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Carolina Salvador Morales, associate professor of bioengineering, is researching targeted nanoparticle-based delivery, which could revolutionize the detection and treatment of diseases including cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Photo credit: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University.
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Graduate Engineering Programs Expand at SciTech Campus
The first courses of George Mason University's new master of science in bioengineering degree program are being offered this Spring 2019 semester on Mason's SciTech Campus. The program complements the existing bachelor of science and doctoral programs in bioengineering at Mason's Volgenau School of Engineering.
In addition, the doctoral program's concentrations are being renewed and renamed to reflect the most recent advances in the discipline. The four doctoral concentration areas are now Biomedical Imaging and Devices; Computational Biomedicine; Biomaterials and Nanomedicine; and Neurotechnology and Computational Neuroscience.
As part of this expansion, Mason's SciTech Campus welcomes five faculty from the Bioengineering Department (Mike Buschmann, Caroline Hoemann, Carolina Salvador Morales, Remi Veneziano, and Shanaka Rodrigo) and two faculty from the Mechanical Engineering Department (Pei Dong and Pilgyu Kang).
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The completion of labs and collaborative learning spaces in Bull Run Hall is a vital part of Mason Engineering's strategic planning to build a presence for mechanical engineering at the SciTech Campus. Photo by Evan Cantwell, George Mason University Creative Services.
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New VSE Labs at SciTech
The Volgenau School of Engineering (VSE) research facility on the SciTech Campus is the premier research facility for several engineering faculty in the mechanical and electrical engineering departments, and the location for the Senior Capstone Design and Special Projects lab.
The more-than-11,000 sq. ft. facility houses research labs for five faculty who perform cutting-edge research in:
- multi-scale transport, which investigates transport phenomena at the microscale for problems in sustainable energy,
- multi-scale tribology and contact phenomena, which studies interfacial mechanics,
- bio-inspired autonomous underwater vehicles and robotics,
- autonomous systems, which focuses on hardware in loop testing of robotic platforms for land, air and sea, and
- materials reliability, which investigates environmental effects on the performance of materials.
The Senior Capstone Design and Special Projects lab allows students to realize designs developed as part of their industry-sponsored senior design experience and to complete design projects for entry in national design competitions such as the American Society of Civil Engineers' concrete canoe competition and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' human-powered vehicle competition.
Faculty doing research in the VSE research labs include mechanical engineering (Oscar Barton, Ali Beheshti, Jeff Moran), electrical and computer engineering (Feitian Zhang, Dan Lofaro), and civil and infrastructure engineering (Doaa Bondok).
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Researchers demonstrate the thickness of the new wetsuit material, which they say could provide the same amount of insulation at half the thickness of existing options. Photo courtesy the research team.
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Mason Research to Help Military Divers
Swimmers, athletes, surfers, and recreational divers will also benefit
Jeff Moran, assistant professor of mechanical engineering within the Volgenau School of Engineering, and researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have devised a wetsuit treatment that greatly increases the amount of time divers can safely spend in bitterly cold water. The team worked on the project in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy SEALs.
Standard wetsuits are made of neoprene, a stretchy type of synthetic rubber that is filled with pockets of air that account for most of the material’s volume and half of the heat that escapes. Researchers developed a process to replace air with a better insulating gas.
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Game Design students will be able to try out portable VR devices, experiencing the next generation of games. Photo from MGTA's Facebook page.
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Register Now for MGTA’s Spring Classes
Robotics, Game Design, and Python are on the schedule for the Spring session of the Mason Game & Technology Academy (MGTA). Classes begin Saturday, March 2.
For the first time, MGTA will offer Robots On The Move I: Exploring our Environment, in partnership with Leaders of Tomorrow Technology Academy (LOTTA TECH), an organization created by K-12 teachers. Each student in this hands-on course assumes the role of an environmental engineer, who collaborates with other students to solve an environmental challenge. Students program their robots to solve several missions, including cleaning up trash that is spilling into the streets, lakes, and forest.
Game Design Creation, Entrepreneurship, and Virtual Reality is back, a hands-on experience in which students use current game engine tools to learn the fundamentals of game design, rules, and game mechanics. Students experience the roles of producer, programmer, designer, and artist, and get an insider’s look at the computer game design industry.
Also returning is Python: An Introduction to Programming, for more advanced students. Because Python is easily readable, students are able to focus on learning programming concepts and paradigms.
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George Mason University has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s top research universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Only 120 institutions received the “very high research” (or R1) designation, and George Mason University is the youngest among them.
At left, students work with Professor Kylene Kehn-Hall in Mason's Biomedical Research Lab (BRL). Photo by Creative Services/George Mason University.
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Dr. Scott Martin, Director of the Virginia Serious Games Institute (VSGI), has been recognized by the United States Air Force as a National Security Scholar, and recently participated in the 10th annual National Security Scholars Conference: Harnessing AI, held at Carnegie-Mellon University. This event brought together the foremost experts on artificial intelligence and machine learning.
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Welcome Week 2019
SciTech Campus
January 22 -25
University Life welcomes students back to SciTech Campus with a week of free food and festivities, including breakfast at Mercer Library, Spirit Day at Bull Run Hall, and a graduate social at Mum Mum's.
See all events
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The Science of How People Change: Stories from Those Who Have Been Incarcerated
Hylton Performing Arts Center
January 24, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
January's Galileo's Science Café is presented by Dr. Faye Taxman, University Professor, Criminology, Law and Society, Director, Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence, George Mason University.
RSVP
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Lunch & Learn: Coordinated Intellectual Property Strategies for Maximum Protection
The Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research Building, Room 1004
February 7, 11:45 am to 1:00 pm
IP attorneys Shana K. Cyr, Ph.D., J.D., and Jessica L.A. Marks, J.D., will provide valuable insights for best coordinating your company’s IP strategies and developing a strong IP portfolio.
RSVP
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Earth's Climate, Where Has It Come From and Where Is It Going?
Hylton Performing Arts Center
February 21, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
February's Galileo's Science Café is presented by Dr. Natalie Burls, Assistant Professor of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences, College of Science, George Mason University.
RSVP
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Mer-Magic Con 2019
Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center
February 22 to 24
Get your ticket to Mer-Magic Con 2019 at the Freedom Aquatic and Fitness Center! Three tracks (Children, Enthusiast, & Professional) offer content for mermaids of all ages and levels. Con goers can also make mercessories, have a mermaid photoshoot, meet specialty vendors, take part in the Mermaid Olympics, and attend the Mermaid Gala.
Learn More
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The 9th Anniversary Gala
Hylton Performing Arts Center
March 22, 6:00 to 8:30 pm
Wine and dine for a good cause! The Hylton Performing Arts Center's Anniversary Gala provides critical funding to support the Center’s many performances, arts education programs, and outreach initiatives.
Learn More
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ICICLE 2019 Conference on Learning Engineering
Founders Hall, Arlington, VA
May 20 to 23
VSGI and IEEE-ICICLE are Co-Chairing the ICICLE 2019 Conference on Learning Engineering. ICICLE is an open forum and community-driven platform for defining and supporting the profession of Learning Engineering.
Learn more
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