Colleen Kearney Rich / en Smithsonian connections helped shape this conservation scientist’s academic path /news/2026-04/smithsonian-connections-helped-shape-conservation-scientists-academic-path <span>Smithsonian connections helped shape this conservation scientist’s academic path</span> <span><span>ckearney</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-29T12:05:51-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 29, 2026 - 12:05">Wed, 04/29/2026 - 12:05</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="jdfsz intro-text">91 graduate student Jose Meneses&nbsp;</span><span class="intro-text">has always been fascinated by the natural world. Like many future scientists, he spent hours as a child watching nature documentaries.</span><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>“I grew up watching National Geographic and the Smithsonian Channel,” said the Falls Church, Virginia, native. “I’ve always been interested in nature, biology, ecology—anything related to wildlife.”</span></p> <p><span>During the pandemic, Meneses transferred to George Mason from Radford University to be closer to home. That decision that would ultimately reshape his future.</span></p> <div style="min-width: 50%;"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-video-embed-field field--type-video-embed-field field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/80WR0GVDs_k?autoplay=0&amp;start=0&amp;rel=0&amp;mute=0"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <p><span>One opportunity in particular at his new university caught Meneses’s attention: the </span><a href="https://smconservation.gmu.edu/"><span>Smithsonian–Mason School of Conservation</span></a><span> (SMSC) and its Smithsonian–Mason Semester, which allows students to spend a semester at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, Virginia, conducting research alongside Smithsonian scientists.</span></p> <p><span>“When I heard you could spend an entire semester there doing fieldwork and getting lab experience, I thought that was amazing,” he said.</span></p> <p><span>Meneses enrolled and the experience confirmed that he had found his calling. “It was probably the best semester I’ve had in college.”</span></p> <p><span>In 2023, Meneses graduated from George Mason with his bachelor’s degree in environmental science but stayed on for his graduate studies as part of George Mason’s </span><a href="/admissions-aid/accelerated-masters"><span>Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s Program</span></a><span>. He will graduate with a </span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/environmental-science-policy"><span>master of science in environmental science and policy</span></a><span> this May.&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2026-04/img_1013.jpg?itok=sqbTA6yx" width="337" height="350" alt="Jose Meneses in Florida" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>George Mason graduate student Jose Meneses doing field work in Florida. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p><span>And he has continued his relationship with the Smithsonian Institution throughout his time at George Mason, working with different animals.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>During his Smithsonian–Mason Semester, Meneses worked on a five-week research project studying salamander skin peptides—natural compounds produced by salamanders that help defend against deadly fungal infections—in the Smithsonian’s Center for Conservation Genomics.</span></p> <p><span>After graduation, he took an internship in National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory at the National Zoo, where he helped analyze blood and trunk wash samples to detect the deadly virus affecting elephants. Later, he joined the zoo’s Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, assisting researchers studying new methods for preserving reproductive cells from endangered feline species.</span></p> <p><span>These experiences gave Meneses exposure to a wide range of conservation research and strengthened his interest in the complex relationships between organisms. Eventually, that interest led him to zombie crabs.</span></p> <p><span>Before beginning his master’s program, Meneses searched for a faculty advisor whose research matched his growing curiosity about ecological relationships. One scientist stood out to him— Amy Fowler, an associate professor who leads the Aquatic Ecology Lab at George Mason’s Potomac Science Center.</span></p> <p><span>Fowler studies parasitic barnacles that infect the tiny mud crabs of the Chesapeake Bay, manipulating the animals’ biology and behavior, making them zombie crabs. Meneses soon joined Fowler’s lab as a graduate research assistant and began designing the research that would become his master’s thesis.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2026-04/img_1167.jpg?itok=9QDxekJK" width="299" height="350" alt="Jose Meneses in the lab" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Meneses in the lab at Fort Pierce. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p><span>This academic year Meneses was a Smithsonian Link Foundation Fellow and spent 12 weeks in Florida collecting mud crabs from traps he placed earlier in the summer and studying them at the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce. Meneses’s project looked at parasite local adaptation—how parasites are better at infecting local host populations than foreign host populations. Every two weeks, he drove hundreds of miles along Florida’s East and West coastlines, pulling the traps from marina docks and transporting their tiny occupants back to the lab for infection trials to measure susceptibility across different populations.</span></p> <p><span>During his time at George Mason, Meneses also participated in three study-abroad trips that had a profound effect on his studies.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>The first took him to Indonesia, where he studied marine mammal conservation and visited a dolphin sanctuary where he helped collect behavioral data on dolphins and other marine species. The program also included a journey up the Mahakam River in Borneo to search for the endangered Irrawaddy river dolphin. “We found a small group of them, which was really exciting,” Meneses recalls. “There aren’t many left in the wild.”</span></p> <p><span>Another study-abroad course took him to Kenya, where George Mason students explored the country’s biodiversity, visiting the Maasai Mara and Ol Pejeta Conservancy. For his project there, Meneses studied a classic example of mutualism—the partnership between acacia trees and the ants that defend them from browsing animals like giraffes and elephants.</span></p> <p><span>“The ants get food and housing from the plant. And in return, they protect the tree,” he said. “I think Kenya is my favorite of all the places that I've visited.”