mote AIMS Center outreach activities and, as such highlights how AI-driven innovation can have an economic, educational, and environmental impact in southwest Florida. 

The overall focus of the Mote AIMS Center is on integrating AI into marine research, providing training and fostering collaboration both within Mote and with external partners. By doing so, Mote will enhance productivity, drive scientific discovery, ensure data security, and ethical standards, and support AI-focused education and outreach. Mote’s pioneering researchers are harnessing the power of artificial intelligence across a spectrum of ocean challenges—from restoring resilient coral and seagrass to tracking endangered sea turtles and manatees, autonomously identifying harmful algal blooms, and optimizing sustainable aquaculture.

 

Mote’s STEM Workforce Development Labs Open New Doors for Aspiring Marine Scientists

Transforming Careers in Marine Science Through Innovative Training and Opportunities

The newly opened Mote Science Education Aquarium (SEA) is not only opening its doors to visitors, but with its new STEM Workforce Development Labs, it is setting the stage for the next generation of marine science professionals.As Mote continues to grow—now employing 45 PhD-level staff, supporting over 10,000 members, and operating 38 Research Programs and Centers of Excellence—the organization is also dedicated to nurturing professionals in a wide range of science pursuits.  

 

Mote SEA Aims to Inspire Young Scientists with Transformative Teaching Labs 

Today’s young minds are being prepared to tackle tomorrow’s environmental challenges through a game changing science educational venture at the new Mote Science and Education Aquarium (Mote SEA). As the new Mote SEA celebrates its grand opening, the facility will premier its state-of-the-art STEM Teaching Labs in its new, expanded facility, marking an exciting milestone in marine science education. These three purpose-built, public-facing labs—the Marine Ecology Teaching Lab, Ocean Technology Teaching Lab, and Biomedical and Immunology Teaching Lab—are designed to immerse students in hands-on experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world research.

 

About Mote: Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a nearly 70-year legacy as an independent, nonprofit, 501(c)3 global marine research and science education institution. Mote began in 1955 and flourished on the foundational pillars of “Passion, Partnership and Philanthropy” -  the passion of a single researcher, Dr. Eugenie Clark, her partnership with the community and philanthropic support, first of the Vanderbilt family, later with the significant support and guidance of the William R. Mote family, and today through donations by thousands of individuals who believe in the mission of Mote.Today, Mote has grown into eight campuses stretching from Tampa Bay to Key West, with a ninth new campus, the Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA), currently under construction. Mote has 38 diverse world-class research programs and centers of excellence studying oceans locally and internationally, with an emphasis on positively impacting conservation and sustainable use of marine resources. Learn more at mote.org.