Monthly South River Water Testing - April
2026-04-19 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Everett Park, 5106 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA, 30038
Date: Sunday, April 19, 2026
Time: 10 am
Location: Everett Park
Address: 5106 Klondike Rd, Stonecrest, GA 30038
We will linger in the parking lot for 5-10 minutes before heading down the trail along the water to those first shoals, where we will be doing our testing and mingling etc….
At our Environmental Justice Forums/Townhalls we heard that people want to know more about what health risks from water and air are in their neighborhoods. So we have started on two approaches to that. First is the water testing project mentioned above. Adopt-A-Stream is a state program consisting of volunteers collecting data on the water sources in their neighborhoods and the area around Everett Park along the South River is not represented in this testing project. So we are getting this started, not just to gather and monitor data, but to help the community learn about water testing along the way.

Climate Survival Training: Fix Your Own Brakes
2026-04-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Freeside, 3043 Commerce Way, Atlanta, GA, 30354, United States
Climate Survival Training: Fix Your Own Brakes
Date: April 19th
Time: 2 pm
Location:
Freeside
3043 Commerce Way
Atlanta, GA 30354

On April 19th at 2pm, we will have a Climate Survival Training about repairing and replacing brakes, led by Chris VanBrackle and hosted by Freeside.
Learn with Chris VanBrackle how to change the brakes on a car safely! Its easier that you think! This hands-on class fits with a theme of community resilience and autonomy education and we may spend some time talking about that stuff more broadly too. Given all that, it is really no surprise that this is a collaboration with the Climate Survival Training series from Science for Georgia.

Climate Survival Training

GSJ: Filming in the Okefenokee - Postponed
2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Manuel’s Tavern, 602 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, Georgia, 30307, United States
Georgia Science Junction – Filming in the Okefenokee: Challenges and Triumphs of Photography
Postponed – Unfortunately, our speaker is unavailable tonight. We are planning on getting this talk rescheduled for July, if possible. If you got tickets, you will be contacted for a refund. Thank you for your support of Georgia Science Junction!
Thursday, April 23rd, 7-8:30 pm
In-Person and Streaming
Location: Manuel’s Tavern – 602 North Highland Avenue Northeast, Atlanta, GA 30307
Featured Speaker: Mark Albertin
Continuing on the great tradition of Atlanta Science Tavern and Science Tales & Trails – GSJ events are interactive events that share science information, facilitate discussion, and help us all work together to enable science to serve all of Georgia.

Speaker Name: Mark Albertin

Speaker Bio: Mark Albertin is a documentary filmmaker and photographer. Mark was the creator of the film: Sacred Waters – The Okefenokee in Peril, and just recently produced a hardcover book on the Okefenokee that stresses its protection, but also our natural environment.

Georgia Science Junction

CST: Monthly Meetup
2026-04-26 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-31 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-28 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-26 15:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-23 15:00 - 17:00 | Lake Claire Community Land Trust, 270 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30307, United States
Every 4th Sunday
3-5pm
Lake Claire Community Land Trust – 270 Arizona Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307
This is going to become our monthly event at the same location to keep educating ourselves and sharing skills while also mingling, growing our connections, and talking about our needs and visions for a more stable future. Come hang out!

Sign up to the Climate Survival Training email list!

Athens Mayoral Candidate Forum on Energy and the Environment
2026-04-27 18:30 - 20:00 | Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St, Athens, 30606, United States
Date: 04/27/2026
Time: 6:30pm
Location: ACC Library Auditorium – 2025 Baxter St, Athens, GA
Join your community for this Non-partisan mayoral candidate forum on local issues related to energy and the environment. The forum is free and open to all!
Candidates will be asked to address energy and environmental issues that impact all Athenians.
Hosted by: Coalition of Athens Scientists, Planning Committee for Candidate Forum on Energy and the Environment, ACC Library
Athens Candidate Forum