</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2026-04/250716212.jpg?itok=aqkam0LN" width="560" height="352" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Jose Meneses mentoring students in the Aspiring Scientist Summer Internship Program. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p><span>His third trip came when he enrolled in a SCUBA certification course at George Mason this spring. As part of the program, Meneses and other students traveled to Roatán, Honduras, where they completed their open-water certification while diving along coral reefs. The trip included multiple dives each day and a reef shark dive he won’t soon forget.</span></p> <p><span>“It was incredible. We saw so much marine life,” he said. “I actually found a shark tooth. Apparently, that’s pretty rare.”</span></p> <p><span>As for what’s next in his career, Meneses said he is still interested in disease ecology but would like to transition to studying bats. He is applying to technician and research assistant positions in bat disease and behavioral ecology with the aim of getting more experience before applying to PhD programs.</span></p> <p><span>To students interested in pursuing research while at George Mason, Meneses advises them to go out and explore.&nbsp;“There are a lot of opportunities on campus, a lot of clubs, and a lot of cool people. It was through participating in programs and organizations that I really gained that new perspective on the environment and research and ecology.”</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="eac27d36-cdb5-41e1-98a8-8eb5effa6386"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://smconservation.gmu.edu"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="99b98d4e-3f15-4623-a9c1-27f1d303ccbc"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://oscar.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about student research opportunities <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="d2d3131f-c230-4caf-950a-849b591188ee" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>&nbsp;</p> <hr> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="11182593-47e0-4713-9c9e-483e9ad64278" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-e9d034d7c8dbd5a96780a9447f642e8c15621fce725fbb2a8f58e7e421f22d9a"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/george-mason-announces-faculty-affairs-appointments-korea-and-fairfax" hreflang="en">George Mason announces faculty affairs 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class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/336" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/806" hreflang="en">Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/481" hreflang="en">Graduation</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/18016" hreflang="en">Spring Commencement</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/536" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/15206" hreflang="en">accelerated bachelor's to master's</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:05:51 +0000 ckearney 345793 at From the Classroom to the Front Lines of Counterterrorism /news/2026-04/classroom-front-lines-counterterrorism <span>From the Classroom to the Front Lines of Counterterrorism </span> <span><span>Katarina Benson</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-04-08T08:18:56-04:00" title="Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - 08:18">Wed, 04/08/2026 - 08:18</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US"><strong>Mahmut Cengiz</strong></span><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">, PhD Public Policy ’10, of George Mason's Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center, is a seasoned expert in terrorism, organized crime, and illicit economies.&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2025-05/mahmut-cengiz-600x600.jpg?itok=enxVRw8c" width="350" height="350" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Mahmut Cengiz. Photo provided</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">His work focuses on the dynamics of terrorism, smuggling, and criminal networks and contributes significantly to understanding and combating these global challenges. His latest book, </span><em><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Typologies of Terrorist Organizations: Conceptual Lenses and Counterterrorism Measures</span></em><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> (Carolina Academic Press, September 2025), was cowritten with Mitchel Roth and Huseyin </span><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Cinoglu</span><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>What inspired you to write this book?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">When most people think of terrorism, they picture headline-grabbing attacks by well-known extremist groups. What they rarely see is the vast and complex web of organizations operating in the shadows, each with its own tactics, motivations, and impacts. That realization came to me while teaching BIOD 722 Examining Terrorist Organizations at the Schar School of Policy and Government, and it became the spark for </span><em><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Typologies of Terrorist Organizations</span></em><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">My perspective was shaped by seven years working on the U.S. State Department’s Global Terrorism Trends and Analysis Center project at the Schar School, where I served as the project’s principal investigator and incident validator. Between 2018 and 2024, I validated more than 50,000 terrorist incidents worldwide. That work gave me a front-row view of how terrorist organizations operate, from their targets and weapons to their organizational structures.&nbsp;</span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>How do you anticipate people using this book?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Combining this experience with my classroom teaching, I set out to create a textbook that bridges theory and practice, designed to serve students, policymakers, and practitioners alike. The book spans 14 chapters, analyzing terrorist groups using the latest conceptual frameworks and classifications. My hope is that readers will not only understand how these organizations function but also develop the analytical skills necessary to design effective counterterrorism strategies.</span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>Was there anything that surprised you while working on this book?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">What surprised me most during the writing process was realizing how broad and evolving the landscape of terrorism has become. While jihadist groups continue to dominate headlines, the growing influence of right-wing extremists, insurgent networks, and other politically motivated organizations demands equal attention. Connecting incident-level data to broader organizational behavior revealed hidden patterns and trends that are often missing from policy discussions, showing the importance of a truly holistic approach to understanding terrorism.