Press Releases

ATLANTA, November 25, 2025 — The Interstellar Research Group (IRG) conducted an extensive on-site visit to the Georgia Institute of Technology to assess the campus as a potential host location for the 10th Interstellar Symposium in October 2027. The visit centered on reviewing facilities that can support IRG’s growing interstellar research community, technical program tracks, and multidisciplinary scientific sessions. 

IRG President Dr. Joseph Meany, Board Secretary Stephen Fleming, Board Director and Chair of Publicity Michael Birchfield, and Chair of Capitalization and Development Sara Spath toured the campus with Dr. Jud Ready, Executive Director of the Space Research Institute at Georgia Tech. The visit leveraged longstanding professional relationships between Georgia Tech and IRG leadership, strengthening ongoing collaboration in aerospace engineering, space science, and advanced research. The evaluation included a detailed review of the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center, the Ferst Center for the Arts, and the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center. These venues offer flexible conference environments, breakout rooms, and classroom spaces suited for technical presentations, engineering sessions, space science workshops, and community engagement programs planned for the 2027 Interstellar Symposium. 

“We are extremely excited about the possibilities that the campus offers to create a comfortable and engaging atmosphere for the next symposium,” said IRG President Dr. Joseph Meany. 

“Georgia Tech shows strong alignment with the logistical, scientific, and educational needs of a global conference focused on interstellar exploration.” 

Georgia Tech presents additional opportunities to expand student involvement and public participation across disciplines including aerospace engineering, astrobiology, astronomy, robotics, and rocketry. The IRG team also explored possibilities for astronomy outreach events, art and poster exhibitions, industry partnerships, and collaboration with the Institute’s media and communications programs to support broader public visibility for interstellar research. 

Attendance for the 10th Interstellar Symposium is projected to exceed 200 participants, supported by academic partnerships across Atlanta and expanded student engagement. Georgia Tech’s research infrastructure, STEM-focused community, and location within a major innovation hub position the Institute as a leading candidate for hosting IRG’s 2027 Interstellar Symposium.