College of Science

George Mason to lead cross-institutional course redesign and experiential learning project

Katarina Benson — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 19:50:25 +0000

George Mason to lead cross-institutional course redesign and experiential learning project Katarina Benson Wed, 03/05/2025 - 14:50

��AV Professor Younsung Kim has received a 4-VA grant to conduct collaborative multidisciplinary research with colleagues at partner schools in Virginia. The results will be implemented as learning modules into undergraduate courses.

Although 4-VA has awarded Collaborative Research Grants for more than 10 years, the grants have been funded separately by each institution. This new 4-VA effort is the first to be supported collectively by the statewide partnership and has added a course redesign and experiential learning element. The project will include faculty members from George Mason, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia and will focus on growing 4-VA’s collaborative research success.

Kim’s proposal, “Designing Experiential Learning Modules for Stormwater Management and Climate Adaptation via Spatial Analysis Tools,” plans to use spatial mapping tools to incorporate appropriate green infrastructure to best reduce the effects of stormwater runoff. The team will migrate this information into environmental policy coursework at their respective institutions. They also plan to ultimately make the content available statewide.

Kim, who has taught in George Mason’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy for 15 years, will collaborate with B. Brian Park, an engineering professor at the University of Virginia, and Mintai Kim of Virginia Tech’s College of Architecture, Arts, and Design. Also joining the team is George Mason PhD student Colin Chadduck.

From left, B. Brian Park, Younsung Kim, and Mintai Kim. Photo provided

In reviewing the proposal, 4-VA evaluators noted Kim’s proposition as a standout, citing a number of key factors, including that it “addresses an important topic affecting the state and beyond,” features an “inherent interdisciplinary approach incorporating science policy, data science techniques, and architecture,” and “lends itself to creative cross-school collaborations.”

“As climate change is increasing faster than climate prediction models have suggested, it is critical that we place more emphasis on integrating green infrastructure in climate vulnerable regions,” said Kim. “I am delighted and honored to accept this award as we work together across the commonwealth to raise the bar for our faculty and students studying this important work. Together, we can tackle this critical challenge.”

“4-VA has a long track record of success with the Collaborative Research Grants program, and we are excited to expand this model to support course redesign initiatives,” said 4-VA’s State Working Group Chair Matt Banfield of UVA. “4-VA collaborative projects have built bridges between our institutions, nurtured hundreds of faculty and student relationships, provided valuable opportunities for experiential learning and hands-on research, and jumpstarted novel research projects that have gone on to receive national and international attention. We are looking forward to supporting this project proposed by Professor Kim and her team.”

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Younsung Kim

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Mason scientist orchestrates Moon-based ‘message in a bottle’ for future generations

Katarina Benson — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 18:54:16 +0000

Mason scientist orchestrates Moon-based ‘message in a bottle’ for future generations Katarina Benson Mon, 03/03/2025 - 13:54

Early Sunday, March 2, the ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record made a successful Moon landing as part of the Ghost Riders in the Sky Lunar mission that launched on January 15 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

A message from Anamaria Berea's team that is now on the Moon. Photo provided

This mission, a part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services within the Artemis program, is carrying 10 NASA experiments and the ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record, the work of an interdisciplinary research team, led by ��AV researcher and alumna Anamaria Berea.

This ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record intends to preserve Earth’s cultural and scientific heritage for posterity with this specially designed payload, which includes a digital portion that mirrors the concept of the Voyager Golden Records. The archive will serve as a time capsule for future humans, offering them a glimpse of life on Earth during the early 2020s.

The creation of this lunar archive was a collaborative effort that began in early 2023 when Nick Searra, founder of the Interstellar Foundation, invited Berea to lead the project. Despite having no initial team or funding, Berea quickly gathered a group of scientists, philosophers, and linguists from such prestigious institutions as Barnard College, Columbia University, and the University of Cambridge. The team also received support from notable figures, including astronaut Scott Kelly and Jonathan Jiang from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

With a tight six-month deadline, the team created a message that could fit within the strict digital space limitations of the payload. The biggest challenge was deciding what to include. The team wanted the message to be a “dry-run” for future, more extensive interstellar messages, and ultimately settled on content that would be meaningful to archeologists or future pioneers.

