Watch Party: Florida’s Gentle Giants — Protecting Manatees Above & Below

Join us on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at 1 p.m. (ET)/ 10 a.m. (PT), for a free one-hour lecture and Q&A to explore the data and research behind manatee conservation.

Join us this Manatee Awareness Month for a program delivered from atop the 150,000-gallon manatee habitat at the new Mote Science Education Aquarium. Jason Robertshaw, certified Florida Master Naturalist and Program Manager at Mote Marine Laboratory, will share more than 30 years of groundbreaking manatee research, exploring how scientists use aerial surveys, drones and photo-identification to track populations, monitor migration patterns and identify critical habitats. Learn how researchers catalog individual manatees by their unique scars and markings, creating decades-long records that help shape state and federal conservation efforts. At a critical time for the species, you’ll gain insight into the threats manatees face — including seagrass loss, harmful algal blooms, cold stress and human impact — and how science is guiding conservation efforts. This lecture offers a compelling look at how data and discovery come together to protect one of Florida’s most iconic animals.

Jason Robertshaw is a programs manager at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. He designs and delivers STEM distance learning programs for all ages, including Mote's award-winning SEA Trek program. Jason manages educational technologies, produces multimedia content, and leads Mote's “Endless Oceans” lifelong learning program. He has a background in public television and environmental project management for the state of Florida. Jason is a certified Florida Master Naturalist and Instructor, and serves as a board member for multiple organizations.

For more information, please visit: https://www.roadscholar.org/find-an-adventure/31146/Online-Lecture-Florida-s-Gentle-Giants-Protecting-Manatees-Above-Below