Announcements

Undergraduate Research Position: Data & Diversity in the Arlington Public Schools


In partnership with Mason’s Institute for a Sustainable Earth, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) of the Arlington Public School District seeks to hire a research assistant who will be charged with locating, organizing, and harmonizing data sets that will allow district administrators to better analyze student, parent, and community data. In addition, this role will assist the Office of DEI in establishing systems for collecting data and generating reports.
This position is well suited for an advanced undergraduate student in data analytics, computer science, modeling, communications, or education who is seeking to make a positive impact. Applications may be submitted via handshake.gmu.edu (search for Job #6050630), and applicants must verify their eligibility for the Federal Work-Study award as well. The position is open until filled, so please act quickly!

    The Last Climate Action Plan Town Hall Before Release of The New Plan!

    Wednesday, March 9, 2022, 12pm ET
    Registration
    The Mason community and members of the public are invited to virtually attend the university’s fifth Climate Action Plan (CAP) Town Hall on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 12pm ET. The CAP will detail a strategy to accelerate the university’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and this is the last CAP Town Hall before the release of Phase I of the CAP in April!
    Dr. Dann Sklarew will give a special presentation about climate justice: what it is, how it affects you and the Mason community, and how we can all take action. Following Dr. Sklarew, the Mason Sustainability Council’s Carbon Neutrality Task Force, Dumont Janks, and Arup will provide an overview of the CAP process and share updates about the current development of the new CAP.
    Since the CAP impacts all Mason Patriots and the communities the university is a part of, everyone is invited to share their input during the Town Hall by asking questions and sharing comments. Feedback can be shared at any time through the CAP Feedback Form
    Presentations and recordings of all prior Town Halls can be viewed here. Review a two-page summary of the CAP for a quick overview, and learn more about the planning process on the CAP website.

      2022 PatriotHacks

      March 11 - 13, 2022
      Horizon Hall, 1001, Atrium, Fairfax Campus
      Registration

      PatriotHacks is the flagship hackathon at George Mason University – where innovators play, learn, create, game, and revolutionize technology. This is an all-encompassing hackathon where student innovators turn ideas into projects they are passionate about. Come, dive in, and make incredible things alongside fellow creators. For students interested in the Hackathon’s sustainability track, look for the challenge submitted by Mason’s Office of Sustainability and the Institute for a Sustainable Earth.
      The Fourth Annual 40-Hour Hackathon aimed at Creating, Collaborating, Learning, and Innovating will be held March 11-13 at Horizon Hall, 1001, Atrium, Fairfax Campus. Student participants can enjoy workshops, activities, and networking events. This event provides hackers an opportunity to build their resumes and make memories that will last a lifetime. The event is free and no experience is required to attend. The full schedule is available here

      25Live Guide – Feature Your Sustainability Events


      The Office of University Events, the Institute for a Sustainable Earth, and the Office of Sustainability collaborated to develop this 25Live Guide to increase the visibility of and engagement with your sustainability-focused events at Mason. 25Live is Mason’s institution-wide event and academic scheduling system which dovetails with unit calendars such as Today@Mason. Please use this 25Live Guide to ensure your sustainability-focused events, whether they are in-person or virtual, are featured on Today @ Mason and through ISE and the Office of Sustainability.

        ISE Faculty Profiles 


        The ISE faculty directory is a tool for you to find others with complementing expertise and for external and internal audiences to find you! If you haven’t yet submitted your research profile information for the directory, please complete your profile here.
        Upcoming ISE Events

        Solve Climate by 2030: Teach-In on Climate and Justice at Mason

        Wednesday, March 30, 2022, 4pm - 7pm ET (Virtual event)
        Registration 


        Join us on March 30 to participate in the Solve Climate by 2030 – Worldwide Teach-In on Climate and Justice dialogues! Universities in all 50 states and in 50 different countries are hosting conversations with climate experts to discuss ambitious, yet feasible, actions to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and prevent severe destabilization of the global climate.
        George Mason University’s Solve Climate by 2030: Teach-In on Climate and Justice virtual event will address several important topics pertaining to climate change and environmental justice. The student-moderated discussions will be interactive, solutions-oriented, and will feature Mason experts.
        Schedule (all times ET on Zoom):
        • Climate Action: Where We are Now and a Hopeful Future – 4:00 – 4:45 p.m.
        • Environmental and Climate Justice: Practical Knowledge for Action – 4:45 – 5:30 p.m.
        • Say This, Not That: Develop Your Communications Skills for Action – 5:30 – 6:15 p.m.
        • Act Now! Opportunities for Student Action and Engagement – 6:15 – 7:00 p.m.

        Climate Justice: Pasts/Presents/Futures

        Friday, April 1, 2022, 2pm - 3:30pm ET
        Registration
        How does the changing climate reshape our understanding of the relationship between past and future? What conflicts emerge from these changes? What kinds of collective projects respond to them? What is the role of the humanities and interpretive social sciences in all of this?
        On-going Histories of colonization, enslavement, economic exploitation, and geographically uneven development shape and inform current struggles over fossil fuel infrastructure, global climate finance, and climate adaptation. The Center for Humanities Research, the Institute for a Sustainable Earth, and the School of Integrative Studies are bringing together the following scholars to discuss these challenges:
        Panelists will draw on their recent and forthcoming books to explore the temporalities of climate (in)justice, in which they theorize reparations as a project of worldmaking in a time of climate crisis; the way that environmental populism challenges the climate movement’s history of elitism while reproducing hierarchies of race, class, and nation; and how decolonial approaches to collaborative climate adaptation can overcome the friction between unequal parties to enable “adaptation otherwise.” Together, they will explore how history shapes what can be done in the present to bring about more just climate futures.
          Upcoming Mason Events

          Targeting Russian Oligarchs

          Tuesday, March 8, 2022, 10am ET
          Registration


          The Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) is pleased to host Tom Firestone, with his decades long experience on Russian law, crime, and corruption to speak about several timely topics including:
          • What we can expect from the new DOJ task force
          • Legal basis for seizing oligarchs’ assets under IEEPA/sanctions and U.S. anti-money laundering laws
          • Opportunities for oligarchs to challenge seizure orders in cour
          • What U.S. businesses need to be thinking about now
          The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Louise I. Shelley, Director of TraCCC, and Professor, Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University.

