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| Wednesday, September 14, 2022 science.gmu.edu
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Mason's Role in the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative
by Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm
He described his Administration’s intent “to coordinate a whole-of-government approach to advance biotechnology and biomanufacturing towards innovative solutions in health, climate change, energy, food security, agriculture, supply chain resilience, and national and economic security.”
Core elements of the initiative “and its outcomes are principles of equity, ethics, safety, and security that enable access to technologies, processes, and products in a manner that benefits all Americans and the global community and that maintains United States technological leadership and economic competitiveness.”
The upcoming opportunities intersect with many scientific focus areas across our college and incorporates our key values surrounding Access, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (AJEDI). As such, we endeavor to fully engage and participate where possible, adding scientific value and diverse perspectives to achieve a shared vision of a leading and thriving American Bioeconomy.
I’ll breakdown a few elements of the Executive Order to get you thinking about how our research, classwork, outreach, and partnerships might fit with this initiative.
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The First Mason Space Day event a success
by Tracy Mason Photo: Cristian Torres
On Saturday, September 10, hundreds of Mason faculty, staff, students and space enthusiasts from surrounding communities attended the first Mason Space Day. A collaborative effort to educate the public on the technology and science behind some of the leading aerospace projects in the area, George Mason University, Project Caelus, Spec Innovations, and The Pearl Project Institute planned the Mason Space Day activities. Attendees enjoyed a program of lectures, exhibits and hands on demonstrations, tours of the Mason Observatory, as well as a popular meet and greet with Col. Michael Hopkins, U.S. Space Force and NASA Astronaut. Event speakers also included Mason alumni, Dr. Sandra Cauffman, Deputy Administrator of Astrophysics at NASA Headquarters, and Steven Dam, President, SPEC Innovations.
Special thanks to planning committee leaders, Mason Physics and Astronomy faculty, Gabriele Belle and Peter Plavchan, along with the college's marketing and communications team, Mason AOES and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments, and the many, many student, staff, and faculty volunteers.
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Mason scientists' work to support national air quality forecast capability operations
by Elizabeth Grisham
Bok Haeng Baek, Research Associate Professor, Center for Spatial Information Science and Systems (CSISS); Youhua Tang, Senior Researcher, CSISS, and Patrick C. Campbell, Research Assistant Professor, CSISS,are set toreceive funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the project: "Transitioning Weather-Aware Rapid Refresh Emission Modeling Capability (WAR2EMC) to Support National Air Quality Forecast Capability Operations."
The researchers expect that this work will significantly improve the temporal and spatial representations of meteorology-induced emission sources with the direct/indirect feedback meteorology predictions from inline/offline NAQFC which result in improving the regional atmospheric chemicals and aerosol predictions, especially during the high ozone and PM2.5 episodes.
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U.S. News Rankings: Mason a Top 10 Public University for Diversity, and Innovation
by Preston Williams
George Mason University is among the top 10 most diverse and innovative public universities in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report’s “2023 Best Colleges List” rankings released Monday. Mason jumped five spots to seventh nationally for diversity, and moved up one place to eighth nationally and first in Virginia for innovation. In addition, Mason moved up three spots in the overall rankings to 64th among public universities.
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Testing, Vaccines, and Boosters Available on Campus
We continue to monitor COVID as it remains a part of our lives. The community COVID risk levels for Fairfax, Prince William, and Arlington counties remains low, although both the region and Mason have seen an increase in cases in recent weeks. Our positivity rate among students is below 3%.
Mason offers COVID testing, the latest vaccines, and bivalent boosters on campus, and strongly encourages masking indoors and staying home when you are unwell. Also, as we manage our defenses against COVID, Mason is providing resources for two other illnesses that we want to keep at bay, the seasonal flu and monkeypox.
COVID testing
Walk-in COVID testing remains available for asymptomatic individuals for screening purposes at our various surveillance testing sites at SciTech, Mason Square (formerly known as Arlington Campus), and Fairfax campus. Diagnostic testing for symptomatic individuals can be scheduled through Employee Health and Well Being.
COVID vaccinations and boosters
The Employee Health & Well-Being Vaccination and Testing Center in Fenwick A on the Fairfax Campus is offering both Pfizer and Moderna two-dose vaccines and one-dose bivalent boosters, and the Novavax two-dose vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued COVID guidance for what it means to be up to date. To schedule an appointment for a COVID vaccine or booster, and to learn about vaccine eligibility click here.
Monkeypox vaccinations
Mason is also the only university in the commonwealth offering monkeypox vaccine. More information on eligibility and scheduling can also be found here.
Flu shots
Winter Wellness Flu Shot Clinics will be held at Mason Square (formerly Arlington Campus) on Oct. 11, SciTech on Oct. 18, and Fairfax on Oct. 20.
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MasonLeaps Training Update: Civility and Violence Prevention Training
George Mason University offers required and optional training opportunities through the MasonLeaps portal. To support Mason’s commitment to community safety, all university employees are required to participate at least one time in Civility and Violence Prevention Training (including all faculty, staff, wage employees, student wage employees, contractors, and affiliates).
On September 13, 2022, you should have received an email notifying you of this assigned training. If you didn’t receive an email or would like to access the training, login to MasonLEAPS and select “Launch: Civility and Violence Prevention Training” from the “Your Action Items” box on the Welcome page.
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Galileo's Science Café
September 15, 2022 | 6 p.m. | Verizon Auditorium, SciTech Campus
Attend this fall's introductory Galileo's Science Cafe with Mason's own Michael Summers, Professor, Physics and Astronomy. Summers' presentation will include information about the James Webb Telescope. Registration required.
Fall 2022 Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Student Research Symposium
September 16, 2022 | 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. | Third Floor of Planetary Hall, Fairfax Campus
Stop by this graduate student poster session to learn about biomedical/biochemistry research at SciTech, Materials Chemistry research performed at the Fairfax Campus, and Environmental Chemistry from the Potomac Science Center.
Mason Science Women Leaders in STEM: Finding Your Fit
September 23, 2022 | 3 to 5 p.m. | 3301 Exploratory Hall, Fairfax Campus
This new college organization for staff, students, and faculty, presents a program featuring keynote speakers, an interactive panel discussion and self-reflection activity. Open to all. Registration preferred.
September 28, 2022 | 4 to 6 p.m.
The State of the College Address
October 19, 2022 \ 1 to 2:30 p.m. | 3301 Exploratory Hall
Staff, faculty and students, please register to join Dean Fernando Miralles Willhelm as he provides this important annual update.
Mark your calendar: Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Conference: Vision and Action for a New Era
October 24, 2022 | 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Mason Square, Arlington, VA
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