This is the College of Science biweekly newsletter. For the most up-to-date information, visit science.gmu.edu or the college intranet. 

Congratulations to all the graduates of the College of Science, who celebrated their achievement on Friday, May 16 in EagleBank arena. If you missed the celebration or want to relive the moment, you can rewatch the recording on YouTube. Special thanks to the teams of staff and faculty who made this event such a success.

The annual Jack Wood Award for Town-Gown Relations recognizes individuals and groups in a variety of categories who have demonstrated leadership in fostering mutually beneficial relationships between the university and the community. This year's awardees include Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science Associate Professor Matt Rice and Department of Mathematical Sciences Professor Padhu Seshaiyer.

#FacultyFriday congratulated Aarthi Narayanan, professor in the Department of Biology, for earning the Faculty Excellence in Research Award. Narayanan's research focuses on the impact of viruses–including SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Dengue, and HIV–on disease progression at the tissue and cell level. Her work has led to important discoveries in vaccine development, drug discovery, and biomarker identification for infectious diseases. View original Instagram post. 

by Jennifer Lawler

On April 5, 2025, George Mason University’s Fairfax campus welcomed some of the brightest young minds in the DMV for the Third Annual Mason Calculus Olympiad. The event was hosted by Mason’s Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Center for Mathematics and Artificial Intelligence (CMAI).

Congratulations to the 2025 Student Award winners. The College of Science is pleased to recognize several students for their achievements and accolades in the 2024-2025 academic year. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services. 

by Laura Powers

Advancements in AI continue to move quickly, yet how confident should users be in the information pulled from generative AI tools? George Mason researcher Rebecca Jones says people should think twice before citing information generated by AI as it may be pulling outdated or obsolete information.  Her study was published in the Journal of Chemical Education’s special digital edition.

If you are planning on submitting an NSF CAREER proposal this cycle, please start a RAMP record as soon as possible. The deadline for creating the record is June 23, 2025. The deadline to have all final documents ready for college review is Thursday, July 10, 2025. If you have any questions please reach out to Jessica Hanna, jhanna3@gmu.edu. George Mason and college level details to come. Photo by MARKUS WINKLER on Unsplash.

by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

In a new paper published in Cell Reports Sustainability, Jennifer Salerno, a marine biologist and associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, and Amy Apprill, an associate scientist in Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), highlight the critical role of surrounding microbial communities in coral reef monitoring and conservation. The study has been featured on phys.org and Earth.com. Photo by QUI NGUYEN on Unsplash.

The Department of Mathematical Science's Calculus Olympiad took place in April and recently appeared in the Fairfax County Public School Superintendent's weekly reflection email. The email highlighted one of the participants, Lake Braddock Secondary School senior Kellie Ratliff, who won the first place team competition. 

by Preston Williams

George Mason University honored its largest ever graduating class at Spring Commencement, turning the event’s “This Is Your Moment” theme into a tassel-turning time to remember for a record-breaking class of more than 12,000 degree and certificate earners. The ceremony, livestreamed on George Mason’s YouTube channel from EagleBank Arena, honored graduates from 117 countries and 49 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and military installations. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding. 

STEM (and Pre-Med/Pre-Health) Virtual Transfer Info Sessions
Friday, May 30, 2025 | 4 to 5 p.m. | Virtual
Prospective transfer students are invited to attend sessions on the second Tuesday and last Friday of each month to explore STEM degree options at Mason. These sessions offer guidance on transfer planning, course selection, and transfer pathways from Virginia Community Colleges and other institutions. Attendees will also learn about STEM career readiness, including research and internships, as well as scholarships and resources for future STEM teachers, premeds, and health professionals.

NSF-bridge funding opportunities
Friday, May 30, 2025 and Friday, June 13, 2025
In the face of recent abrupt shifts in federal funding for education research, including large-scale terminations of National Science Foundation (NSF) research grant awards, impacted scholars can apply for a rapid response bridge grant opportunity. These $25,000 grants are for activities to address immediate needs following grant cancellations, including completing a wave of data collection, analyzing already collected data or writing, thoughtful project closure with community partners, or preparing grant proposals to continue the research. Learn more. 

Stearns Center: Friday Faculty Writing Sprints 
Fridays | 9 to 11 a.m. | Virtual
Are you interested in joining a community of supportive writers to help you meet your writing needs? Join weekly Writing Sprints hosted by the Faculty Writing Community. The Friday Writing Sprints meet every Friday from 9 am to 11 am on Teams, hosted by Writing Fellow Jeff Moran. Writing Fellow Sheri Huerta will host the Women's Accountability Group, also on Teams, every Friday from 9 am to 11 am. These weekly sprints offer a space for community-building and accountability to keep you on track for your writing goals.