The archive, delivered on special physical mediums designed for space provided by mission partner LifeShip, contains a wealth of wide-ranging content, including videos, scientific materials, global aspirations, historical records, and cultural artifacts. “The payload will reside on the Moon for eternity,” said Berea, who teaches in Department of Computational and Data Sciences of the College of Science.

The ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record includes a 1GB microchip containing videos, images, and texts that highlight humanity’s journey on Earth and the Moon, incorporating materials that reflect Earth’s cultural, scientific, and historical achievements. Among the key items is a 24-minute “Daily Life” video that showcases global snapshots of contemporary life. Each minute represents one hour from various parts of the Earth, from morning to night, and includes scenes of families cooking, children in school, workers in offices and fields, and people participating in cultural events. This “visual quilt” stitches together snapshots from world cultures, including indigenous communities, showcasing daily routines from all corners of the planet.

The archive also includes an “Aspirations” video, where individuals from around the world share their hopes for the future in their native languages. In addition, the payload houses images and content from UNESCO and Getty archives, including a representation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other materials include the constitutions of 192 countries on Earth, the Apollo 11 launch codes, historical works, art, music, and scientific texts, such as works by Newton, Curie, and Asimov.

Berea even included a personal touch with an engraving of her name and affiliation with ��AV, symbolizing her contribution to this historic effort.

“The goal of the project was not to tell the story of famous individuals or events but to encapsulate a broader representation of human life,” Berea explains.

According to Berea, the project team chose a video format, blending video, subtitles, and code, as they believed it would be more easily understood by future beings, whether human or otherwise.

In addition to the digital content, the team took precautions to ensure the message could survive for millennia. In case digital technology becomes obsolete, parts of the message were engraved in analog nano-fiche and synthetic DNA on a 1MB capsule. This forward-thinking approach ensures that future civilizations, regardless of technological advancement, can access the message.

One of the most significant aspects of the ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record is the ethical responsibility of leaving a message for future generations. The team grappled with questions such as who the “receiver” of the message would be and what content would best represent humanity. “Who speaks for Earth?” they asked, recognizing the great responsibility of crafting a message that would stand the test of time.

“I have been honored and fascinated to collaborate with this interdisciplinary team of the most amazing scientists, humanists, artists and people from all walks of life,” said Berea. “I am forever grateful to my team and our collaborators for their trust, their dedication, their passion and their support to this project that will give us a tiny place in our interstellar future history.”

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Interested in more from Anamaria Berea? Listen to her discuss the chances of intelligent life beyond Earth on the Access to Excellence podcast.

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George Mason has a “Knack” for tutoring

Sarah Holland — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:04:43 +0000

George Mason has a “Knack” for tutoring Sarah Holland Wed, 02/26/2025 - 10:04

College courses are designed to challenge students and push them to new academic heights. And when dealing with difficult subjects and new materials, additional academic support can make all the difference.

Photo by Ron Aira/Office of University Branding

That’s where Knack comes in. Starting in fall 2024, ��AV entered a three-year partnership with Knack, a peer-to-peer tutoring platform. Through Knack, students in any of the 28 participating courses can get up to three hours of free virtual or in-person tutoring from their peers every week during the semester. Participating courses span math, statistics, biology, chemistry, business, economics, and public health.

“We are transforming the support for student success at George Mason by fostering a collaborative learning environment that empowers students to excel academically,” said Vicki Dominick, associate director of George Mason’s Learning Services office, which offers a variety of academic success supports for students, including academic success workshops, online resources and coaching.

Knack does not replace other tutoring services offered by George Mason, Dominick noted. It is an additional resource, allowing more options for meeting times and places. Currently, close to 3,000 students are registered with Knack tutoring, and almost 1,500 tutoring sessions were completed in fall semester.

“This free support is directly in line with George Mason’s mission of access to education,” said Keith Renshaw, senior associate provost for undergraduate education and professor of psychology.

“For my chemistry class, there’s always many students attending office hours, so I don’t get the one-on-one help I need,” said sophomore biology major Khushneet Kaur Kainth. “I’ve been able to get personalized support through Knack.”

There are benefits for the tutors as well. Tutoring through Knack is a paid position, and tutors are required to have passed the class for which they are a tutor with an A- or higher.

“It gives the tutors ‘high impact practice,’ as they gain hands-on experience teaching complex concepts and problem-solving strategies,” explained Renshaw.

