Against a backdrop of ancient live oaks draped in Spanish moss and salt marshes alive with shorebirds, a statewide conversation about the future of Georgia's environmental resilience took place at Jekyll Island. The Georgia Resiliency Conference 2025, organized by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), brought together more than 430 leaders and experts from across public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors, including a large delegation from Georgia Tech.

The island's natural beauty and vitality served as both inspiration and an urgent reminder of what communities across Georgia stand to lose without coordinated action. Faculty, administration, research fellows, students, collaborators, and Georgia Tech President Emeritus and keynote speaker G. Wayne Clough brought diverse perspectives to discussions ranging from coastal vulnerability to data-driven decision-making. Throughout the event, one theme remained constant: the essential role of interdisciplinary research in addressing real-world environmental challenges across the state.

In the reflections below, Georgia Tech attendees share their takeaways from this landmark gathering.

“The continued commitment by many stakeholders to manage our carbon pollution stood out, as did the importance and fragility of Georgia’s coastal wetlands. It was also rewarding to reconnect with Wayne Clough and hear his geological perspective on our state. I was particularly impressed by the use of AI and spatial data analytics featured in the tools cafe.”
— Marilyn Brown, Regents’ and Brook Byers Professor, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy

“Resiliency is now. It’s not a future goal — it’s a present imperative. As we face accelerating environmental challenges, we must adapt in real time to protect our resources and communities. I was deeply inspired by Wayne Clough’s keynote, which emphasized the importance of conservation and forward-thinking systems that can endure uncertainty. What struck me most was the number of Georgia Tech colleagues actively advancing both urban and rural resiliency across our state. Their dedication and innovation give me hope and reaffirm the importance of collaboration in this work.”
 — Jennifer Chirico, Associate Vice President of Sustainability

“It was great to reconnect and network with sponsors, Georgia researchers, local governments, and other stakeholders concerned with coastal resiliency. I was pleasantly surprised by Georgia Tech’s strong presence this year and proud to see my colleagues presenting and moderating sessions. It was long overdue, as planners routinely address issues like climate change and resiliency. The conference’s dedicated focus on connecting natural areas across the state deeply resonated. Having worked on greenspace issues for 25 years, I was inspired by the vision for a statewide trail system linking Macon to the coast through wildlife corridors. Big ideas like this will make a real difference in Georgia’s future.”
— Tony Giarrusso, Associate Director, Center for Urban Resilience and Analytics, College of Design

“The Georgia Resilience Conference provided a great forum for us to introduce our new Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow (GT²) Center to a range of stakeholders and collaborators — from the Georgia DNR to local officials. From the coastal barrier islands to the Blue Ridge Mountains, we’re focusing on research that strengthens resilience and reduces risk from natural disasters, while connecting Georgia Tech’s science to communities across the state. We were inspired by the level of collaboration among agencies, researchers, and practitioners, and we were glad to jointly debut the center’s plans at this year’s event. Our thanks to Jennifer Kline and the Georgia DNR for organizing such a meaningful and energizing conference.”
— Joel Kostka, Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and Inaugural Director, Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow (GT²); Associate Chair for Research, School of Biological Sciences

“I had a phenomenal experience at the Georgia Resilience Conference. It was heartening and eye-opening to see so many participants from all sectors invested in protecting the environment and supporting communities impacted by environmental change. I connected with professors from other universities to discuss future collaborations that could expand on my current project at Tech. Additionally, when I spoke with project managers and engineers within the private sector, I was further motivated by the realization that there is both interest and need for the research we are doing — not only to advance science but also to help those restoring our waterways apply the most promising and sustainable techniques available. This conference was well worth it and is already on my calendar for next time.”
— Maggie Straight, Ph.D. Candidate, Ocean Science and Engineering

“One of the best parts of the conference was spending time with current and former Ph.D. students like Maggie Straight and Sarah Roney (Ph.D. OSE 2025). Maggie’s research characterizes bacteria-algae interactions in micro-algae systems, while Sarah worked on oyster ecosystems during her time at Georgia Tech. What struck me about our conversation was that the principles of resilience show up at every scale. Both Maggie and Sarah are exploring how foundational species — from micro-algae to oysters — create the conditions for entire ecosystems to thrive. This is exactly the kind of systems thinking we need. I am proud to see the next generation of scientists translating their research into real-world impact and grateful for conversations that connect the dots across disciplines and scales.”
— Beril Toktay, Executive Director, Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems; Regents’ Professor; and Brady Family Chair in Management, Scheller College of Business

The Georgia Resilience Conference highlighted the power of collaboration — connecting scientists, policymakers, and community leaders who are shaping Georgia’s response to a changing climate. BBISS remains dedicated to amplifying these voices and translating research into action that strengthens resilience across the Southeast.

— Written by Seungho Lee