Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) Conference 2025

Overview

From April 24-27th, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society’s Education Director, Toni Lohroff, and Community Engagement Associate, Lillian Engelhard, attended the Florida Marine Science Educators Association (FMSEA) 2025 Conference in St. Augustine, Florida. FMSEA has been hosting annual conferences throughout the state since 1986, offering marine science educators the opportunity to hear from prominent speakers in marine science, engage in interactive professional development sessions, network with other educators and individuals, and exhibit to the general public.

Some highlights from the weekend:

Toni and Lillian began the conference with a field trip led by Where Salt Meets Soul alongside other conference attendees. Where Salt Meets Soul is a lifestyle brand that aims to teach the younger generation the roots behind surfing through their products and their Surf-Art-Music Camp, where students learn to surf on the beaches of St. Augustine during the summertime while channeling their creative expression. Toni and Lillian met their instructors at The Surf Shop and ventured down to the beach, where the group received an instructional lesson on the sand from Where Salt Meets Soul founder Alec, before testing their skills in the water. The attendees had a blast catching waves with the assistance of several Where Salt Meets Soul instructors, and some even spotted a few sea turtles riding the waves as well!

We wrapped up the first day of the conference with the President’s Circle SciCafe hosted at the Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, a University of Florida research center for biomedical research and biotechnology located in Marineland, Florida. We all gathered around to hear from oceanographer and ocean scientist Dr. Matthew Brown, a professor of natural sciences at Flagler College, about his experiences as an oceanographer and collecting water samples in St. Augustine. We also heard from Dr. Mark Martindale, a natural scientist and zoologist, who is a professor in the biology department at The University of Florida, about his role as the Director of the Whitney Lab and the importance of marine labs in the education and research fields.

Day two was packed with learning and networking opportunities at the Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind, a fully accredited, tuition-free school serving over 1,700 students across the state, both on-campus and remotely. SeaKeepers joined dozens of other organizations as exhibitors, setting up a table to showcase our work to other conference attendees. The day started off with a Keynote address from Chris Fischer of OCEARCH, a global non-profit organization conducting unprecedented research on sharks in an effort to help their populations rebound and educate the public about the importance they play in the balance of the ocean’s ecosystems. Toni and Lillian spent the rest of the day attending presentations and workshops from organizations like Florida SeaGrant, ANGARI, Foundation, Tampa Bay Watch, and close partner Miami Waterkeeper. These organizations presented their work along with hands-on activities they recommend using to teach topics such as marine debris, connecting with nature through art and citizen science projects.

Day two ended with a FMSEA annual member meeting, followed by a silent auction, banquet, and entertainment where attendees were able to network and support FMSEA’s educator scholarship fund. To our delight, Education Director Toni Lohroff received the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Advancement Award, recognizing her dedication to providing accessible and free educational, career, and scholarship opportunities to underprivileged and underrepresented youth in her community. Toni and Lillian had a great time networking and learning at FMSEA, and we look forward to attending next year!