Looking Back, Moving Forward

Looking Back, Moving Forward: Another Year of Bringing Marine Science Beyond the Aquarium

As we reflect on the 2025–2026 fiscal year, we're proud of what we've accomplished through Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium's Virtual Learning Programs, and even more excited about what's ahead.

Over the past year, we connected with more than 7,000 participants through 120 live educational experiences, delivering approximately 75 hours of live programming. From animal encounters and STEM explorations to science talks, storytimes, and virtual camps, it's been a year of innovation, collaboration, and connection.

A Year of Virtual Learning by the Numbers

A few highlights from the past year:

• Over 70% of participants were youth, helping inspire the next generation of ocean scientists and stewards.
• About 35% participated in Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounters (WAVE), our new format for connecting learners directly with marine life at the Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA).
• Nearly 20% participated in our free SEA Show programs, expanding access to marine science education.
• More than 75% of our revenue came from delivered educational programs and partnerships, supporting the sustainability of virtual learning.

Behind these numbers are thousands of opportunities to explore marine ecosystems, observe animal behaviors, ask questions, and connect with the science happening at Mote.

Partnerships Make It Possible

Some of our favorite accomplishments came from the people, partnerships, and opportunities that make distance learning possible. We're grateful for the organizations and individuals who helped us connect, collaborate, and learn together.

• Manatee Lagoon: Continued our collaboration to offer Virtual Summer Camp, connecting young learners with marine science through interactive experiences from both organizations.
• Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC): Connected with classrooms and lifelong learners through CILC's global network. We were especially honored to receive the 2025–2026 CILC Pinnacle Award for excellence in live virtual learning.
• Connected North: Continued sharing interactive marine science experiences with students in communities across Canada, creating opportunities for mutual learning, exchanging knowledge and perspectives, and building connections across geographic distances.
• Road Scholar: Collaborated on virtual Science Talks for lifelong learners, exploring marine ecosystems, ocean conservation, and the research happening at Mote.
• Community Foundation of Sarasota County / Cooper Lynn: Mentored a summer intern through the Environmental Discovery Awards & Internship Program (EDAP), sharing experiences at the intersection of marine science, educational technology, and informal science education.
• The Patterson Foundation / Suncoast Remake Learning Days: Participated in this regional celebration of learning through free virtual marine science experiences that encouraged curiosity, exploration, and family engagement.

What's Next for 2026–2027?

We've got some exciting developments on the horizon, including new ways to connect with Mote's scientists, explore marine life, and participate in hands-on STEM learning.

• MARVEN MK.5 is getting ready to roll. With enhanced wireless Network Device Interface (NDI) video capabilities and a more flexible mobile production setup, we'll be able to bring live experiences from even more locations throughout Mote SEA.
• Live from the Labs: We're planning to livestream select Lab Chats from the Mote SEA Workforce Development Labs on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. ET, when available. These free experiences will give virtual audiences opportunities to meet marine science professionals, explore their work, and ask questions in real time.
• World Penguin Day, April 25, 2027, 4–5 p.m. ET: Waddle into a FREE Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounter with Mote's penguins as part of Suncoast Remake Learning Days. Meet our feathered friends live, explore their remarkable adaptations, and continue the discovery with a downloadable STEM activity pack. Learn more and register.
• Free Fish WISE for Florida Teachers: Thanks to support from Florida Agriculture in the Classroom, Florida educators can book our fisheries and aquaculture Workforce Industry STEM Explorations (WISE) program at no cost during the 2026–2027 school year, while scholarships remain available. Students will explore the science, technology, and careers behind sustainable seafood production.
• More Flexibility, Less Planning: Most virtual programs can now be booked with as little as 7 days' notice, down from the previous 21 days. That means more opportunities to bring marine science into classrooms and community spaces without weeks of advance planning.
• New WAVE ACT Packs: We've added optional companion activity packs to program bookings, extending the learning beyond the live encounter with hands-on STEM activities that encourage participants to investigate, create, and explore.

More Than a Virtual Field Trip

Whether it's joining a scientist in the lab, meeting an animal live, conducting an experiment together, or exchanging ideas with learners thousands of miles away, we believe meaningful connections are at the heart of science education.

Distance learning isn't simply a substitute for visiting an aquarium. It's a way to connect people, share perspectives, and create learning opportunities that might not otherwise be possible.

We're grateful to the educators, learners, colleagues, and community partners who made this past year possible.

Here's to another year of curiosity, collaboration, and bringing the ocean to learners wherever they are.

Thank you for learning with us!

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📬 Keep in Touch

• 📧 Send questions or stories to marven@mote.org
• 📰 Subscribe to our newsletter for MARVEN program updates
• ▶️ Explore more on our YouTube channel

Zoom in. Focus together. Wonder around.

