Politics & Government

Laura Bush Tours Mote, Gives Ringling Lecture

Former First Lady Laura Bush stopped in Sarasota Wednesday

Former First Lady Laura Bush toured  Wednesday afternoon to meet Mote's research scientists and her friends of the sea.

Bush is known to champion Gulf of Mexico conservation and protection and had the opportunity to stop by Mote in between lectures for the Ringling College Library Association's Town Hall Series at .

Bush's visit included a behind-the-scenes visit with resident manatees Hugh and Buffett, the world’s only manatees trained to participate in research, according to a Mote news release.

Mote scientists researched Hugh and Buffett’s eyesight, hearing and sense of touch to learn how manatees navigate in their environment, providing information for management and conservation of manatee populations, which are endangered in the wild. 

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Mote Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kumar  Dr. Mahadevan was thrilled to guide Mrs. Bush through the Lab that he has led for more than 25 years.

“I was glad to have the opportunity to speak with Mrs. Bush about the Gulf, the need to protect it and her dedication to speaking out about the needs of this important ecosystem,” Dr. Mahadevan said in a release issued by Mote. “Today, Mote is honored that she was able to join us here on our campus to learn more about our research and our role in protecting and conserving the Gulf. We are glad that Mrs. Bush was able to view our many efforts to improve the health of this vital body of water — especially our joint initiative with the Harte Research Institute to protect special habitats in the Gulf.” 

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Bush also visited Mote scientists who are shedding new light on the sensory biology and behavior of sharks — top predators that play crucial roles in ocean ecosystems. She also met Mote researchers leading renowned studies of restoration of coral reef ecosystems, which are impacted by ocean acidification and disease. 

“This is all very interesting to me, especially because I’m interested in ocean conservation for the Gulf, both here in Florida and in Texas,” Bush said in a release. “I love to see this research, and I’m very impressed — especially with all the young Ph.D.s here, many of whom are women. I think it’s important to engage young people, whether they’re scientists or whether they’re kids learning about marine conservation.”

The former First Lady visited several exhibits in Mote Aquarium — the public outreach facility that brings Mote’s marine research to life for people of all ages. She had the opportunity to pet an African penguin in Mote’s Penguin Island, a limited time exhibit highlighting a faraway endangered species. She also visited Mote’s Seahorse Conservation Laboratory, which raises hundreds of baby seahorses for educational displays across the country, lessening the need to collect seahorses from the wild.

Bush also met Mote’s own “Shark Lady” — famous marine biologist Dr. Eugenie Clark, who founded the research lab in 1955, and discussed the lab’s wide-ranging marine science programs with Dr. Michael Crosby, Mote’s Senior Vice President for Research.

“Mote’s home is the Gulf of Mexico, but our research and education efforts reach around the globe,” Crosby said. “We hope this visit has given the former First Lady an excellent sample of Mote’s research, which spans a myriad of ocean species and ecosystems worldwide.” 

Town Hall Lecture

Earlier in the day Bush gave a 30-minute talk to a packed audience at Van Wezel where she said she wish that brother-in-law and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush should have ran for president in 2012, according to H-T Politics:

"Husband George W. Bush “and I wish he would,” Laura Bush said when asked if Jeb Bush will run for president someday. “We wanted him to this time.”

Laura Bush singled out his work on education as a key reason he would make a good president. She said his commitment to public policy is evident.

Jeb Bush has repeatedly said he is not running for president in 2012, though he has not ruled out a future campaign."

Bush also offered her thoughts to WWSB on what the presidential primary is like now she's years removed from one:

“I look at those things with a lot of nostalgia. I'm glad we are not there yet. They were fierce this January, but that was a lot of fun. I hope that all of the people that are there, and the candidates, and their spouses and families are looking at it for what it is, which is an unbelievable life experience that very few people have had the chance to have. That kind of real retail campaigning for a presidential election.”

 


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