Senior biology major Anahita Salehkhou is a tutor for BIOL 213 - Cell Structure and Function, and said of her tutoring experience, “it has given me the perfect opportunity to share my passion for teaching while strengthening my resume as I prepare to apply for dental school. It’s also helping me prepare for the dental admissions test as I get a good refresher on content I’ve already learned and studied.”

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Keith Renshaw, PhD

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George Mason scientist leads $1.8M NSF grant to address mobility challenges from urban flooding

Katarina Benson — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:36:52 +0000

George Mason scientist leads $1.8M NSF grant to address mobility challenges from urban flooding Katarina Benson Fri, 02/21/2025 - 14:36

��AV researcher Alireza Ermagun has been awarded a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address mobility challenges caused by nuisance flooding. The project, a collaboration with Villanova University and the University of South Carolina, centers on understanding how frequent, low-level flooding disrupts daily transportation systems and devising equitable solutions.

Alireza Ermagun. Photo provided

Nuisance flooding frequently inundates roads and overwhelms stormwater systems, creating widespread transportation challenges. Ermagun emphasizes that such flooding disproportionately affects vulnerable populations who depend on public transit, walking, or biking. “These frequent but seemingly minor floods accumulate to create major disruptions, particularly for those already facing socioeconomic and mobility barriers,” said Ermagun, the director of Mobility Observatory and Data Analytics Lab and an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Geoinformation Science. “This project aims to ensure that every resident has access to reliable transportation, regardless of the challenges posed by flooding.”

The research focuses on three neighborhoods in Philadelphia—Kensington, Manayunk, and Germantown—and involves close partnerships with the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD), the Delaware Valley River Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA). The team will examine the spatial and temporal extent of flooding in these areas and develop strategic green infrastructure solutions to address mobility barriers.

“Nuisance flooding is common but difficult to assess,” said Virginia Smith, a water resource scientist at Villanova University. “These events, however, disrupt people’s lives and their ability to move around their communities. By identifying where flooding occurs and its impact, we can develop meaningful solutions to improve daily life and beyond.”

The project places a strong emphasis on engaging communities directly impacted by nuisance flooding. Peleg Kremer, a social-ecological systems scientist at Villanova University, explained, “this project brings community voices into planning, translating their lived experiences into equitable, actionable solutions.”

“Many individuals rely on stable, predictable transportation patterns in their daily lives, and disruptions can be especially harmful for the most residents. Understanding the roots of these

impacts is key to creating effective solutions,” said Brian Levy, a social scientist at the University of South Carolina.

The project also aims to innovate in green infrastructure and mobility planning, ensuring that proposed solutions are not just functional but equitable. “By reducing mobility barriers through strategic infrastructure planning, we can promote resilience in urban transportation,” said Chenfeng Xiong, a transportation scientist at Villanova University.

Reflecting on the broader vision of the project, Ermagun emphasized the importance of combining data-driven approaches with community insight. “Some solutions, like flexible pick-up and drop-off stations or subsidies for ride sharing, show promise,” he said. “But to truly address the scale of the problem, we need to explore more transformative changes, potentially redesigning urban infrastructure, from roads to sewer systems. Our research aims to provide the data and strategies necessary to identify the most effective interventions while centering the voices of those most impacted.”

With a timeline extending through August 2028, this initiative offers unique opportunities for graduate students, researchers, and community members to collaborate on cutting-edge research while contributing to lasting, positive change in Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.

“Our ultimate goal is to not only mitigate the impacts of nuisance flooding,” said Ermagun, “but also to empower communities to adapt and thrive in the face of increasing climate challenges.”

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Alireza Ermagun

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Temple Grandin discusses her advocacy work with George Mason students

Katarina Benson — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:09:56 +0000

Temple Grandin discusses her advocacy work with George Mason students Katarina Benson Mon, 02/10/2025 - 12:09

In January, renowned author, animal scientist, and autism advocate Temple Grandin came to ��AV’s Fairfax Campus for a series of talks and Q&A sessions. With support from the Department of Psychology, she was hosted by the student organization Students in Neuroscience as part of their speaker series.

Temple Grandin speaking to the Mason community. Photo provided.

Grandin champions the humane treatment of animal livestock. Diagnosed with autism at an early age, she stands as an autism self-advocate and has previously noted how her autism advances her ability to understand and empathize with animals.

