Advancing Direct Air Capture (DAC) for Community Benefit and Climate Action
Workshop Series Overview
Direct Air Capture, commonly abbreviated as DAC, is a technology currently being developed that removes Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere by using special chemicals for filtration. Integrating community perspectives into DAC projects is crucial to ensure that DAC hubs become community assets, supporting communities’ visions for the future and addressing local concerns. Here's a video and an article introducing DAC.
Our Community DAC Workshops are designed to deepen understanding of Direct Air Capture and foster collaboration between community leaders and the researchers, technology specialists, project developers, and government agencies that typically lead DAC design, development, and deployment.
Workshops
The Community DAC Workshop Series ran from September 2024 through April 2025, bringing together community leaders, scientists, engineers, and policymakers to explore Direct Air Capture (DAC) through a community-centered lens. Each session fostered rich dialogue and cross-sector collaboration. Workshop materials from both the Fall and Spring sessions are available upon request. All workshops were free and open to the public with registration. Based on the high level of engagement in the Fall, we extended the length of our Spring sessions to allow more time for questions, conversation, and reflection.
DAC Ecosystem Innovation
Thursday, November 7, 1:00 - 3:00 PM EST (virtual)
Learn the basics of DAC and work in small groups to brainstorm innovative ideas for developing, designing, and deploying DAC to advance community priorities. No previous knowledge of DAC is necessary.
Facilitated by Garry Harris from the Center for Sustainable Communities & Matthew Reichert from the University of South Alabama.
Community Benefit Plans: U.S. Dep't of Energy (DOE) Perspective and Examples
Tuesday, December 3, 1:00 - 3:00 PM EST (virtual)
Learn about the community benefits, labor, and engagement expectations of DOE projects and examples of real Community Benefits Commitments for DOE-awarded DAC projects at various stages of project development.
Featuring Beth Weed, Claire Kendall, Jill Capotosto, and James Winters from the DOE Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED).
Crowd-source Key Takeaways and Plan Spring Semester
Tuesday, December 17, 2:00 - 3:30 PM EST (virtual)
This workshop will review and discuss key takeaways from our work together to date and facilitate discussion about what we want to do together in the spring. The workshop will be very interactive. This is an opportunity for collective learning and to provide input into the topics for Spring Semester workshops. We will plan upcoming workshops based partly on this conversation. You do not have to have attended any previous workshops to participate - all are welcome!
Facilitated by Jennifer Hirsch and Matthew Realff from Georgia Tech.
Community DAC Q&A: A Conversation with Scientists & Engineers
Thursday, February 27, 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM EST (virtual - feel free to eat your lunch during the workshop)
Learn directly from scientists and engineers involved in Direct Air Capture (DAC) research and deployment. Questions to be discussed will include how DAC works, current technological developments, and potential impacts on communities and the environment.
Featuring Chris Jones and Matthew Realff from the Georgia Tech Direct Air Capture Center and Ben Wernette from the Southern States Energy Board, and Judy Xie from Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Facilitated by Erica Holloman-Hill from Ayika Solutions and the Georgia Tech SCoRE External Advisory Council, and Alexandra Rodriguez Dalmau from Georgia Tech SCoRE.
Regulating Carbon Dioxide Removal: Governance Structures & Implications for Local Communities - CANCELLED
Thursday, March 13, 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM EST (in-person/hybrid)
Please note that this workshop, as well as additional ones planned for April and May, have been canceled. Please see “Engaging Beyond the Workshops” for other ways to engage.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Underground Storage: Technology, Uncertainties & Risks
Tuesday, April 1, 2:00 - 4:30 PM EST (virtual)
Learn about the uncertainties and potential risks associated with underground storage of CO2. This session will cover requirements for infrastructure, geologies, and monitoring. We will touch on issues related to community well-being and human health, environmental impacts, scale, etc.
Featuring Ashlynn Hall from Carbon 180, Adam Milewski from the University of Georgia Department of Geology, and Judy Xie from Georgia Tech School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Value for Attendees
Learn About DAC
Learn about Direct Air Capture (DAC) at the intersection of technology and community.
Collaborate Across Sectors
Engage in meaningful dialogue and activities with people from different communities and sectors to expand your networks and create an unlikely coalition of people committed to centering the community in clean energy and decarbonization projects.
Develop Innovative Pathways
Work together to push innovative concepts for designing and deploying DAC to advance community priorities.
Engaging Beyond the Workshops
Digital Badge Program
Direct Support for Your On-the-Ground Work
If you want support for your on-the-ground work, but you’re not interested in the Digital Badge program, reach out to our Community-Engaged Sustainability Project Manager - Alexandra Rodriguez Dalmau (arodriguezdalmau@gatech.edu) and we can find a time to chat! We’d be happy to chat and explore ways to support your work.