Science Symposium
ABOUT US
Founded in 2021, the Northeast Georgia Science Symposium provides a welcoming space where community members can learn from local experts, ask meaningful questions, and connect with one another. Our mission is to promote education, open dialogue, and critical thinking through accessible, expert-led events.
A Story of Questions
In 2020, a lot of people felt like the world got smaller.
Conversations became crowded with certainty—yet many of us felt less certain than ever. We were told what was “settled,” what was “safe,” what was “unquestionable.” And for those of us who asked sincere questions—questions that weren’t meant to provoke, but to understand—there was often a cost.
I wasn’t a researcher. I wasn’t a public official. I wasn’t “an expert.”
I was a mom. Four kids. A household to run. A life to live. And I kept thinking:
If everyday people can’t ask honest questions—where does understanding go?
I could read. I could listen. And I was surrounded by people with real expertise—friends and family who worked in medicine, aviation, technology, and scientific institutions. I’d also had firsthand exposure to how careful, methodical research actually works—how long it takes to test, repeat, verify, and truly understand what’s happening.
What I saw wasn’t a lack of intelligence in the public. I saw a lack of space.
Space to ask. Space to learn. A place where curiosity wasn’t treated like disobedience. A place where people could gather and say: “Help me understand.”
That’s when the idea landed:
Professionals with specialized knowledge hold symposiums all the time—dentists, optometrists, universities, industry groups. They gather not just to present information, but to debate, refine, and challenge ideas in the pursuit of better understanding.
So we asked a simple question:
What if we held a Symposium for all of us?
A place where local experts who live here and work here could share what they’ve learned—through evidence, experience, and rigorous thinking—and where the public could engage directly through respectful Q&A.
That idea became real in February 2021 at the Lions Club in Jacksonville, Florida: the first Jacksonville Science Symposium. We gathered a lineup that was bold, diverse, and—most importantly—willing to speak plainly to everyday people.
We opened with something foundational: math.
Because if we’re going to talk about complex issues, we should start with tools that help us reason clearly.
Then something unexpected happened. People didn’t rush out the door at the end of the night. They stayed. They talked. They asked more questions. They returned early the next day and stayed late again. The hunger wasn’t for a single “correct” opinion—people were hungry for understanding, and for each other.
The energy was undeniable:
Attendees were engaged. Speakers were energized. And what began as one event quickly became a movement of neighbors learning together.
In 2022, we held two symposiums—one in Jacksonville and one in Gainesville, Georgia. The Gainesville event grew rapidly—bigger space, more moving parts, more community involvement. We added space for families. We explored ways to make the experience richer:
vendors, sponsors, and kid-friendly options so adults could stay longer in conversation.
It became clear: this wasn’t a one-person project anymore. It was a community effort.
So we built the structure to support it—forming a nonprofit so individuals and businesses could contribute meaningfully, and so the symposium could grow with integrity and sustainability.
What started as a response to a moment became something bigger:
A home for curiosity.
A place where people can learn, connect, and ask without fear.
OUR MISSION
The Northeast Georgia Science Symposium exists to strengthen our community through education, respectful dialogue, and access to expert insight.
We create events where people can:
- hear from knowledgeable speakers on complex topics
- ask honest questions in a welcoming environment
- leave better equipped to think clearly and engage thoughtfully.
We believe a healthy community is one that can talk—especially about hard things.
What makes our Symposium Different?
Local expertise, shared locally
We are rooted in our region. Many of our speakers live and work near us. We’re not outsourcing understanding—we’re building it together, here.
Curiosity is welcome
Questions are not treated as threats. They are treated as what they are: the beginning of
learning.
We aim for clarity over ideology
We don’t gather to tell people what to think—we gather to help people learn how to think, how to evaluate, and how to ask better questions.
Community-first design
We’re building an experience that supports real connection—conversations before and
after talks, space for families, and opportunities to meet neighbors who value thoughtful engagement.
Our Commitment
We are intentional about keeping the Symposium focused on learning. We do not exist to promote a political party, a religious tradition, or a single worldview.
People will come with different beliefs. That’s normal. Our role is to provide an environment where information can be explored and discussed respectfully, and where participants can incorporate what they learn into their own understanding of the world.
What we hope to add to the community
We want to contribute something that feels rare right now:
- Confidence to ask questions without shame
- Access to expert perspectives without gatekeeping
- Civility in conversation—even when topics are intense
- Connection among neighbors who want to learn and engage
Because the truth is: many people aren’t looking for a fight. They’re looking for a place to breathe—and think—and learn.
That’s what we’re building.
JOIN US
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by noise, discouraged from asking questions, or simply hungry for deeper understanding—this is for you.
Welcome to the Symposium.