George Mason students, faculty, alumni, and community members gathered in Merten Hall on the Fairfax Campus to witness Grandin’s work as she presented talks and responded to audience questions throughout the day. She answered questions about her research, personal aspirations, and career journey, and gave advice for autistic individuals, especially children and adults facing challenges in school and higher education.

In addition to her two presentations, Grandin spent multiple hours speaking to individuals and small groups of people. Neuroscience major Ashir Bhatti, a member of Students in Neuroscience, is currently conducting research focused on the ethical use of ejiao (donkey collagen) in Chinese skin care products. He said he appreciated the opportunity to discuss his research with Grandin.

“We [asked] Dr. Grandin to come and speak because we recognize the benefits of her interdisciplinary knowledge and how it could benefit those studying neuroscience, psychology and beyond,” he said.

“It was a great day," said Tim Curby, chair of the Department of Psychology in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. "Hearing Dr. Grandin speak in-person about her research on both animal behavior and autism, while also taking the time to our questions, served as an encouragement personally and professionally for all of us who were there.”

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Driving Innovation: DELTA-FORCE steers army vehicles into the digital future

Nathan Kahl — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 18:58:03 +0000

Driving Innovation: DELTA-FORCE steers army vehicles into the digital future Nathan Kahl Wed, 01/29/2025 - 13:58

The U.S. Army relies on numerous ground vehicles for successful operations, requiring vehicles that can navigate a variety of terrains and allow soldiers to be effective and safe. This creates a challenging set of requirements for new vehicle design, engineering, and operations that must be cost-effective.

Ali Raz. Photo by Creative Services

��AV is now an important contributor for researching novel approaches and development of new vehicles, thanks to a $1.6 million grant from the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences under Digital Enterprise Technology for Maintenance and Sustainment Improvements—Phase II effort, sponsored through the Army’s Ground Vehicle Systems Center.

The George Mason project, called DELTA-FORCE (Digital Environments for Life-Cycle Test and Evaluation For Off-Road Combat VEhicles), is a joint effort between the College of Engineering and Computing’s (CEC) Center for Excellence in Command, Control, Communications, Computing, Cyber, and Intelligence and the College of Science’s Center for Collision Safety and Analysis. Ali Raz of the Systems Engineering and Operations Research (SEOR) Department is the principal investigator (PI) and Steve Kan, a professor in Mason Science, is the co-PI.

This project aims to develop a comprehensive digital engineering methodology for new vehicle concepts. “It's a very unique opportunity for George Mason in that we're going to be building a complete digital environment for life cycle testing and analysis," Raz said. "Life cycle elements have their own domain-specific models, and analysis tools that are not linked. We are building a digital environment to connect them.”

Steve Kan. Photo by Creative Services

The different phases of the vehicle life cycle, from conceptual design, preliminary design, detailed design, manufacturing, and maintenance, each have their own models and analysis tools that do not “talk” to one another. A key aspect of this project is creating an ontology and model-based systems engineering (MBSE) foundation that will connect the different domain-models, providing a common language for integrating the models and building interfaces in a digital environment.

“In order to produce new advanced complex systems, we need to transition into digital environments; the Department of Defense has been laying the groundwork for that for five years or so,” said Raz. “So essentially we will build a digital twin for modeling the off-road vehicle and environments, that is connected to a physical twin via reverse engineering.”

Kan said that “This project will enable us to work in the digital engineering field in a holistic way by integrating different system-level requirements, design, and performance, to the physics level of materials and geometry using reverse engineering technologies. In this project, we build upon our expertise in automotive and aerospace safety engineering and collaborate with colleagues in both CEC and Mason Science at George Mason to develop this digital engineering platform.”

Raz added that DELTA-FORCE will provide an opportunity through new undergraduate courses for George Mason students to get hands-on experience in building digital twins and conducting analysis.

Although this effort is sponsored by the Department of Defense, its content does not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the government; no official endorsement should be inferred..

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Ali K. Raz

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George Mason scientists partner to create genetic markers for endangered species

Katarina Benson — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:37:16 +0000

George Mason scientists partner to create genetic markers for endangered species Katarina Benson Wed, 01/29/2025 - 10:37

Scientists have long recognized that both wild and captive populations of endangered species are at a high risk for loss of genetic diversity due to their rarity. With small or isolated populations, genetic diversity can be lost through stochastic or random genetic drift, or through breeding between close relatives. Therefore, proper management of captive populations is critical to ensure long-term sustainability.