Wetlands On Trial: A Lunch Hour Deep Dive
2026-04-28 12:00 - 13:00 | https://scienceforgeorgia.org/event/wetlands-on-trial-a-lunch-hour-deep-dive/
Time & Location
Apr 28, 2026, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Zoom
About the Event
Join us to learn about the history of our case, Glynn Environmental Coalition, Inc. et al. v. Sea Island Acquisition, LLC. From the early investigations and the initial filing in 2019, to actions in the 11th Circuit, and our recent Supreme Court petition. We’ll unpack the case in plain language, explore what’s at risk, and discuss how these decisions impact water quality, wildlife, and our community.
Hear from experts and advocates as they provide insight into the case and what it could mean for the future of our local ecosystems. Bring your lunch and your questions for this timely and informative discussion. Whether you’re new to the issue or already involved, this webinar will help you better understand what’s happening—and why it matters.

RSVP Now
Learn more: The Brunswick News

CST: Compost 101
2026-05-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Doghead Farm, 1103 Birch Street SW, Atlanta, GA, 30310, United States
May 2nd, 2026
10am-1pm
Doghead Farm
1103 Birch Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30310
Come learn about composting with our friends at Concrete Jungle! In order to self-sustain in agriculture practices, keeping the nutrients cycling into our soil is a key step. And create less food waste that breaks down into more harmful greenhouse gasses in landfills! Grow cool plants and eat cool food!
We will be going over the ins-and-outs of how compost works, how to start your own compost, and practice some hands on techniques using our 3-bin compost system at our farm. We invite you to stick around after the workshop to volunteer on our farm!
Schedule:
10am – 11am: Compost 101 with Sci4GA
11am – 1pm: Farm day
Concrete jungle has a signup form here

Climate Survival Training: Essential Bicycle Maintenance
2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Piedmont Park Community Center, 1071 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, Georgia, 30309
Climate Survival Training: Essential Bicycle Maintenance
Date: May 6th
Time: 6-7:30 pm
Location:
Piedmont Park Community Center
1071 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

On May 6th at 6pm, we will have a Climate Survival Training about repairing bikes, led by Ben Kasavan from SOPO, and hosted by Piedmont Park (at their community center location next to Willy’s) (look for the bright neon PROGRAM arrows).

We will be covering basic bike maintenance and repairs that will keep your bicycle running smoothly for longer! Learn routine maintenance, such as cleaning your chain and making minor brake adjustments, and learn how to repair a flat tire! Don’t sit in traffic, plunge into the bliss of bicycles!

Benjamin first got involved with bicycles at 8 years old racing with Star Track at the Kissenna Park Velodrome in NYC. While he doesn’t race anymore, he has never stopped biking. Beyond biking around town, he has been volunteering with DIY bicycle shops since 2015 and has been a shop manager at SOPO Bicycle Cooperative since 2019. He believes that bicycling is a powerful force not only for transportation, but also for community building, resilience, and self-empowerment.
Climate Survival Training

Sips of Science
2026-05-07 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-06-04 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-07-02 17:00 - 18:30, 2026-08-06 17:00 - 18:30 | Lost Druid, 2866 Washington St, Avondale Estates, GA, 30002, United States
Wanna hang out and talk science? Or just hang out with people who like science?
Introducing – Sips of Science – a local gathering at a local bar to have a beverage, share some camaraderie.
Help us make Science Matter Here! We want to hear from you about your interests, concerns, and goals, especially as they relate to science and data in their communities.
Head on over to the bar, look for the Sips of Science and Sci4Ga sign and have a chat.

Sci4Ga Monthly Community Meeting
2026-05-13 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-06-18 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-09 18:00 - 19:00, 2026-08-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Online
Sci4Ga Monthly Community Meeting

Learn about upcoming events, outreach skills, and opportunities in your community.
Meeting agenda and Zoom link will go out the day before the meeting. Please sign up at the form below to be notified.
These meetings (open to everyone) are your chance to have a say in what Science for Georgia is focusing on and to find ways to help out.

