Speakers 2025
Overview
Speakers 2025
Below you will find information regarding the speakers from the NE Georgia Science Symposium.
Each evening a 50 minute interactive, informative, and entertaining presentation by a local Science expert passionate in their field and current in their information is followed by 10-15 minutes of questions from the audience.
Come prepared with Questions!
- Start Date:
- End Date:
- 2 March, 2025
- 6 March, 2025
Sunday, March 2nd at 6:00 Pm
Brian Olson
Space Exploration 2025
Rockets, moonwalks, geosynchronous satellite orbits
Brian Olson’s fascination with space exploration began in his childhood in Canada, where he frequently sketched Mercury Space Capsules in the margins of his school assignments. Despite initially pursuing music at the University of Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, his career took a sharp turn toward aerospace and television journalism after his family relocated to the United States.
As a television news journalist, Brian covered military and commercial aerospace, which opened doors to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. He flew aboard Thunderbird 8, visited three aircraft carriers, a guided missile cruiser, and even a nuclear missile submarine. These experiences deepened his expertise in the aerospace field.
Brian’s civilian contributions included attending the Strategic Air Command Missile Competition at Vandenberg Air Force Base and studying at the National Air War College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. His career continued to soar when he joined DISH Network as the Executive Producer of Television Production. Here, his aerospace knowledge landed him on commercial spacecraft launch teams, taking him to Cape Kennedy for numerous launch events, including the SpaceX Dragon, Orion, GOES S, and Artemis missions.
His work with the Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR) further solidified his legacy in aerospace, earning him the “Cosmic Contributor” award in 2018. With Colorado Aerospace employing over 180,000 professionals, Brian played a vital role in fostering innovation and collaboration within the industry.
Now retired and living in Gainesville, Georgia, Brian remains an enthusiastic advocate for space exploration. He eagerly anticipates the next wave of Artemis launches, which aim to return humans to the moon.
Fun Fact: Brian’s incredible journey from sketching spacecraft as a child to witnessing and participating in historic launches exemplifies the power of curiosity and determination.
Join Brian Olson on Sunday evening for an insightful keynote session on the future of space exploration, followed by an exciting hands-on experiment where you can launch your own glow-in-the-dark water-bottle rocket!
Monday, March 3rd at 6:30 PM
Manolo Alayeto
Gwinnett School of Music
Memory & Music: Increasing Intelligence from In Utero to “Old-Timer’s”
About Manolo Alayeto:
Manolo Alayeto is an Emmy-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and musician whose career spans collaborations with globally renowned artists. His achievements include producing and touring with Julio Iglesias Jr., as well as recording alongside Portuguese icon Ana Malhoa and El Cata, known for his work with Shakira on the hit song “Loca.”
As the founder of AMP.Ed, a performance-based music academy, Manolo is dedicated to helping aspiring artists unlock their creative potential. The academy’s comprehensive curriculum emphasizes composition, theory, arranging, writing, and producing original music, offering students the tools to discover and nurture their inner artist.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Manolo is also a martial arts instructor and dojo owner. He attributes the discipline and focus instilled through martial arts as key influences in his approach to both life and art. This unique combination of creativity and discipline has made him a dynamic and inspirational speaker.
Fun Fact: Manolo’s dual expertise in music and martial arts showcases the synergy between creative expression and structured discipline, proving that both fields can enrich the mind and soul.
Join Manolo Alayeto on Monday evening for a fascinating exploration of how memory and music intertwine to enhance intelligence across all stages of life. His insights will inspire and entertain audiences of all ages.
Tuesday, March 4th at 6:30 PM
Allison Houtzager
with Paradox Protein
"The Journey from Pastry to Protein: How Crickets Can Help Save the World"
About Allison Houtzager
Allison Houtzager’s career is a testament to perseverance, creativity, and innovation. After nearly three decades of success in the food industry in the UK, Allison brought her talents across the Atlantic to the United States, where she quickly established herself as a trailblazer in the nutritional industry. Known for her meticulous attention to detail, relentless determination, and unwavering work ethic, Allison’s life motto is simple: “Never, never, never give up.”
Allison began her career as a pastry chef for the Royal Air Force, honing her craft in precision and excellence. She then transitioned into restaurant management, gaining valuable insights into operations and customer engagement. Later, she served as Director of Nutritional Services, earning accolades for her transformative contributions to the field.
Her journey took an unexpected turn when she discovered her true passion: crickets. Recognizing their incredible nutritional benefits, including high levels of protein, vitamins B2 & B12, calcium, magnesium, and iron, Allison ventured into entrepreneurship, founding multiple cricket-based companies. After over a decade of supplying the reptile industry, she co-founded Paradox Protein, a company dedicated to creating cricket-based protein powder for human consumption. Through her work, she pioneered innovative products, including The Original Cricket Pill. This first-of-its-kind supplement provides all the nutritional benefits of crickets without the crunch or texture that might deter some consumers. It serves as both a gentle introduction for newcomers and a staple for cricket enthusiasts.
Driven by a passion for helping others and improving global nutrition, Allison’s ultimate dream is to bring her cricket-based products to countries facing critical protein and nutrition shortages. Her goal: to start with crickets and make a lasting impact on humanity.
Fun Fact: Allison’s journey from pastry chef to cricket pioneer shows how innovation and an open mind can transform the way we approach nutrition and sustainability.
Join Allison Houtzager for an inspiring keynote presentation as she shares her remarkable journey and the potential of crickets to change the world—one protein-packed bite at a time.