</span></p> <h4><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"><strong>What are you working on now?</strong></span><span class="EOP SCXW19162236 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></h4> <p class="Paragraph SCXW19162236 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW19162236 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Since the closure of the State Department project in August 2025, I have continued my work as instructional faculty at the Schar School, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses. I also write op-eds on terrorism, cartels, and security issues, bringing real-world insights into the classroom to spark discussion. Meanwhile, I am working on a new book examining the impacts of coups on democratic regimes, expanding my research into the broader dynamics of political instability worldwide.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="b0067ec4-d2db-4256-a3db-0316b3f3070f"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://schar.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about the Schar School of Policy and Government <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="ba42b5dc-a671-459e-883c-ed51bcbe1582" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-8f0a5f3fb711c3364ec52b76a299f755b10cf5bc9674627e460ae1b93e312f5c"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-04/seehorns-star-shines-bright" hreflang="en">Seehorn’s Star Shines Bright</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 15, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-04/classroom-front-lines-counterterrorism" hreflang="en">From the Classroom to the Front Lines of Counterterrorism </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">April 8, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-03/our-students-can-hack-it" hreflang="en">Our Students Can Hack It </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 24, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-03/more-meets-eye" hreflang="en">More Than Meets the Eye</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 24, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-03/young-scrappy-and-hungry" hreflang="en">Young, Scrappy, and Hungry</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">March 24, 2026</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="e4ea641e-e8ab-4c96-9a85-9079bcc49c18" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><hr> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><em>This content appears in the Spring 2026 print edition of the Mason Spirit Magazine.</em></p> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="b830c6a8-5f2b-4b84-aba9-09903f386bf3"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/spirit-magazine"> <p class="cta__title">More from Mason Spirit Magazine <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> </div> </div> Wed, 08 Apr 2026 12:18:56 +0000 Katarina Benson 345741 at George Mason makes the National Academy of Inventors Top 100 /news/2026-03/george-mason-makes-national-academy-inventors-top-100 <span>George Mason makes the National Academy of Inventors Top 100</span> <span><span>ckearney</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-03-19T14:04:53-04:00" title="Thursday, March 19, 2026 - 14:04">Thu, 03/19/2026 - 14:04</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">91, a university that has been recognized consistently for its innovation and entrepreneurship, has been named to the top 100 U.S. universities for patents. This spring, the National Academy of Inventors ranked George Mason No. 92 on its list for patents granted during 2025.</span>&nbsp;</p> <p><span lang="EN">Utility patents cover the creation of a new or improved product, process, or machine.&nbsp;</span><span>In 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued 14 utility patents to George Mason inventors for methods to improve virtual reality (VR) navigation, traffic congestion, and wound healing.&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2026-03/250505851.jpg?itok=axbw-_0-" width="350" height="300" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Craig Yu with VP Andre Marshall. Photo by Ayman Rashid/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p><span>“This recognition from the National Academy of Inventors signals more than a ranking—it reflects George Mason’s vision for how research can shape the future,”&nbsp;said Andre Marshall, vice president for research, innovation, and economic impact. “Each of the 14 patents granted in 2025 represents an idea with the potential to improve lives, strengthen industries, and fuel economic growth. Our place among the nation’s top 100 universities affirms our commitment to turning bold research into meaningful solutions, expanding our global impact, and creating an environment where innovation thrives and talent is drawn to make a difference.”</span></p> <p><span>Scene-aware teleportation, developed by George Mason researcher </span><a href="/profiles/craigyu"><span>Craig Yu</span></a><span> of the College of Engineering and Computing and his former doctoral student Changyang Li, PhD Computer Science ’24, gives VR users a significantly smoother navigation experience in virtual environments. The technique improves the navigation through teleportation by determining the most suitable teleport positions for the user. This invention may be used in a wide range of applications, such as gaming, virtual touring, and VR-assisted navigation of hazardous and military environments.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><a href="/profiles/bmark"><span>Brian Mark</span></a><span> of the College of Engineering and Computing&nbsp;</span>and Melvin Friedman, a retired physicist from the Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, developed a <a href="/news/2023-06/aspiring-smoother-traffic">method for coordinating traffic lights</a> and reducing traffic congestion. In 2023, Mark worked with three senior design teams on the traffic light control methodology, road geometry design, and hardware, which enables motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians to make every traffic light with a suitable road geometry. This invention can eliminate or minimize traffic congestion by substantially reducing red light wait time while maximizing traffic flow.