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| Wednesday, November 1, 2023 science.gmu.edu
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Dean's Blog: Knowledge for Impact
by Fernando Miralles Wilhelm
Serving The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is one of a few organizations around the world known as multilateral development institutions, or simply multilaterals. They provide grants and loans for sustainable development projects to developing countries. The IDB is focused specifically in Latin America and the Caribbean. Last week, I was honored to participate in and speak during the IDB Group’s 2023 Knowledge Week.
Attendees came together to consider how to best positively inspire and impact 3.5 million students across 16 countries. We discussed such important topics as climate change and biodiversity, sustainable infrastructure, knowledge for impact, impact financing, and equity and inclusion issues. We asked and discussed options to challenging questions including 'What steps can be taken to reduce the digital gap in education?' We also highlighted the need to reduce the gender gap in this important region of the world.
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Are we in a space race for cosmic resources?
On the sixth episode of Our Future, Transformed, Hakeem Oluseyi, astrophysicist and research professor at George Mason University, speaks with Mason President Gregory Washington about how the race to exploit cosmic resources has geopolitical implications and why we had to start from scratch in our attempt to return to the Moon..
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#FacultyFriday highlights chemistry and biochemistry associate professor
This past #FacultyFriday highlighted Benoit Van Aken, associate professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. While Van Aken’s primary research interests focus on the development of molecular biology methods for various environmental applications, he is currently conducting research in two major areas: (1) the molecular response of organisms exposed to environmental stressors (toxicogenomics) and (2) the development of molecular biomarkers for the detection of harmful aquatic organisms, including pathogens, invasive species, and toxic algae. View original Instagram post.
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Intranet shout out: ABCE information and resources
Check out the college's new intranet for important information on college activities, deadlines, resources, and more. In the ABCE section, read AJEDI articles in the news; and learn about our Inclusive “AJEDI” Excellence plan progress. The anonymous feedback link is there too. You can access the intranet by visiting science.gmu.edu/intranet, then either click on ABCE at the top nav or in the Access, Belonging, and Community Engagement (AJEDI) call out box in the blue bar.
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Advancing infectious disease capabilities through biomedical research laboratory core support
by Elizabeth Grisham
Farhang Alem, Interim Director of the Biomedical Research Laboratory, Institute for Biohealth Innovation, and Aarthi Narayanan, Professor, Biology, will receive more than $12 million from the National Institute for Health to support development of Mason’s Biomedical Research Laboratory, advancing the university’s research capabilities for infectious diseases. Funding will support a number of facility improvements including the implementation of a comprehensive BSL-3 facilities preventative maintenance and upgrade plan to ensure continuity of operations, compliance with federal regulations, and a safe and secure facility. Funding will also enhance safety and quality of BSL-3 laboratory practices and create two new research cores in high containment.
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Conducting geochemical analysis of carboniferous carbonates and implications for ocean oxygenation
by Elizabeth Grisham
Geoffrey Gilleaudeau, Assistant Professor, Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, received funding for the project: "Geochemical Analysis of Carboniferous Carbonates and Implications for Ocean Oxygenation." He and his collaborators aim to generate a new composite carbon record through the lower Mississippian in the Williston Basin. They also aim to generate a new record that tests the hypothesis that carbon excursion was related to an expansion of global ocean anoxia, or absence of oxygen. Photo by Linda Xu on Unsplash.
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NIST teams up with Mason to create groundbreaking "Quantum Ruler" to explore exotic properties of twisted graphene”by National Institute of Standards and Technology
Scientists at NIST and collaborators, including Physics and Astronomy Assistant Professor Fereshte Ghahari, have developed a "quantum ruler" to measure and explore the strange properties of moiré quantum matter. As part of the study, Ghahari developed a device to investigate various material properties, such as magnetic fields and superconductivity. Their work could pave the way for breakthroughs in microelectronics and new standards for electrical resistance, potentially influencing ultrathin superconductors and enhancing quantum research. Photo by B. Hayes/NIST.
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Call for proposals: Access to Research and Inclusive Excellence
National Conference 2024
Mason's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion invites you to submit proposals for the second annual ARIE conference. Proposals must be submitted no later than Friday, November 3, 2023. DEI seeks interactive presentations and poster proposals that advance where and how we together reimagine existing or build new systems, structures, and practices to ensure every student can thrive in a welcoming and diverse learning environment. The conference will take place in March 2024.
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Engage! Food Insecurity
November 2, 2023 | Noon to 1:30 p.m. | George's, Johnson Center, third floor
The office of Community Engagement and Civic Learning (CECiL) will host an annual issue-based program that shares information on critical social justice issues in our surrounding communities while coming up with potential service projects, collaborations and solutions. This year's program will focus on food insecurity. Lunch will be served. Register to attend.
Provost Search Listening Session
November 3, 2023 | 10 to 11 a.m. | Zoom
This is an opportunity for the campus community to share suggestions for what qualities we are looking for in our next Provost, strengths and challenges our new Provost is likely to encounter, short- and long-term goals for achievement, and points of pride about Mason that we want to share with all candidates. All faculty, staff, and students are invited. Access the meeting. .
Open to all science disciplines, Dr. Dieter Vollhardt, world renowned physicist celebrated for his pioneering contributions to condensed matter physics, will focus on the intriguing topic of "Laws and Theories in the Natural Sciences." This presentation, originally delivered in German to the esteemed German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, will be presented in English for our zoom audience.
Title IX Training for College of Science Employees
November 6, 2023 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Virtual
Tom Bluestein, Central DEI’s AVP of Equity and Access Services and Title IX Coordinator, will lead Title IX workshops for College of Science staff, faculty, and leadership. This workshop will fulfill your annual, mandatory online Title IX training titled, “Building Supportive Communities.” If you have already taken the online or in-person workshops, you do not have to attend; you have already met your annual training requirement.
Academic Units Town Hall with President Washington
November 6, 2023 | 1 to 3 p.m. | Dewberry Hall, Johnson Center or Virtual
As accomplished last semester, in lieu of individual unit visits, President Washington will host a 90-minute town hall, which is open to all College of Science faculty and staff to attend, as well as other academic schools and college members. A livestream, viewing-only option will be available for those unable to attend in-person via the link and password below. Q&A will not be available on the livestream and the session will not be recorded.
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