Mote Science Education Aquarium in Sarasota,Florida hosts members of WDHOF
On August 5, 2026, the Mote Science Education Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida hosted members of WDHOF. WDHOF members were Autumn Blum (2022) and her husband John Nussbaum, Lynn Rodriguez (2013) and her daughter Lilliana, and Anne Giesecke (2000). The group got a behind-the-scenes tour and had the opportunity to talk with several Mote scientists. Lynn commented, "Participating in the behind-the-scenes tour at Mote provided valuable insight into the impactful work conducted by their scientific team. It was a deeply engaging experience and sharing it with my daughter offered a wonderful opportunity to encourage her interest in future volunteering and internship opportunities. Furthermore, connecting with fellow WDHOF members during this visit was an absolute privilege." Successful work on coral was discussed as were the challenges of taking care of so many marine creatures. "Coming back to Mote, especially with my WDHOF Sea Sisters, was a full-circle moment for me. I grew up in Sarasota, and my love for the ocean started there, visiting Mote as a child. To stand in the Coral Lab and learning classrooms decades later, knowing that same spark is being lit in the next generation, was deeply moving. Places like Mote don't just study the ocean, they create the people who will go on to protect it." Autumn enthused.
The group thanked our Mote host, Pamela Siderski. The visit had been proposed at Beneath the Sea in March. WDHOF and Mote Laboratory & Aquarium recognize the Dr. Anne Giesecke Water Resources Preservation Undergraduate Research Experience, an internship with Mote.
Photo Caption: A coral lab, Mote leader Ayi Ajavon, Anne Giesecke, Lynn and Lilliana Rodriguez, Autumn Blum