</p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/small_content_image/public/2026-03/251015203.jpg?itok=BVvAthLo" width="350" height="249" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Monique van Hoek (right) in her lab on the Science and Technology Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p><span>George Mason researchers&nbsp;</span><a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/monique-van-hoek">Monique L. van Hoek</a> and <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/directory/barney-bishop">Barney M. Bishop</a> of the College of Science were awarded an additional patent for their work with <a href="https://science.gmu.edu/news/george-mason-university-professors-sequence-komodo-dragon-genome">antimicrobial peptides</a> inspired by the Komodo dragon’s natural defenses. The duo has been collaborating since 2009 to study the peptides and their activity against important bacterial pathogens. These synthetic peptides represent a breakthrough in the fight against drug-resistant infections.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also among the patents awarded in 2025 was the <span class="textrun">GMU Dynamic Low Visibility Pneumatic Cofferdam, invented by&nbsp;</span><a href="https://volgenau.gmu.edu/profiles/gdonohue" target="_blank"><span class="textrun">George L. Donohue</span></a><span class="textrun">, professor emeritus and founding director of the Center for Air Transportation Systems Research at the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://cec.gmu.edu/" target="_blank"><span class="textrun">College of Engineering and Computing</span></a><span class="textrun">, and a team of students, now alumni. The coastal resilience system designed to protect against flooding was&nbsp;</span><a href="/news/2026-02/george-mason-delivers-first-commercialization-under-virginias-lab-launch-initiative">licensed by serial entrepreneur Anthony Fung and his company Valorlox LLC</a><span class="textrun"> earlier this year and is the first commercial product to move forward under the state’s new&nbsp;</span><a href="/news/2025-08/youngkin-launches-university-commercialization-initiative-fast-track-startups-and" target="_blank"><span class="textrun">Lab-to-Launch initiative</span></a><span class="textrun">, marking an early milestone in the commonwealth’s push to accelerate university research into the market.&nbsp;</span></p> <blockquote><p><span>“We are incredibly proud of the innovative work coming out of George Mason’s research community,” said David Grossman, senior director of technology transfer and industry collaboration. “Our role is to help move these ideas beyond the lab and into real‑world applications. By working closely with industry partners, we reaffirm our commitment to translating research into solutions that benefit society.”</span></p> </blockquote> <p><span>The academy’s Top 100 lists are created using data provided by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The last time George Mason made the list was in 2022. Other Virginia universities in the top 100 included University of Virginia ranked at 38 and Virginia Commonwealth University at 88.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="9e844f80-a674-4001-8861-1b461f70c89a"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://gmu.edu/research"> <p class="cta__title">Research at George Mason <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="5a9a8c97-fe46-4107-9727-29dc1db4bbfd" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><hr> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="66a7c7e9-473a-4d89-8fd0-509f4d864c2c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="657008f6-f5ca-4872-8199-76ff9d6826b8" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="align-center"> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-08/GCI-extensionmark_0.png?itok=V14euDy_" width="560" height="187" alt="Grand Challenge Initiative graphic" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <p class="text-align-center">&nbsp;<a href="https://gmu.edu/grandchallenge">Learn about 91's Grand Challenge Initiative</a></p> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="b283e906-7fe7-4107-bfee-5d29606d7b87" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><hr> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="c4cf46bb-4d30-40a6-9ea0-c1115284e9a3" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="50b44853-8951-497b-813e-60425e1acf0c" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related Stories</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-6aa3147a997863de80f3cf27b0a5d96db6cd9b8c9254cd2cd24abe4b9d65d258"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/george-mason-engineering-team-uses-robotics-rethink-accessibility" hreflang="en">George Mason engineering team uses robotics to rethink accessibility </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 9, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/why-did-ai-agent-cross-road" hreflang="en">Why did the AI agent cross the road? 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A senior majoring in business and concentrating on management and marketing, Alam has become one of the most visible student leaders in the </span><a href="https://business.gmu.edu/"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">Costello College of Business</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">, where he works as a marketing and communications intern. Recently he was named 2026 Senior of the Year by the university's </span><a href="https://alumni.gmu.edu/s/1564/GID2/16/home.aspx?sid=1564&amp;gid=2&amp;pgid=61"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">Alumni Association</span></a><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun intro-text" lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0 intro-text">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">But when you hear Alam talk about his campus experiences, it is surprising to learn that his first week of college was rocky. As a first-generation student commuting to campus from Centreville, Virginia, Alam said </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">wasn’t he</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> sure how he would fit in.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“I remember thinking, I need to get involved if I want to have the best George Mason experience,” Alam said, and that he did.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Within weeks, Alam joined </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Student</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> Government and soon co-founded the student organization Collective Organization of South Asia. A semester later, he joined another student organization, Mason Consulting Group. As vice president of the Mason Consulting Group, he has worked to ensure that other students have access to experiential learning opportunities.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-11/rakibul_alam_at_fuse_250925547.jpg?itok=3Y2Y7DH5" width="560" height="374" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Alam spoke at the Fuse’s grand celebration in September. Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“George Mason has such unique individuals with so much talent,” said Alam, who is also a member of the Honors College. “We need to go out into the community and show what we can do. My goal has been to create those opportunities for others.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Mason Consulting Group is open to George Mason students of all majors. Alam said about </span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">210</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> students are registered, but there is a core group of about </span><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">70+</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> who are the most active members.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Under his leadership—he is now president of the </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">group,</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> the Mason Consulting Group has grown into more than just a student organization. Over the past few semesters, the organization has brought in representatives from Northern Virginia companies, such as KPMG, one of the area’s top four accounting firms, to talk to students about careers.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun Highlight SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">And those connections are paying off. He said seven of the group’s members secured high-profile internships in consulting this past summer</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">, including Alam himself who served as a </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">human resources</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> and change management advisory intern at KPMG.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“That says a lot about the kind of pipeline we’re building,” Alam said. “George Mason students are competing head-to-head with students from Stanford, Cornell, and Harvard—and we’re ending up in the same places.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">That pipeline is expanding beyond the corporate world. </span>Through a formal partnership with the Mason Consulting Group, Fairfax City Economic Development supports experiential learning opportunities for George Mason students who consult with local businesses. Program funding is provided to George Mason, which administers the initiative, ensuring students benefit from real-world experience while businesses gain strategic insights.</p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“These are the ripple effects,” Alam said. “We’re being recognized not just as students, but as professionals making an impact.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2025-11/240411843.jpg?itok=LNd5TnOT" width="560" height="365" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>Rakibul Alam presenting at the 2024 Patriot Pitch competition. Photo by Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Alam himself has a résumé that reflects both ambition and a deep commitment to service. Last year, his summer internship with the U.S. Navy reinforced his interest in government consulting.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“After my Navy internship, I realized how much I wanted to </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">serve</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> the public sector,” he explained. “Administrations change, but the government will always be here. Consulting allows me to use my skills to support the American people.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">That sense of purpose also extends globally. Alam was the recipient of the prestigious Gilman Scholarship, which allowed him to study international development in Morocco in January 2025. He also represented George Mason at a United Nations Cooperatives Youth conference in India, where he worked alongside students from across disciplines, including public health and business.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“It was incredible to see George Mason represented on the world stage,” he says. “These experiences showed me how interconnected business, policy, and global development really are.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Alam’s drive has earned him recognition closer to home as well. Early in his George Mason career, he won Costello’s Patriot Pitch competition with a social entrepreneurship project. He has since served as a mentor to other entrepreneurs in the annual competition, paying forward the guidance he received from faculty mentors.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“Every opportunity I’ve had, I had to pitch myself for it,” Alam said. “But when I get to the top, I want to throw the rope back down for others. Because there’s always room at the top.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">That mindset—paired with his relentless schedule—has required discipline. Between taking 18 credits, leading a student organization, and juggling multiple internships, Alam relies on strict time management.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">“I learned </span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">early on</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> that I needed structure,” he said. “I use calendars, I set boundaries, and I make sure to take mental breaks. And I also have mentors—some older, some younger—who keep me grounded.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">In turn, he also mentors undergraduate business students.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Despite his packed calendar, Alam said he finds balance through pickleball, which he plays religiously, and painting, which fills his home with his own watercolor and mixed-media creations. “Sports and arts keep me well-rounded,” he said with a smile.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">In Spring 2026, Alam was named the 2026 Senior of the Year, presented by the Alumni Association recognition of the outstanding achievements and contributions to the university and community by a George Mason senior.</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">"Being named Senior of the Year honors not only my work, but the mentors who believed in me, the peers who built alongside me, and the communities that trusted me to help amplify their voices. Most importantly, it serves as a reminder that one student's commitment can shape the experiences of many," he said. "To me, Senior of the Year means representing the spirit of George Mason: a university defined by possibility, inclusion, and students who refuse to accept limits on what they can create for themselves and for others."</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">Looking ahead, Alam will remain in Northern Virginia after graduation, contributing to the same business and government ecosystems that shaped his education through a full-time position with KPGM as a consultant.