On June 11th and 12th, the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education had the opportunity to attend the Science for Georgia Environmental Justice and Climate Protection Conference held on Georgia Tech's campus. 

The event brought together leaders and advocates of climate justice from different backgrounds, including concerned citizens, community leaders, students, educators, and working professionals. The theme of the event for the SCORE interns was perspective. They were introduced to new ideas, drew parallels to their own experiences, and networked with people in fields that aligned with their work and shared their concerns. 

SCoRE interns pictured left to right: Taliah Smith (GT SCoRE), Ava Bussey (Propel ATL), Avishai Harris (GT SCoRE), Margaret Hankins (GSCU Rural Studies Institute), Isabella Simon (Georgia Conservation Voters), Angel Zheng (GT SCoRE), Dymon Lindsey (West Atlanta Watershed Alliance), Saanvi Singla (GT SCoRE)

For interns Taliah Smith and Saanvi Singla, hearing about climate activists' experiences with governmental intervention during a workshop about a polluted river in East Point, GA, noted the revealing nature of the workshop and conference overall in relation to the ramifications of eminent domain on communities. Taliah, who is working on research related to PFAS, otherwise known as "forever chemicals", drew parallels between the compounding problem of pollution difficulties discussed during this panel, along with what she learned at the entire conference, and her own work, noting the "interconnectivity of the challenges being faced and the dedication an individual must have to tackle them". 

Interns Angel Zheng and Avishai Harris reflected on some of the conversations they had with speakers and participants at the event. Angel Zheng, an intern working with Migrants in Sustainability, MiSu, spent time speaking with a researcher, Allen Hyde, involved with her work. She was able to learn more about him and his role and his work, leading her to think about the future of her work, those who will be involved, and how they will contribute to MiSu's larger goals together. After learning about the policy component of construction projects in her county, Dekalb, Avishai gained insight on how communities and their political representatives can negotiate with corporations for their benefit. She noted how much more manageable environmental justice seemed when localized solutions, like the ones presented at the conference, were enacted. Both Angel and Avishai found value in the diversity in speakers and participants across Georgia, with Angel finding that she gained "a greater understanding of the climate landscape in general". 

Ava Bussey, an intern at Propel ATL, who has been "extremely concerned by the statewide inaction around data centers, and the way they have continued to flood Georgia communities", was hoping to gain more scientifically and data driven information about the costs of data centers and how stakeholders were advocating in their sectors. She noted her gratitude for the resources the experts provided, including a data center map and community benefits agreements that were discussed in her favorite sessions. In her words, "this conference brought new ideas about how to speak about and address data centers, a path forward where data centers and Al are not synonymous with devastating local communities, and hope for what is in the works already". 

The impact of this event was not unnoticed by the SCORE interns. It served as an opportunity to be participants of the greater Georgia community, inform themselves, and take away knowledge that will shape their work both at SCORE and in their future careers.