Please sign up at the link below to be emailed the meeting Zoom link.
Sci4Ga Membership

Data Centers 101: impacts on the Peach State!
2026-05-14 18:00 - 19:00 | GA
Join us for a comprehensive educational event on the expansion and impacts of data centers in Georgia. We will address why they are coming to Georgia, the current and projected impacts, discuss options for local action, and identify ways to organize before they rise!

Event Information
Date: Thursday, May 14th
Time: 6pm EST
Location: Virtual via Zoom
RSVP: https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=701Po00001hVR17IAG

Monthly South River Water Testing - May
2026-05-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Everett Park, 5106 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA, 30038
Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Time: 10 am
Location: Everett Park
Address: 5106 Klondike Rd, Stonecrest, GA 30038
We will linger in the parking lot for 5-10 minutes before heading down the trail along the water to those first shoals, where we will be doing our testing and mingling etc….
At our Environmental Justice Forums/Townhalls we heard that people want to know more about what health risks from water and air are in their neighborhoods. So we have started on two approaches to that. First is the water testing project mentioned above. Adopt-A-Stream is a state program consisting of volunteers collecting data on the water sources in their neighborhoods and the area around Everett Park along the South River is not represented in this testing project. So we are getting this started, not just to gather and monitor data, but to help the community learn about water testing along the way.

GSJ: Let's Talk about Data Centers in GA
2026-05-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Mutation Brewing Company, 5825 Roswell Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328
Let’s Talk about Data Centers in GA
Tuesday, May 19th, 7-8:30 pm
In-Person and Streaming
Click here for streaming
All are welcome, regardless of funds.
Location: Mutation Brewing Company, 5825 Roswell Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, in private dining room
Featured Speakers: Amy Sharma and Jessica Owens
Amy Sharma and Jessica Owens will provide an update on the latest in Data Center developments around Georgia. This includes – What is a data center? How many are coming for Georgia? How we are mapping them? and OMG! What’s happening now that there is a drought?

Speaker Name: Amy Sharma, PhD, Exec Dir of Sci4Ga and Jessica Owens, GIS Specialist

Speaker Bio:
Amy Sharma, PhD, is the Executive Director of Science for Georgia, a non-profit dedicated to engaging scientists and the community in productive dialogue. Its mission is to improve communication among scientists and the public, increase public engagement with science, and advocate for the responsible use of science in public policy. In this role she is spearheading achieving Science for Georgia’s vision and mission.
Prior to joining Science for Georgia, she was VP of Product for Prediko, a start-up that was successfully acquired by United Technologies Corp. Dr. Sharma has worked in many aspects of the engineering field: spearheading the development of the big data vertical and managing a $1M annual Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program at GTRI, working as an Assistant Professor in Medical Physics at the University of Western Australia, working as an Assistant Program Manager for the National Science Foundation, receiving political and outreach training as a AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, obtaining a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Duke University, and designing hardware logic for advanced server microprocessors at IBM.
Dr Sharma enjoys difficult challenges, jobs with overly long titles, developing big-picture strategies, communicating scientific and technical ideas to non-scientists, sewing, and smoking various foods.

Georgia Science Junction

EPD Public Hearing on Data Center
2026-05-21 19:00 | Hampton High School, 795 Hampton Locust Grove Road, Hampton, 30228, United States
The EPD is holding a public hearing on a wastewater discharge permit associated with a data center at 1100 Site Parkway, Hampton, Georgia 30228. This is in the Flint River Basin.
This is a hearing where you can submit public comments. You can also email them before the hearing (see information below). Comments are limited to under three (3) minutes in length.
Comments should:

Be focused only on wastewater discharge associated with this specific facility
Include questions for the EPD to respond to (i.e. how will you measure the impact on the Flint? How will you test the discharge for chemicals? Have you considered what chemicals may be in the discharge? How will you keep the public informed?)
Do not focus on data centers in general, do not focus on other impacts of this specific data center outside wastewater discharge
Do not be mean or threatening