</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="Paragraph SCXW204303959 BCX0"><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US">&nbsp;“</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun ContextualSpellingAndGrammarErrorV2Themed" lang="EN-US">Businesses</span><span class="TextRun SCXW204303959 BCX0 NormalTextRun" lang="EN-US"> in Northern Virginia should know they don’t need to look far for talent,” he said. “We’re right here, and we’re ready to make an impact.”</span><span class="EOP SCXW204303959 BCX0"> &nbsp;</span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="0c75c7ac-6c3a-43d1-a7c0-3ecc91525537"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://gmu.edu/internships"> <p class="cta__title">Explore internships at George Mason <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="f9feaea9-0246-489f-868a-6c86b891b2e2"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="/graduation"> <p class="cta__title">2026 Spring Graduation Information <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="616ee778-6320-483f-ad9e-f9d72d43e204" 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</div> </div> </div> Thu, 13 Nov 2025 20:30:10 +0000 Katarina Benson 344351 at George Mason joins arts research alliance /news/2024-06/george-mason-joins-arts-research-alliance <span>George Mason joins arts research alliance </span> <span><span>ckearney</span></span> <span><time datetime="2024-06-24T09:38:14-04:00" title="Monday, June 24, 2024 - 09:38">Mon, 06/24/2024 - 09:38</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">91 has joined the <a href="https://a2ru.org/">Alliance of Art Research Universities</a> (a2ru) as an institutional member through a concerted effort by multiple colleges and the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI). This action uniquely positions George Mason among other R1 institutions to support an emerging research culture in the arts.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-right"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/2020-12/1%20Window%20Wall_1800.jpg?itok=2QWwj6EZ" width="560" height="420" alt="window wall in Performing Arts Building" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>George Mason's Center for Live Interactive Virtual Education uses the Window Wall™ system to connect leading artists with students from multiple institutions. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p><span><span><span><span>Justin Sutters, assistant dean of research and assessment in the <a href="https://cvpa.gmu.edu/">College of Visual and Performing Arts</a> (CVPA), is taking the lead on the membership and has already attended one of the alliance’s conferences.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>Sutters sees participation in the alliance as generative</span></span><span><span> in that it provides insight into other research universities and some of the challenges that they're encountering</span></span><span><span>. “</span></span><span><span>I think this also gives us a framework to share best practices to see how other colleges are navigating the current fiscal and political climate,” he said.</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span><span><span><span>In this role, Sutters will also be working to elevate the research and collaborations already taking place in CVPA with a longer-term goal of “a vibrant and rigorous supported arts-based research structure at George Mason.”</span></span></span></span></p> <p><span class="intro-text">“I think a lot of the arts-based research isn't fully visible across the university,” Sutters said. “And there are a lot of researchers in our university who are seeking interdisciplinary opportunities with units such as CVPA.”</span></p> <p><span><span><span>CVPA Dean Rick Davis was one of the George Mason administrators championing this move. </span>“Joining a2ru represents a pivotal moment for George Mason's profile as a major participant in the national conversation,” he said. “We've already both benefited from and contributed to the dialogue around the fast-changing world of research and creative production in the arts.” </span></span></p> <p><span><span><span>Among the other universities participating in the a2ru are Dartmouth, Stanford and Georgia Tech. Other alliance members in Virginia are Virginia Tech and Virginia Commonwealth University. </span></span></span></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="ea38ad3f-b979-4297-8393-f66683875c7a"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://cvpa.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Learn more about CVPA <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:text" data-inline-block-uuid="c77158bb-2d0d-4e3e-89aa-96d750979054" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocktext"> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:feature_image" data-inline-block-uuid="45178261-1f92-4c15-a1a5-400edb8c128e" class="block block-feature-image block-layout-builder block-inline-blockfeature-image caption-below"> <div class="feature-image"> <div class="narrow-overlaid-image"> <img 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js-view-dom-id-3e2c45257033473f1ace46423729f0294bba6211931293841754253f28dca532"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-05/film-and-video-studies-alums-passion-animation-led-two-academy-award-nominations" hreflang="en">Film and Video Studies alum’s passion for animation led to two Academy Award nominations</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">May 21, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-04/hylton-performing-arts-center-annual-gala-evening-above-clouds" hreflang="en"> Hylton Performing Arts Center Annual Gala: An Evening Above the Clouds </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">May 5, 2026</div></div></li> <li 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Sutters</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--30-70"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/271" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/146" hreflang="en">College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/2156" hreflang="en">Arts</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/3741" hreflang="en">multidisciplinary</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1086" hreflang="en">School of Art</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/17356" hreflang="en">Strategic Direction</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div> </div> </div> Mon, 24 Jun 2024 13:38:14 +0000 ckearney 112636 at James Trefil celebrates 55 years of service /news/2026-03/james-trefil-celebrates-55-years-service <span>James Trefil celebrates 55 years of service</span> <span><span>ckearney</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-10-28T12:43:44-04:00" title="Thursday, October 28, 2021 - 12:43">Thu, 10/28/2021 - 12:43</time> </span> <div class="layout layout--gmu layout--twocol-section layout--twocol-section--70-30"> <div class="layout__region region-first"> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:body" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasebody"> <div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Body</div> <div class="field__item"><p><span class="intro-text">Robinson Professor James Trefil is the first 91 faculty member to reach the milestone of 55 years of service. Trefil taught at the University of Virginia for more than a decade before joining Mason’s then brand-new Robinson Professor Program in 1987.