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The Institute for a Sustainable Earth Joins the Planetary Health Alliance
The Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) is thrilled to announce we have joined as an official member of the Planetary Health Alliance, a consortium of over 400 universities, non-governmental organizations, research institutes, and government entities from around the world committed to understanding and addressing global environmental change and its health impacts. Being a member of the PHA represents our commitment to collaboration on some of the most urgent challenges of our time, and will further enhance our capacity to advance a more just, prosperous, and sustainable world for all.
Learn more about Planetary Health science, solutions, and opportunities here.
Want to get involved? Contact ISE's Associate Director and PHA representative, Dr. Julianna Gwiszcz, at jgwiszcz@gmu.edu to find out how you can work with ISE and the PHA to advance planetary health and wellbeing through your research, education, and practice.
To stay updated about key Planetary Health research and opportunities, subscribe to the PHA monthly newsletter.
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Doctoral Students, Apply Now. Faculty, Help Spread the Word.
Co-sponsored by GMU’s Graduate Division and the Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE), the 2026 Sustainability Summer Fellowships for Graduate Research Partnerships program provides financial support and professional development to doctoral students who will work with partner organizations on applied research projects. This opportunity is designed to connect students with organizations making a positive impact in the world. Funding of $9,000 in the form of a research assistantship is available for doctoral students to work on collaborative research with host partners.
How to Apply
For each fellowship opportunity, applicants must submit the following three items via Handshake by Friday, February 27, 2026, at 11:59 pm:
- A Cover letter: 1-2 page statement that explains how the research opportunity and/or connection to the partner organization fits with their research and professional goals
- A current C.V. or résumé
- A letter of support from the student’s graduate advisor (thesis or dissertation advisor, preferably). The advisor should share this letter with the student so they can include it with their application.
**Applicants should be available in March for Zoom- or phone-based interviews with staff from the partner organization and ISE. Tentative placements will be announced by Monday, March 29, 2026; final confirmation is contingent upon the Office of Graduate Education approval.
Questions? Contact ISE Associate Director, Dr. Julianna Gwiszcz, at jgwiszcz@gmu.edu.
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The Institute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) and its partners – the Patriot Green Fund and OSCAR – are back with the spring 2026 call for proposals for the Living Labs grants program.
Mason’s Living Lab program continues to support the development of new research and scholarship initiatives. Mason faculty are invited to submit proposals for funding to support research projects that utilize Mason’s campuses and socio-environmental systems to develop innovative solutions to advance a novel sustainability-focused research agenda. Proposals will be considered from individuals or teams with a total budget not to exceed $25,000.
Proposal Due Date: March 4, 2026.
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Sips & Scholars: Infrastructure and Environment in UN Peace Operations Design
Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 3 - 4pm
Fuse First Floor Lobby, 3401 Fairfax Dr, Arlington 22201, United States
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How To Publish: Practical Skills
Monday, February 23rd 2026 | 3 - 4pm
Carter School Conference Room, Vernon Smith Hall, Floor 5, Room 5183 | 3434 Washington Boulevard, Arlington, VA, USA
Open to Mason students. The Cumbie-French Workshops focus on the knowledge and skills needed for professional development. Each workshop addresses the opportunities and challenges associated with transitioning to a career in peace and conflict resolution. For this workshop on publishing, you will learn the practical skills, techniques and strategies for transforming your writings to a publishable article or book chapter.
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Embrace Healing and Reconciliation in Countries That Suffer from Broken SystemsMarch 2nd | 6:30pm | Online
Please join us on March 2nd for a virtual, student led event: “Embrace Healing and Reconciliation in Countries That Suffer from Broken Systems.” Presented as a part of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Action and Awareness Week, this free presentation examines how restorative justice approaches can help us, as a society, move beyond punishment toward accountability, healing, and trust. Features speakers Kimiko Lighty, Director of Special Projects with Restorative Arlington, and Shukria Dellawar, Peace Practitioner and Consultant.
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February 28 - March 3, 2026 | Arlington, VA
Led by the Medical Society Consoritum on Climate and Health
Final call for the 2026 Our Planet, Our Health Convention! Hosted by the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, the 2026 Our Planet, Our Health Convention will convene health professionals, researchers, community leaders, and policy experts to tackle one of the most urgent issues of our time: the growing impact of climate change on health.
Climate change is already reshaping health, and this event is where the people ready to respond come together. Join us to build the skills, relationships, and momentum needed to make real change when it matters most.
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March 4, 2026 | 12:00 - 1:00 PM ET | GWSPH or via Zoom
Join GW's Alliance for a Sustainable Future and the REACH Center for an interdisciplinary campus event exploring the connections among data centers, energy, water, and health.
The program will feature a series of brief presentations highlighting GW and George Mason research on data centers from multiple perspectives, followed by an interactive discussion. Through showcasing ongoing work across campus, this event aims to strengthen community, spark new collaborations, and build connections with industry and community partners interested in the health and sustainability impacts of data center development. Faculty, staff, students, and external partners are encouraged to attend and engage in this growing area of research.
This event will be held in a hybrid format: In person at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, Executive Case Study Room (700A), or if attending via Zoom, the link will be provided upon registration. Lunch will be provided to those in person.
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Other Funding Opportunities
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Student Opportunities
(Faculty, please share with your students!)
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7th Earth System Observations & Modeling Graduate Symposium
Present your research at the Earth System Observation and Modeling Symposium (ESOM). GMU's COLA and AOES Department invite graduate students to submit abstracts for our annual one-day, in-person symposium on April 10, 2026. This year's theme: Integrating Traditional and Novel Approaches to Earth System Science. Present via poster or oral format and attend keynote lectures and a career panel with professionals from universities and federal labs.
Registeration deadline: April 3, 2026. Register to attend here.
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Graduate Student Career Conference & Networking Reception
Monday, March 9, 2026 | 12:30pm - 7:30pm
FUSE, Room 1311, Arlington, Virginia 22201, United States
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REpowering Schools is excited to share a new, high-impact summer opportunity for college students interested in sustainability and energy policy: The Google Solar Scholars Program, powered by Google and led by REpowering Schools.
This five-week program (May 18 – June 19) is designed to empower rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors currently enrolled in college and residing in Virginia to become leaders in the clean energy transition.
Program Highlights:
- Virtual Learning: Interactive 90-minute webinars every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00 p.m. EST.
- Field Experiences: Three in-person, hands-on field visits to solar facilities on Saturdays (May 30, June 6, and June 13).
- Career Development: Direct connection with industry professionals to explore solar siting, development, and community engagement.
- No prior experience is required—just an interest in energy, policy, and active engagement.
Additionally, outstanding participants may have the opportunity to serve as counselors for a high school summer camp.
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Applications are now open for the Washington, DC 2026-2027 Reducetarian Fellowship cohort. The Reducetarian Fellowship is designed to foster a more diverse, sustainable, and impactful movement by empowering bright, passionate, and ambitious young advocates and innovators to transform our food system.
Features include:
- 30+ in-person seminars and workshops
- One-on-one mentorship from Fellowship staff
- Introductions to impactful organizations in our network
- $5,000 stipend (contingent upon internship placement at a partner organization)
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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 aims to facilitate engagement and information sharing among sustainability-related researchers, practitioners, and relevant local, national, and international organizations.
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