Mote Marine aids reef restoration

KWHS interns work together with local lab to help rejuvenate dying coral

By KAYSIE MIRE

KONK LIFE STUDENT WRITER

From the 1980s into present day, coral has been taking a hit in the oceans of the Florida Keys.  With the reef in mind, Mote Marine, located on Summerland Key, has enlisted the help of Key West High School (KWHS) students.

Robin Sarabia of Mote Marine, explains why it’s important to teach students about marine environments, “I see Mote’s RAPS (Research-based After School Program for Students) as a unique way to empower students and give them the tools they need to make a difference in their community and help them develop as scientists.”

Mote Marine also helps high school students become more prepared for college in a way that can be both engaging and fun. “This research opportunity is really unprecedented for high school age students,” says Sarabia. “Most biology students don’t get this sort of hands-on experience until the latter half of college, and having this level of experience this early in your career will really make you stand out… being able to show your ability to commit to a project, take a leadership role in developing your own work, and present it, are all valuable skills for college and beyond.”

Lead scientist Dr. Erinn Muller explains why Mote Marine has a high school internship, “Over the years, I have realized that there are a lot of research opportunities for college students, but not really for high school students. I wanted to provide students the ability to learn about coral conservation and restoration, but primarily give them the guidance and resources needed to conduct their own research related to coral health.”

Muller points out how the lab has recently benefitted from this partnership with a major breakthrough discovered by an intern, “One student’s project focused on the effects of different types of sunscreen on coral health. She found that certain sunscreens containing oxybenzone could kill corals after just two exposures, whereas other sunscreens caused little to no harm.”

Mote Marine is an ideal place for students to learn how to better our oceans. The coral reefs today are a sad reflection of what they once were, but Mote Marine and KWHS students are helping to bring them back, by chasing the coral dream of what once was.

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