With a start dating back to the year of 1968, the Georgia Herpetological Society has had an active role both in professional studies and public education for many years. The organization was started by a group of people that were passionate about the affairs of certain creatures that live in the state, namely the amphibians and reptiles. With this common passion, they formed the society in an attempt to provide a cohesive unit of thought regarding the animals and to promote the interests of the animals to the public. During this time, people were first starting to become aware of the need for conservation efforts and protecting their local wildlife from habitat destruction and excessive hunting.

Members of the Georgia Herpetological Society are currently involved in the majority of all projects that involve the reptiles and amphibians that live in the state. The academic members are actively engaged in research about the most efficient ways to lead conservation efforts and learning more about the behavior of the animals. The people that joined the society because of their interest are able to help keep the databases of information up to date, reporting sightings of particular species and communicating new ideas.

For many years, the Georgia Herpetological Society has held an annual event to bring all of its members together with the public. The event is called the Georgia Reptile and Amphibians Expo and gives the members a chance to share their passion with the public. Many guest speakers come from all corners of the nation to share the knowledge and a large number of animals are on display. While the early conventions were held in nature centers and museums, the event has grown by exponential proportions and the 2007 Expo used the larger Cobb Gallery to handle the large number of members and public visitors.