Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia and the Athens Grow Green Coalition invite the public to attend an information session dedicated to environmental issues related to the proposed National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility on Aug. 30 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in rooms K and L of the Georgia Center for Continuing Education Conference Center and Hotel.
Georgia is one of five finalists selected by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for the NBAF. The NBAF is a new national facility that would address the federal government’s need for research and development space to meet threats from infectious diseases of animals and livestock that can also transmit to humans. Researchers at the NBAF will focus on developing tests to detect diseases and countermeasures such as vaccines to prevent diseases.
The Athens site under consideration is University of Georgia-owned property on South Milledge Avenue near Whitehall Road. The University of Georgia is the lead of the Georgia Consortium for Health and Agro Security, the statewide collaboration working to bring NBAF to Georgia.
The Office of the Vice President for Research at UGA is hosting the meeting in cooperation with Athens Grow Green. David Lee, UGA Vice President for Research, will provide information about the proposed facility and answer questions.
“We encourage everyone who has an interest in the impact of this facility to attend,” Lee said. “We believe it’s very important that the community is fully informed about the NBAF project and is satisfied that it can be a positive addition to our community.”
Information about the NBAF and other opportunities to find out more about the project is available at www.uga.edu/nbaf.
