Events Archive | Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Coral reefs may seem far removed from a Monday night at the bar, but anyone who has spent time along Florida’s coast knows that the story of the sea is never really elsewhere.
By Edit Sarasota Staff
Coral reefs may seem far removed from a Monday night at the bar, but anyone who has spent time along Florida’s coast knows that the story of the sea is never really elsewhere. It is in the food on our plates, the economy of our waterfronts, the color beneath a snorkel mask—and in the work of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, the Sarasota institution that has spent decades translating marine science into public understanding.
This October, Mote is taking that knowledge on the road for an evening that swaps the lecture hall for a lively gathering at Florida Keys Brewing Company. The premise is simple: bring along your smartest friends, order a beer, and put your coral knowledge to the test in a free night of trivia. The format offers a welcome change of pace from the usual conservation conversation. Instead of charts and formal presentations, participants can expect the friendly pressure of a team huddle, the occasional confident wrong answer, and the pleasure of learning something new between rounds.
Coral trivia is more consequential than it sounds. Reefs are among the most intricate ecosystems on the planet, supporting marine life, protecting shorelines and shaping the identity of communities throughout Florida. They are also under extraordinary stress from warming waters, disease and changing ocean conditions. Mote’s coral research and restoration programs have made the laboratory a leading voice in the effort to understand—and help rebuild—these vital habitats. An evening of questions and answers can turn that large-scale challenge into something personal, accessible and memorable.
The setting adds its own character. Florida Keys Brewing Company, with its relaxed, social atmosphere, is an apt gathering place for a conversation about life underwater. The brewery’s location along the Overseas Highway places the event in the landscape whose waters and reefs make the subject matter immediate rather than abstract. Here, marine science belongs not only in a laboratory or aquarium but around a table shared by neighbors, visitors and curious newcomers.
Whether your coral expertise comes from years on the water or from recognizing a reef fish when you see one, the evening invites participation without requiring credentials. Come ready to collaborate, think laterally and raise a glass to the ecosystems that connect Sarasota to the wider coastal world. Mote’s coral trivia night takes place Monday, October 19, 2026, at Florida Keys Brewing Company, 81611 Old Hwy. Admission is free to play.