Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, in partnership with The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City, is inviting students, teachers and everyone curious about pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers to participate in a free livestream event at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 27.

“Seeing Yourself in STEM: Aquanauts to Astronauts” will introduce participants to three young African-American scientists who will talk about the experiences that led them to their STEM careers.    

Among them will be Mote biologist Amanda Hodo. Hodo, 27, was among four winners of the national “Find Your Heroes” video contest sponsored by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2018. In her winning video, Hodo talked about the importance of increasing diversity in marine science.

“When I was a teen, I never saw an aquarist who looked like me,” she said in the video. “My goal is to inspire a love of the ocean and science in kids in underserved communities. Because if you see it, then you feel like you can achieve it.”

Instructions on how to join the free livestream event can be found here.