Below is the information from the EPD –
EPD Notice Type: NPDES Permit Issuance
Permit No.: GA0050350
Facility Name: Equinix, Inc. – AT10x
Mailing Address: 1 Lagoon Drive, Redwood City, California 94065
Facility Address: 1100 Site Parkway, Hampton, Georgia 30228
River Basin: Flint
Receiving Water: Clear Creek
Description: This facility is a data center and will discharge a maximum of 0.35 MGD of non-contact cooling water.
GEOS Submittal ID: 912787
Hyperlink: GEOS – Public
EPD will hold a public hearing at 7:00 p.m. on May 21, 2026. The hearing will be held at Hampton High School located at 795 Hampton Locust Grove Road, Hampton, Georgia 30228. The purpose of the public hearing is to receive comments on the draft NPDES permit for Equinix, Inc. – AT10x.
The public hearing is a formal process to receive comments on the draft permit. Participants who wish to comment for the record are requested to sign in upon arrival. Hearing participants will not be subject to questions from the audience, but may be questioned by the Hearing Officer for clarification of technical points or to develop a better understanding of statements. Questions asked by participants making statements will be answered by EPD in writing at a later date. Lengthy statements or statements of a considerable technical or economic nature should be submitted in writing for the official record. During the hearing, oral statements shall be limited to three (3) minutes to allow everyone an opportunity to be heard. Comments should be confined to water quality issues.
Written comments are welcomed. To ensure their consideration, written comments should be received by close of business on May 27, 2026. Please address written comments to the address listed below, or via e-mail at EPD.comments@dnr.ga.gov. If you choose to e-mail your comments, please be sure to include the words “NPDES Permit Issuance – Equinix, Inc. – AT10x” in the subject line to ensure that your comments will be forwarded to the correct staff. A fact sheet or copy of the draft permit is available by writing the Environmental Protection Division. The permit application, draft permit, comments received, and other information are available for review at 2 MLK Jr. Drive, Suite 1470A, Atlanta, GA 30334. Please call or email to schedule a review. Please bring this notice to the attention of interested persons.

Environmental Justice & Climate Protection Conference 2026
2026-06-11 - 2026-06-12 | Georgia Tech, Atlanta, GA, United States
Our fifth year! Join us for another event where we connect community members, policy makers, and scientists to work together on moving the needle toward a more just, and cleaner, environment.
Learn more here.
Or use the below form to register:

EJCP 2026

Monthly South River Water Testing
2026-06-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-07-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-08-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Everett Park, 5106 Klondike Rd, Lithonia, GA, 30038
Third Sunday of every month
Time: 10 am
Location: Everett Park
Address: 5106 Klondike Rd, Stonecrest, GA 30038
We will linger in the parking lot for 5-10 minutes before heading down the trail along the water to those first shoals, where we will be doing our testing and mingling etc….
At our Environmental Justice Forums/Townhalls we heard that people want to know more about what health risks from water and air are in their neighborhoods. So we have started on two approaches to that. First is the water testing project mentioned above. Adopt-A-Stream is a state program consisting of volunteers collecting data on the water sources in their neighborhoods and the area around Everett Park along the South River is not represented in this testing project. So we are getting this started, not just to gather and monitor data, but to help the community learn about water testing along the way.

GSJ: Homegrown Solar: Georgia's Future Hope
2026-06-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Wild Heaven, Toco Hills, 2935B N Druid Hills Rd NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, United States
Georgia Science Junction – Homegrown Solar: Georgia’s Future Hope
Thursday, June 25th, 7-8:30 pm
In-Person and Streaming
Check out the streaming here.
Location: Wild Heaven, Toco Hills – 2935 N Druid Hills Rd, Atlanta, GA 30329, Brite Room
Featured Speakers: Virginia Cason, Rachel Gwaltney, Dr. Bill Witherspoon
Join Sci4ga Fellows, Virginia Cason and Rachel Gwaltney, and video presenter Dr. Bill Witherspoon to learn about the future of Georgia solar!
Learn about how solar power generation works, how it is made, balcony solar, and how we can make use of rooftops and parking lots to generate power where we use it. Find out about what is going on with farmland and solar in rural GA and we will check out the resources we are working on to map what is here, planned, and possible to reach Georgia’s reliable energy future!
No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