          Response to the War in Ukraine

          Thursday, March 10, 2022, 11am - 12:30pm ET
          Registration


          Join the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution for a discussion on the ongoing war in Ukraine. A panel of Ukrainian experts will discuss current developments and responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The discussion is facilitated by Dr. Karina Korostelina

            Galileo’s Science Café - Data Science for Pandemic Preparedness and Response

            Thursday, March 10, 2022, 6pm - 9pm  ET
            Registration


            Join the College of Science for Galileo's Science Cafe to hear about the latest findings surrounding hot topics in science and medicine that affect our everyday lives and the decisions that we make. The latest discussion will address "Data Science for Pandemic Preparedness and Response" featuring Taylor Anderson, Ph.D., Andreas Züfle, Ph.D., Hamdi Kavak, Ph.D., and Tim Leslie, Ph.D.

            Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities Lunch and Learn Series


            The Center for Resilient and Sustainable Communities (C-RASC) is organizing a Lunch and Learn Series aimed at bringing people together from across Mason and beyond in an informal atmosphere to enhance knowledge, build collaborations, and drive research development. So, grab your lunch and join C-RASC for a range of presentations on resilient and sustainable-related topics of interest. They are designed as Brown Bag Presentations with scholars internal to Mason and webinar presentations with scholars and collaborators external to Mason.

            Spring Semester Schedule:
            March 16 at 12:00 PM ET
            Registration
            Dr. Stephanie Dailey, George Mason University
            “Law Enforcement Use of Force: A Virtual Reality Simulated Experiment”

            March 30 at 12:00 PM ET
            Registration
            Dr. Amir Golalipour, Federal Highway Administration
            “Progress Toward More Resilient Transportation Infrastructure”

            April 13 at 12:00 PM ET
            Registration
            Dr. Rebecca Sutter, George Mason University
            “Cross-Sector Collaboration with the Public Health Department”

            April 20 at 12:00 PM
            Registration
            Dr. Brie Haupt, Virginia Commonwealth University
            “Cross-Sector Collaboration with the Public Health Department”

            From Great Ideas to Global Impact: A Talk with Andrew Byrnes

            Wednesday, May 4, 2022, 2pm - 3:15pm ET
            Registration

            Join Mason's Center for Intellectual Property x Innovation Policy (C-IP2) and Business for a Better World Center (B4BW) for a discussion on translating ideas into impact with Andrew Byrnes. Technology executive, attorney, and investor Andrew Byrnes will discuss the path from developing innovative ideas to achieving broad impact, including key legal issues and business imperatives.
            Leveraging experiences from his decades-long career in the private and public sectors working alongside innovators and entrepreneurs, Byrnes will offer insights on leadership, building high-functioning teams, engaging policymakers, and other critical stakeholders, and navigating existing and emerging regulatory regimes and challenges. There is no cost to attend, but pre-registration is required.
            In the News
            Student Opportunities

            RAY Diversity Fellowship Program

            Deadline: March 27, 2022 
            Application


            The RAY Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy-related career pathways for emerging leaders of color. The RAY Fellowship Program is a two-year paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors.

              College Scholarships for Conservation and the Environment

              Deadline: April 1, 2022 
              Application


              The Educational Foundation of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts annually offers four $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors or college freshmen for college study. The scholarships support studies related to natural resource conservation. Applications must arrive at the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) office by April 1, 2022.

                Environmental Justice Video Challenge

                Deadline: April 1, 2022 
                The EPA and its co-sponsors are sponsoring the Challenge, aimed to enhance communities' capacity to address environmental inequalities. In Phase 1, students will submit a video that demonstrates innovative approaches to identify and characterize an environmental justice issue(s) in a community using data and publicly available tools. Challenge winners will receive up to $20,000, as well as other benefits. Details on Phase 2 of the challenge will be shared at a later date.
                For any questions, contact: EJVideoChallenge@epa.gov

                  CREF Compost Research Scholarship

                  Deadline: April 15, 2022 
                  The Compost Research & Education Foundation (CREF) is offering scholarships to undergraduate through PhD students, studying at a college or university in the US, interested in doing a compost-related research project. The scholarship is for $4,000, and also includes an invitation to present research findings at a US Composting Council Annual Conference during a CREF research session.
                  The goal of this scholarship is to bring assistance to students doing compost-related research and to spark interest in future careers in the composting industry. Learn more about the scholarship requirements and apply here.
                    The Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) aims to connect members of the Mason community with others across the Mason community–and with other communities, policy-makers, businesses and organizations–so that, together, we can more effectively address the world’s pressing sustainability and resilience challenges.

                    The ISE Newsletter provides up-to-date information on conferences, funding opportunities, and research pertaining to environmental science and sustainability. The biweekly newsletter aims to facilitate information sharing among researchers, practitioners, and relevant local, national, and international organization.
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