Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Bio-Medical Teaching Laboratory

From the lobby, visitors will see transparent, bold, super graphics celebrating biomedicine on the glass walls of the laboratory. Inside they see students actively participating in group activities. An intriguing environment with a collection of circular, greatly enlarged microphotographs of marine animal cells and tissues that wraps from a feature wall onto the ceilings communicates a biological research theme.

The classroom is fully outfitted to flexibly support the full range of programs developed by Mote SEA education staff. There is a large format, touch-sensitive LED display for interactive presentations, digital microscope stations, plenty of counter space for display tanks and terrariums, sinks, and movable tables, which can be arranged in various configurations.

When a classroom is not being used for organized group programs, visitors may enter this staff/docent-guided space. A digital microscope station allows visitors to explore this microscopic world. A multi-touch table encourages further exploration of bio medicine and immunology.

Completing the interior design are several tanks containing live animals such as sponges, sea squirts, and small fishes currently under investigation for their potential role in advancing biomedicine. Related headlines, e. g. cone snail venom used to develop new pain-relief medicines, appear on a digital smart board. Visitors may participate in hands-on activities such as a Milton Bradley Mousetrap-like construction game that provides insights into experimental pathways and methods often involved in linear research.

Marine Ecology Teaching Laboratory

From the lobby, visitors see transparent, bold graphics celebrating marine ecology on the glass walls of the laboratory. Inside, they see students actively participating in group activities. Large murals and animal enclosures communicate the theme of watersheds and connected habitats.

The laboratory is fully outfitted to flexibly support the full range of programs developed by Mote SEA educational staff. There is a large format, touch sensitive, LED display for interactive presentations, digital microscope stations, plenty of counter space for display tanks and terrariums, sinks, and movable tables which can be arranged in various configurations.

For laboratory groups and aquarium visitors, the space becomes an opportunity for visitors to explore the important concept of a watershed—the natural progression of water flowing from land into rivers, downstream to estuaries, and into the sea with its tidal pools, reefs, and offshore depths. The message: Everything happening upstream affects everything happening downstream.

Guests, taking a visual tour around the naturally sunlit room, follow the paths water takes from the uplands to the sea. Large murals depicting the various habitats along the way frame enclosures of live animals.
Natural sound effects from all the habitats in the space can be heard from all corners of the room.

Ocean Technology Teaching Laboratory

From the forum on the “O” Level, visitors see transparent, bold, super graphics celebrating ocean technology on the glass walls of the laboratory. Inside, they see students tinkering and building various devices and a workshop-like space equipped with a 3D printer, laser cutter, and other tools.

The laboratory is fully outfitted to flexibly support the full range of programs developed by Mote SEA education staff. There is a large format, touch sensitive, DEL display for interactive presentations, plenty of counter and storage space, sinks, and movable tables that can be arranged in various configurations.

In the learning/maker space, visitors may enter this staff/docent-guided thematic area that resembles an inventor’s workshop when it isn’t being used for group programs. Visitors are intrigued by both wet and dry experimentation benches where students have created solar-powered surface vessels and remotely operated vehicles and robots. Visitors can design their own ROV or sailboat, test it in a nearby water tank, then try it out in the pond by the outdoor dock. Back inside, robotic devices actually used of oceanographic research are on display.

STEM Teaching Lab Curriculum

Ocean Technology STEM Teaching Lab

Underwater Robot Races Program – Students will investigate forces by building their own AUV’s and testing them in water raceways.
Expedition Ocean Program – Student scientists will learn about ocean exploration by investigating buoyancy and making connections to instruments that scientists deploy to collect data and samples.
Deep Sea Explorers Program – Students will investigate offshore underwater landforms and learn the engineering process through creating and testing prototypes designed to collect data deep in our oceans
Exploring Sensors Program – Students will develop a sensor network for environmental monitoring, and deploy their sensors to collect real-time environmental data.

Marine Ecology STEM Teaching Lab

Home Sweet Ocean Program – During this engaging lab students will use their five senses to identify biotic and abiotic factors across several different ocean habitats.
Watershed Investigators Program – Student scientists will collaborate to find the source of poor water quality in a Florida watershed by comparing different ecosystems and investigating how they are connected. Students will meet live Animal Ambassadors and learn ways to protect them.
Commotion on the Ocean Program – In this STEM lesson, students will observe the effect wave action has on coastal ecosystems. Students will design their ideal habitats and test their creations in a wave simulator.
Coral Matchmakers Program – In this interactive lesson, students will create a model of future coral reefs by simulating Mote’s Coral Reproduction research.

Bio Medical STEM Teaching Lab

Sharks Tools Program – In this stations-based, interactive experience, students will explore their own senses using shark bio facts and science tools, such as microscopes, forceps, and measuring tools.
DNA Tracing Program – Students are each assigned a sea turtle nest and work together to investigate which parental turtles the hatchlings are related to using DNA sequences created from PCR techniques.
Marine Medication Program – Students will compare and contrast human and shark immune systems. Students will collaborate in teams to study how sting ray slime and topical medications may affect certain pathogens.
Coral Doctors Program – In this interactive activity, students will simulate scientific methods used by Mote’s coral reef research and restoration team to assess disease presence in various marine ecosystems