Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium held the official grand opening of the new Mote Science Education Aquarium on Oct. 8.
The new Aquarium marks decades of leadership and philanthropy that paved the way for the 146,000-square-foot facility at 225 University Town Center Drive in Sarasota.
Former directors, longtime trustees, and the Benderson family, credited with a central role in funding the project, were recognized during the grand opening.
Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote’s president and CEO, called the aquarium a bridge between research, education, and public engagement. “Mote SEA is much more than just an aquarium; it stands at the intersection of paradigm-changing research, science education, and community engagement,” Crosby said.
Local, state, and federal officials also praised the project. Several lawmakers noted that while public partners played a role, the majority of the funding came from private donors. Leaders hoped the facility will draw visitors to the Sarasota-Bradenton area and inspire the next generation of scientists.
The new aquarium contains more than 1 million gallons of water and will provide free, hands-on STEM learning for more than 70,000 students annually, including 26,000 from Title I schools. Exhibits will showcase sharks, rays, manatees, otters, penguins, and reef species.
Education and research labs will focus on biomedical and microbiology, marine and coastal ecology, ocean engineering and robotics, aquaculture and fisheries, coral genetics and restoration, as well as veterinary diagnostics and conservation.
“We envision a future in which tens of millions of visitors will experience the transformative power of learning and discovery, changing the way they think about our oceans, conservation, and sustainable use,” Crosby said.