</span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="align-center" style="min-width: 50%;"> <div class="field field--name-field-media-video-embed-field field--type-video-embed-field field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="video-embed-field-provider-youtube video-embed-field-responsive-video"><iframe width="854" height="480" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/maInGutmWtk?autoplay=0&amp;start=0&amp;rel=0&amp;mute=0"></iframe> </div> </div> </div> <p><span>A theoretical physicist and huge proponent of science literacy, Trefil has written extensively about science for a lay audience, including more than 50 books. With his colleague, Robinson Professor of Earth Science Robert Hazen, he created and taught the popular PROV 301 Great Ideas in Science, a class for nonscience majors that introduces ideas that have shaped science, from the building of Stonehenge to the Big Bang. &nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>A Fellow of the American Physical Society, the American Association of the Advancement of Science, and the World Economic Forum, he has received numerous awards including the Andrew Gemant Award from the American Institute of Physics for “outstanding and sustained contributions in presenting a broad range of topics in physics to millions of nonscientists around the world,” and the inaugural AAAS Science Book Editor’s Award.</span></p> <p><span>In 2021, when Trefil was the third George Mason faculty member to hit the 50 years of service, we sat down to talk to him via Zoom about his life, work, and role in Mason’s history.</span></p> <figure role="group" class="align-left"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/01050405.jpg" width="350" height="489" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>James Trefil in his office in 2001. Photo by Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <h4><span><strong>On becoming a scientist</strong></span></h4> <p><span>I had a really good chemistry teacher in high school named Willard Meuhl. He was the first person who told me, “Hey, kid, you're good at this.” I came from a blue-collar neighborhood, and it wasn't clear to me until he told me that I could actually do it. I grew up in Chicago, where they have a lot of good museums, which were free at the time. I would go down to the Field Museum or the Adler Planetarium on a weekend and just hang out. I found this world of beauty and order that was very appealing to me. And I got the idea that I could be part of that. Also reading science fiction. I still go back and read Isaac Asimov stories.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On choosing physics as a discipline</strong></span></h4> <p><span>When I went to University of Illinois, I was going to major in chemistry because of my high school teacher. But in the chemistry class, I kept asking questions like ‘Why do electrons go in those orbits and not some other orbits?’ And the instructor would always say, ‘Well, you got to go to physics to get an answer for that.’ The short answer is physics is where you ask the fundamental questions about the nature of the universe.</span></p> <p><span>Theoretical physics is where you try to find the answers to what the experiments are finding. I worked with a couple of experimental groups early on in my career at the German Electron Synchrotron Laboratory in Hamburg. It was very corporate. Everybody had their assigned tasks, and you do what you're doing and you report it to your boss. That wasn’t what I wanted. I wanted to think my own thoughts and do things on my own, and a theorist doesn't need anything more than pencil and paper, or these days a laptop.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On becoming a Robinson Professor</strong></span></h4> <p><span>I got this letter from Steve Diner who was vice provost at the time. It was sort of the standard ‘We have this position open…do you know anybody who'd be interested.’ I looked at it and said, ‘Hell, yes—me!’</span></p> <p><span>Clarence Robinson had given George Johnson this money to move the university forward. And George decided that what he saw as the biggest problem in academe was senior faculty didn't talk to undergraduates. He started looking for people who were established in a field, but who thought across disciplinary lines, and had a history of teaching undergraduates.</span></p> <p><span>Coming to Mason back then—we're talking about the 1970s and 80s—it reminded me of these towns in Western movies with unpaved streets. I remember they brought the new faculty together for a reception at what was then the Patriot Center. We were looking out toward what would become the Center for the Arts. At that time, it was just a swamp, and they had a drawing of what it was going to be like in the future with all these buildings. But I remember looking at that drawing and thinking “in your dreams.” But it happened. Watching this university grow has been an amazing experience.</span></p> <figure role="group"> <div> <div class="field field--name-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img src="/sites/default/files/2021-10/101201072.jpg" width="1200" height="771" loading="lazy"> </div> </div> <figcaption>James Trefil and Honors College Dean Zofia Burr (far right) meet with Honors College students in 2010. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding</figcaption> </figure> <p><span>In those days, we were kind of a kitchen cabinet [for George Johnson]. I remember one meeting where George came in and said, “We're going to get rid of the geology department.” [Hazen] and I started arguing with him. We suggested turning it into the planetary science and earth science department. And George listened to us. In fact, that was the start of a major program here that spawned several departments.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On teaching undergraduates</strong></span></h4> <p><span>I love it. They have their whole lives in front of them and are so full of enthusiasm. It's just fun being around them.