SEA & Do Lifelong Learning Workshops
In Sarasota, the sea is never merely scenery.
By Edit Sarasota Staff
In Sarasota, the sea is never merely scenery. It is shoreline, livelihood, laboratory, classroom—and a daily reminder that the health of our community is braided tightly with the health of the Gulf. The SEA & Do Lifelong Learning Workshops offer adults a chance to follow that connection beneath the surface, with marine science presented not as a distant academic subject but as something tangible, local and immediately relevant.
Designed for curious adult learners, the in-person workshops pair focused lessons with hands-on experiences led by Mote education professionals. The format matters. Marine science can encompass everything from animal behavior and conservation to water quality and the changing conditions of coastal ecosystems, but the workshops promise an approachable way into that complexity: clear instruction, practical activities and the opportunity to learn by observing and doing.
That spirit reflects Mote’s long-standing role in Sarasota. Founded in 1955 as a small marine laboratory, Mote Marine Laboratory has grown into an internationally recognized center for ocean research, conservation and education. Its work is rooted in the Gulf Coast, where questions about coral reefs, fisheries, sea turtles, sharks, red tide and resilient coastlines are not abstract. They shape the waters people swim in, the beaches they visit and the future of the region’s environmental and economic life.
The workshops also speak to a broader local appetite for lifelong learning. Sarasota’s cultural calendar is rich in performances, exhibitions and lectures, but its identity as a place of discovery extends beyond the arts. For adults who have always wanted a closer look at marine biology—or who simply want a more informed understanding of the waters surrounding them—this is an invitation to trade passive appreciation for active inquiry. A day at the aquarium becomes less about looking through glass and more about making connections: between research and experience, science and stewardship, curiosity and responsibility.
SEA & Do Lifelong Learning Workshops take place Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Mote Science Education Aquarium, 225 University Town Center Drive. In a city defined by its relationship with the water, the sessions offer a thoughtful way to spend time with the science that sustains it.