The University of Georgia is strengthening its partnership with Rowen, a 2,000-acre knowledge community located in eastern Gwinnett County, to foster innovation, research, and collaboration across agriculture, the environment, and medicine. The partnership was highlighted on June 3 as university officials detailed new projects that connect students with employers and industry leaders.
Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, said, “Through this partnership, our students are applying classroom knowledge to complex, real-world challenges alongside industry leaders. That experience not only deepens their learning but also prepares them to lead in fields critical to Georgia’s future, from environmental sustainability to life sciences. As Rowen grows, so will the opportunities for our students to contribute and thrive.”
One significant development includes UCB’s announcement in March of a $2 billion biologics manufacturing campus on 90 acres at Rowen. The facility is expected to create opportunities for University of Georgia alumni and others in the region.
Among several joint initiatives is Living Labs—a multi-institutional project involving the University System of Georgia—which enables students to work with professionals on solutions addressing industrial and environmental challenges. Over summer 2025, Rowen launched the Hydrometeorology and Land Cover Change Observational Study (HALOS), which utilizes drones and real-time sensing instruments to monitor how large-scale development affects local weather patterns and watershed properties.
J. Marshall Shepherd, Regents’ Professor at the university and lead researcher of the HALOS project, said, “Rowen is leading the way when it comes to developing a community where sustainability and environmental stewardship are core principles… This study will provide valuable insights into how large-scale construction projects can be developed in sustainable and resilient ways.”
Other collaborations include ecological studies led by faculty from UGA’s Odum School of Ecology that examine interactions between development activities at Rowen and local ecosystems over extended periods. Seth Wenger from Odum School said, “It is exceedingly rare to have a partner who invites us to monitor the ecological impacts of their development; it is rarer still… This partnership will provide an unprecedented opportunity to advance the science of sustainable urban development while providing training for graduate and undergraduate students.”
The relationship between UGA and Rowen predates these projects; earlier efforts included historical assessments guiding site planning aimed at preserving cultural attributes alongside ecological features during long-term build-out plans.
Mason Ailstock, president of the Rowen Foundation, concluded: “Being involved in students’ academic journeys is especially meaningful for Rowen… Ultimately it is these students that will be employed by and lead the companies Rowen is looking to recruit…”
