Its that time of year again where we reflect on the past, plan for the future, and run our end-of-year campaign. Because the facts have shown that at least 30% of annual giving occurs in December. And, here at Science for Georgia, we are driven by the evidence.
2024 has been a wild ride! Thanks to your participation and support, Science for Georgia has been able to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Georgia.
One of our favorite things is to hear from you, the people we serve, about what Sci4Ga matters to them. And overwhelmingly, you tell us it is because we work to ensure that clear, concise, and actionable science, facts, and evidence are part of the conversation. And that science is used to serve and equip all Georgians for a brighter future.
Science is not political. It is not a divider. These days it may feel like you must “take sides” with science. But, in fact, all are welcome here. The more voices we bring to the conversation, the more we can ensure that we see and contextualize from all points of view.
Looking Back...
Seven each Georgia Science Junctions and Climate Survival Trainings, reaching approximately 500 total attendees. Covering everything from gardening, to bug eating, to mushrooms, to volcanoes, to crypto & AI, to water infrastructure, to psychedelics.
Kicked off Monthly membership meetings. With 15-20 people per phone online forum, we love to hear feedback and drive action.
Series of Environmental Justice Forums in DeKalb: 2 forms (50 people each), 1 community clean-up day (30 people), 1 community garden day (20 people), and monthly Adopt-a-Stream water testing.
4 Jazz Hands Events – Zoo Atlanta, Athens, Tellus Science Museum, and Malignant Humor at Wild Heaven: over 400 total attendees
3rd Annual Environmental Justice & Climate Protection Conference, Savannah, GA: 140 people in person, 50 people online. Enough sponsorships to enable travel stipends!
Five special events: Energy Buden in Georgia (w/ Sierra Club, GA WAND, and Brown & Associates); Envisioning Wild Hope in Georgia (w/ GPB and Fruitful communities); Panel on Climate Anxiety (w/ Unearthing Farms); DaVinci Art and Science Discussion (w/ GPB and Valdosta State University); the Science of Ice Cream;
One Campus Food Security Summit w/ Georgia State University: over 80 in-person attendees
One Advocacy Training Guide including four amazing videos, sponsored, in part, by Union of Concerned Scientists, and a guide to all those terms at the Georgia General Assembly.
18 Interns who participated in days at the Capitol, Data for Georgia, conferences, events, and creating amazing content to drive change.
Legislative Participation:
- Two Days at the Capitol, Environmental Justice and Capitol Conservation.
- Remarks on HB 1338 that made the AP!
- Flyers for Data Centers, the Okefenokee, and Sludge Dumping.
- Evaluating bills based on a science rubric.
Moving Forward
In 2025 we are doubling down on our Myth Busting efforts. Daily, we are bombarded with false narratives derived from bold assumptions. These statements work because a simple statement, with a kernel of plausibility, is easy to remember and process. The truth is out there, but it takes time, effort, and resources to research and respond with pithy statements that are based in reality.
We plan to continue hosting great events such as Georgia Science Junction, Climate Survival Training, and Jazz Hands. We will continue to utilize Data for Georgia to provide the evidence needed to support anecdotes. And our advocacy will continue via the 4th Annual EJ&CP Conference (this time in Valdosta) and ongoing data analysis.
As we close out the year, we are asking for you to support to ensure that in 2025 we can serve Georgia. We are confident that we can succeed. Together we can utilize science as a tool to facilitate the change we want to see in the world.