Speaker Names: Virginia Cason, Rachel Gwaltney, Ed.S., and video presenter Dr. Bill Witherspoon

Speaker Bios:
Virginia Cason
Virginia Cason is a graduate student in Georgia Tech’s Master of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Management program. As a Science for Georgia Community Engaged Research Fellow, she brings a deep commitment to energy equity and community empowerment. Virginia believes that access to clean, affordable energy is a justice issue, and that Georgians deserve transparent, accountable decision-making from utilities like Georgia Power. Her work focuses on translating complex energy policy into tools communities can actually use to advocate for themselves and cleaner, more reliable electricity.

Rachel Gwaltney
Rachel Gwaltney, Ed.S., is an Academic Designer at McGraw Hill with a background in science education, public health, and curriculum development. She taught high school science for five years and later served as a Curriculum and Training Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Her work focuses on developing engaging, evidence-based educational resources that support both educators and student learning.

Dr. Bill Witherspoon
Dr. Bill Witherspoon (video presenter) is producer of the Rock On, Mother Earth podcast series and co-author of Roadside Geology of Georgia. Since the book appeared in 2013, Bill has presented more than 100 walks, talks, and workshops throughout the state. He completed his PhD at the University of Tennessee in 1981 with a study of the geological structure of the Great Smokies. Bill taught at UT Chattanooga, then investigated the structure of northeast Alaska and adjacent Canada in the Global Geology section of Shell Development Company. He became a business co-owner and software developer, then began 17 years as a geoscience educator at Fernbank Science Center, part of DeKalb County Schools. In 2007, the National Association of Geoscience Teachers named him Georgia Outstanding Earth Science Teacher. Since retirement in 2014, Bill has studied climate science, economics, and communication at Georgia Tech and Georgia State. His next teaching project will engage several of the experts who mentored and inspired his climate studies in “Conversations on Climate,” an 8-part series taught onsite in Tucker for the Senior University of Greater Atlanta, beginning January 17.

Georgia Science Junction

GSJ: The Language of Nature - Learning to Listen, See, and Understand
2026-07-21 19:00 - 20:30 | Mutation Brewing Company, 5825 Roswell Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA, 30328
Georgia Science Junction – The Language of Nature – Learning to Listen, See, and Understand
Tuesday, July 21st, 7-8:30 pm
In-Person and Streaming
All are welcome, regardless of funds.
Click here for streaming on YouTube
Location: Mutation Brewing Company, 5825 Roswell Rd NE, Sandy Springs, GA 30328, in their Speakeasy.
Featured Speaker: Mark Albertin
From birth, we are given rules on how to live in a civilized world. We learn to read, write and speak a language. And most all of us go through an entire life never really hearing the natural world around us. Never really understanding. Never really caring to listen.
Yet, more and more studies are confirming that nature is talking…we just aren’t listening or understanding.
It took me most of my life to understand. It took countless photography trips deep into the Okefenokee Swamp and other wild places, alone. It took slowing down and listening. And what I came away with is beyond anything I could have imagined.
Mark will discuss making the film “Sacred Waters” and his solo trips over night capturing the beauty and life of the swamp.
He will be showing some of his one-of-a-kind images of the nature we are sometimes too busy to experience.

Continuing on the great tradition of Atlanta Science Tavern and Science Tales & Trails – GSJ events are interactive events that share science information, facilitate discussion, and help us all work together to enable science to serve all of Georgia.
Join Mark Albertin as we learn the lessons from filming in the Okefenokee Swamp.
Speaker Name: Mark Albertin, Owner of Scrapbook Video Productions, and Albertin Film Photography.

Mark Albertin at the Okefenokee

Speaker Bio: Mark Albertin is a documentary filmmaker and photographer. Mark was the creator of the film: Sacred Waters – The Okefenokee in Peril, and just recently produced a hardcover book on the Okefenokee that stresses its protection, but also our natural environment.

Georgia Science Junction