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On science literacy</strong></span></h4> <p><span>I wanted to teach what I called a scientific literacy course. The idea is very simple. To live in the United States in 21st century, you really should know a little bit about science. You don't have to be a scientist, you don't have to do calculus, but you should be able to read the newspaper. Then if somebody is talking about whether the use of stem cells is moral, you should know what a stem cell is. The course doesn't have a lot of math in it, but it has these great ideas. Bob and I taught it for many years. The first time I offered it I limited the enrollment to 10, because I didn't know if I could actually do it. But it went well. Bob and I are now working on the ninth edition of a textbook that came out of this course, “The Sciences: An Integrated Approach.” It's used in a couple of hundred universities around the country.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On partnering with Bob Hazen and other ‘Robinsons’</strong></span></h4> <p><span>There were three scientists in the Robinson program—myself, Bob Hazen, and the late Harold Morowitz, and any possible permutation of collaboration between the three of us that you can imagine happened at one time or another. We wrote books together. We wrote articles and opinion pieces. We designed courses together. In fact, it was a Christmas party at my house when Harold asked a very simple question: What minerals were here when the earth was formed? Bob started to think about the idea of minerals accumulating over time and evolving, which is a major new breakthrough in that field for which he has been recognized. But it started with just a simple question.</span></p> <p><span>Also three of us Robinsons were at Oxford at the same time. I was there as a Marshall Scholar, John Paden was there as a Rhodes Scholar, and Paul D’Andrea was there studying literature. John was captain of the basketball team, and I was a second-string power forward. So we actually played basketball on the same team a hundred years ago. Then we wind up with offices next to each other at Mason.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On establishing a College of Science</strong></span></h4> <p><span>I think probably the most important thing that I did for Mason was chair the committee that founded the College of Science. I was asked to chair because I was the only scientist they could find who didn't have a stake in how things turned out—I didn’t need more space or another faculty slot. It gave me kind of a different standing with the committee that was very useful. In the end, I wrote the proposal that the Board of Visitors approved, and we now have a College of Science. We were just getting into being a major research university. And if you want to attract big money from one of these agencies, you got to convince them that you're ready. The College of Science has helped us do that.</span></p> <h4><span><strong>On writing books</strong></span></h4> <p><span>One of my favorite books is one I wrote very early on in my career called “Meditations at 10,000 Feet.” I used to spend my summers in Montana and go hiking in the mountains. In that book, I talked about different kinds of things that happened on my hikes and then how they led to lessons about the way the universe works. I also took a lot of photographs, which are in the book. My most favorite book is the one I just wrote with [Mason professor] Mike Summers, “Imagined Life: A Speculative Scientific Journey among the Exoplanets in Search of Intelligent Aliens, Ice Creatures, and Supergravity Animals.” We were trying to figure out what kinds of living things could exist in the universe. That that was a lot of fun.</span></p> <h4>&nbsp;</h4> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="layout__region region-second"> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:call_to_action" data-inline-block-uuid="e0667024-bf31-4c6b-b7c7-178bc3d2041f"> <div class="cta"> <a class="cta__link" href="https://robinsonprofessors.gmu.edu/"> <p class="cta__title">Learn what makes a Robinson Professor <i class="fas fa-arrow-circle-right"></i> </p> <span class="cta__icon"></span> </a> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="inline_block:news_list" data-inline-block-uuid="2ec97304-dfd2-4053-819f-4cdd94681fd1" class="block block-layout-builder block-inline-blocknews-list"> <h2>Related News</h2> <div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-news view-id-news view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-a410d57385b84d6558cca3d8f0f6cb02f1ff2e6ba37bac2c4b03636249cd1e50"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="news-list-wrapper"> <ul class="news-list"> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/george-mason-announces-faculty-affairs-appointments-korea-and-fairfax" hreflang="en">George Mason announces faculty affairs appointments in Korea and Fairfax</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 3, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/cio-charmaine-madison-honored-cloudforce-change-champion-award" hreflang="en">CIO Charmaine Madison honored by Cloudforce with Change Champion Award </a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 3, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/academic-advising-awards-recognize-outstanding-undergraduate-advisors" hreflang="en">Academic Advising Awards recognize outstanding undergraduate advisors</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 2, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-06/aquanetta-betts-june-employee-month" hreflang="en">Aquanetta Betts is June Employee of the Month</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">June 1, 2026</div></div></li> <li class="news-item"><div class="views-field views-field-title"><span class="field-content"><a href="/news/2026-05/take-your-junior-patriot-work-day-was-action-packed-and-kid-approved" hreflang="en">Take Your Junior Patriot to Work Day was action-packed and kid-approved</a></span></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-publish-date"><div class="field-content">May 7, 2026</div></div></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-block-plugin-id="field_block:node:news_release:field_content_topics" class="block block-layout-builder block-field-blocknodenews-releasefield-content-topics"> <h2>Topics</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-content-topics field--type-entity-reference field--label-visually_hidden"> <div class="field__label visually-hidden">Topics</div> <div class="field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/206" hreflang="en">Faculty and Staff News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/6881" hreflang="en">Robinson Professors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/961" hreflang="en">University Day</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/291" hreflang="en">College of Science</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/taxonomy/term/14441" hreflang="en">Masonat50</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:43:44 +0000 ckearney 56426 at