Registration is now open for the 2026 Youth Ocean Conservation Summit! Join us on Saturday, September 12 at Mote Science Education Aquarium in Sarasota, FL for a day designed to connect, inspire, and equip the next generation of ocean leaders.

YOCS gives young people ages 13-18 a unique opportunity to learn about the challenges facing our ocean, connect with other young ocean advocates, and develop the skills and ideas needed to take action in their own communities. Throughout the Summit, participants will take part in interactive workshops, explore careers and opportunities in marine conservation, connect with professionals and peers, and learn how they can turn their passion for the ocean into meaningful action.

Learn more and register today: https://www.yocs.org/2026-summit.

Space is limited and registration will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. A $30 registration fee includes access to all Summit sessions and activities, lunch, and an event t-shirt.

We would greatly appreciate your help sharing this opportunity with students, educators, and youth leaders in your networks. Our 2026 YOCS Promotional Toolkit includes ready-to-share e-mail and social media content to help spread the word.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about YOCS or the registration process. We look forward to welcoming your students to Sarasota for the Summit!

• YOCS at Mote SEA

Mote Marine Laboratory Receives 2025–2026 CILC Pinnacle Award for Virtual Learning Excellence

Mote Marine Laboratory has once again been honored with a Pinnacle Award from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC) for the 2025–2026 school year, recognizing excellence in live virtual learning experiences.

Presented annually, the Pinnacle Awards recognize CILC Content Providers whose interactive virtual programs consistently receive exceptional evaluations from educators, librarians, activity directors, and community leaders. Based on participant feedback, the awards celebrate organizations that demonstrate outstanding educational quality, meaningful learner engagement, and lasting impact.

Established in 2008, the Pinnacle Awards have become one of CILC's most respected recognitions for organizations that continue to raise the standard for interactive virtual education.

"Every Pinnacle Award recipient demonstrates that meaningful learning isn't defined by a classroom or a building—it's defined by curiosity, engagement, and human connection," said Allyson Mitchell, Director of Partnerships & Engagement at CILC. "Every one of these recipients is setting the standard for interactive learning experiences."

This latest recognition continues Mote's long tradition of excellence in virtual education. Since joining CILC, Mote has earned multiple Pinnacle Awards and, in 2020, was inducted into the CILC Pinnacle Hall of Fame in recognition of more than a decade of award-winning virtual programming.

"We have always had the goal of making education and the magic of learning here at Mote something that can be utilized by anyone," said Jason Robertshaw, Mote's Virtual Programs Manager. "The value of this award is that it is based on direct feedback from teachers, families, and community partners, so we know our programs are making a difference."

"This recognition reflects our commitment to creating immersive STEM learning experiences that inspire curiosity and connect learners with real science," said Aly Busse, Associate Vice President for Education at Mote Marine Laboratory. "Whether students join us from a classroom, library, homeschool, or community center, we're proud to make marine science accessible through engaging virtual experiences."

Over Three Decades of STEM Learning Journeys

Mote's commitment to virtual education spans more than 35 years.

In 1986, Mote Marine Laboratory established long-range plans to expand its K–12 education initiatives. That vision became reality in 1989, when legendary ocean explorer Dr. Bob Ballard, discoverer of the RMS Titanic, invited Mote to become the twelfth site in the groundbreaking JASON Project. Through interactive videoconferencing, students participated in live scientific expeditions to remote locations around the world. Support from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, along with the Sarasota and Manatee County school districts, enabled more than 10,000 students to participate during Mote's first year.

By 1994, Mote was pioneering distance-learning technology, allowing students in England to remotely pilot an underwater ROV inside Mote Aquarium's shark habitat.

Building on this momentum, Mote launched SeaTrek in 1996, connecting classrooms worldwide with marine scientists through live, multimedia virtual field trips focused on sharks, coral reefs, sea turtles, fisheries, and ocean conservation. By 2006, SeaTrek had reached more than 15,000 students around the globe.

Mote's innovation in virtual education has continued to earn national recognition. In 2017, Mote received the Interactive Video Conference Content Provider Award from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). In 2020, CILC inducted Mote into its inaugural Pinnacle Hall of Fame, recognizing over a decade of sustained excellence in live virtual programming.

Today, Mote's Virtual Focus Trips serve learners from classrooms, libraries, homeschool groups, senior living communities, and lifelong learning organizations around the world.

The Next Generation of Virtual Learning

Continuing its legacy of educational innovation, Mote is expanding its Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounters from the new Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA).

Programs are powered by the Mote Aquarium Roving Virtual Exhibit Navigator (MARVEN)—a mobile virtual learning system equipped with multiple cameras, wireless microphones, and integrated media technology that allows audiences to experience behind-the-scenes animal encounters like never before.

From penguins and sharks to sea turtles and coral restoration, MARVEN creates immersive, interactive experiences that bring learners directly into the heart of Mote's research and education mission.

Thank you for learning with us!

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📬 Keep in Touch

• 📧 Send questions or stories to marven@mote.org
• 📰 Subscribe to our newsletter for MARVEN program updates
• ▶️ Explore more on our YouTube channel

Zoom in. Focus together. Wonder around.

New Booking Option: Choose Zoom Meeting or Webinar

You have a new option when booking your Mote virtual focus trips.

You can now choose whether you'd like your session hosted as a Zoom Meeting or a Zoom Webinar.

Zoom Meeting

• Best for interactive classroom sessions.
• Participants can use audio, video, and chat.
• Teachers can be assigned as co-hosts to help manage their class.
• Ideal for classroom discussions and live questions.
• Supports up to 100 participant login links.

Zoom Webinar

• Best for larger audiences or multiple classrooms.
• Participants join without audio or video.
• Questions and comments can be submitted through the chat or Q&A.
• Supports up to 500 participant login links.
• Ideal for grade-level programs, school-wide assemblies, district events, and professional development.

When booking your program, simply select the Zoom format that best fits your audience. If you prefer to use your own Zoom account or connect by another means, just let us know in the Additional Notes section when booking.

Whether you're connecting with a single classroom or hundreds of participants across a school district, we've got you covered.

Live from the Shark Habitat — Inside Mote Aquarium

Join us on Monday, July 20, 2026, at 1 p.m. (ET)/ 10 a.m. (PT), for a one-hour lecture and Q&A to learn about how sharks are cared for and studied at Mote Aquarium.

In the final lecture of this three-part series, go behind the scenes at Mote Aquarium in a live, interactive broadcast from the shark habitat. Join Jason Robertshaw, certified Florida Master Naturalist and Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory, for an up-close look at the care, training and research supporting sharks living at the Mote Science Education Aquarium. Featuring several species on display, this lecture connects what we observe under human care to the remarkable diversity of more than 500 shark species worldwide and explores how aquarium-based research and public engagement contribute to shark conservation.

Cost: $25 per lecture

This live online experience uses Zoom Webinar. Participants will not appear on screen but may submit questions live through the Q&A feature. Unless otherwise noted, registration includes access to the live event and a recording available for two weeks after the lecture.

Register: roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/25721/Online-Lecture-Live-from-the-Shark-Habitat-Inside-Mote-Aquarium

New hours and availability

Fall 2026 Virtual Program Scheduling & Booking Updates

As we prep for another exciting school year, we'd like to share a few updates about our virtual programming schedule and booking process.

General Availability

• Most virtual programs are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
• After-hours and weekend programs may be available upon request for an additional fee.

Program Availability

Availability may occasionally change due to animal care schedules or special events. The times below reflect our typical scheduling windows.

🐧 Wonderful Animal Virtual Encounters (WAVE)

• Tuesday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET
• Axolotls: 1:00–3:00 p.m. ET
• Penguins: Typically scheduled around feeding times (approximately 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. ET)
• Sharks, Octopus, Sea Turtles, Manatees & Seahorses: Best scheduled 8:00–9:30 a.m. ET, before Mote SEA opens
• River Otters: 9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET

🆕 Workforce Industry Skills Explorations (WISE)

• Tuesday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET
• Friday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET

🎤 Mote Science Talks (Virtual)

• Monday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET
• Friday: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET

📚 SEA Me Read

• Monday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. ET

Two Virtual Learning Locations

Beginning this fall, Mote Marine Laboratory will offer virtual programs from two locations:

• Mote Education Virtual Interactive Studio (MEVIS) on City Island
• Mote Aquarium Roving Virtual Exhibit Navigator (MARVEN) at the Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA)

This expanded approach allows us to offer a wider variety of live, interactive STEM experiences for classrooms.

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Booking Your Virtual Program

We prefer to use TidyCal for booking virtual focus trip where you can view our live availability and submit your booking request.

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We look forward to learning with your students this school year! If you have questions about scheduling, technology requirements, or selecting the best program for your classroom, please contact the Mote Education team—we're happy to help.

Welcome to our summer intern

 

Hello campers! My name is Cooper, I am an intern here at Mote over the summer. I will be helping Jason run this adventurous virtual camp we have set up for you all! When not at camp, I also help Jason with his educational livestreams with MARVEN! 

Moving to Florida from my home state Ohio, I recently graduated from Ringling College of Art and Design with a degree in film! I've worked on numerous movie sets both in and outside of class. I hope to continue working on movies in Florida for the next few years before making the jump to LA. One of my favorite movies is Guardians of the Galaxy. I also love ocean life and have been taking photos of sea animals since I was young. My favorite sea animal is the Leafy Sea Dragon. I am so excited to be your virtual counselor this summer!