Haw Chuan Lim. Photo provided

The struggle, however, is how to efficiently and economically collect and analyze high-resolution genetic data that can fill the knowledge information gaps in effective breeding practices.

Haw Chuan Lim, associate professor in ��AV’s Department of Biology, saw an opportunity to combine the experience and knowledge of other experts in the field to develop a novel genomic tool to address this issue.

Lim’s proposal, “Development of a novel genotyping panel for powerful and cost-effective evaluations of population structure and kinship in the critically endangered mountain bongo,” was approved for funding by the 4-VA @ Mason Advisory Board.

Lim and his PhD student Karen Holm assembled their team — Aakrosh Ratan, assistant professor, University of Virginia; Klaus-Peter Koepfli, senior research scientist, Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation; and Budhan Pukazhenthi, research physiologist, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute. 4VA funding was used to purchase the necessary supplies, reagents, and equipment, including DNA tests and probe sets.

The team reasoned that a study conducted on one animal could provide a platform for application to other endangered species. The Eastern mountain bongo, or antelope, a critically endangered native to Kenya, was chosen as a test species. Although fewer than 140 bongos remain in the wild, there are approximately 160 bongos in U.S. zoos and several hundred more on private ranches. As such, breeding and transfer strategies that increase genetic diversity and reduce inbreeding of captive animals are critical for the survival of the species.

Eastern mountain bongo. Photo courtesy of the Lim Lab

The researchers created and validated the application of a novel genetic probe-set that was used to generate data from different types of genetic markers, such as ease of genotyping, presence throughout the genome, and high information content.

Researchers collected four types of samples—whole blood, fecal swabs, tissues, and extracted DNA—from 39 North American conservation centers and zoos to begin the project. This resulted in a total of 207 samples from both current and historical ex situ populations (populations outside of the native ranges).

Lim and his team evaluated the effectiveness of the probe-set in generating high-quality genetic data from different sample types and for different genetic marker types. The data obtained are now being accessed for their ability to produce accurate information on animal kinship, genetic diversity, and population structure, which will ultimately be used to guide precise captive breeding programs.

Some preliminary data, as well as a chromosome-level genome assembly, have already been published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information and online at DNA Zoo, a conservation consortium website.

A high-quality genome serves as an invaluable resource for species conservation because it can be used for many types of research such as those focused on detecting deleterious mutations. The results from this study will contribute to the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan for the species.

“The 4-VA@Mason funding got us started, and now we have obtained external funding to move the research even further,” said Lim.

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Physics PhD student is using machine learning techniques to unlock the key to predicting solar flares

Katarina Benson — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:44:24 +0000

Physics PhD student is using machine learning techniques to unlock the key to predicting solar flares Katarina Benson Mon, 01/27/2025 - 09:44

João Felipe Sousa Pereira’s research on solar flares could one day help us safeguard astronauts and technology in space and even prevent widespread blackouts here on Earth. Pereira, a second-year Physics PhD student at ��AV, is studying solar physics with the goal of uncovering the precise triggers of solar flares.

João Felipe Sousa Pereira. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Pereira said solar flare prediction is key because really intense solar flares are often associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which in turn can cause geomagnetic storms, carry radiation, and significantly contribute to space weather.

“CMEs, geomagnetic storms, and solar radiation can affect our satellites if we are unprepared. These events can also knock out our GPS or power grids on rare occasions,” he said. “What we really want is to figure out what is causing solar flares. We have some suspicions, but maybe machine learning techniques can find something we didn’t.”

There are already some prediction models in place now, but Pereira’s research is trying to push past the current “bottleneck” in the research. His work is not only trying to confirm previous techniques but also testing out a new one.

Pereira is the recipient of a Graduate Inclusion and Access scholarship, which works to enhance the diversity of the graduate student community at George Mason by providing scholarships for first-generation doctoral students who have been historically underrepresented within their doctoral field of study. The scholarship provides funding and an opportunities to become involved in the graduate community through special events each semester.

“The grade requirements [for the scholarship] are a little higher than those of my fellow grad students, but I think the hard work is rewarding and will help me stay on track to finish within the five years.”

João Felipe Sousa Pereira outside the Mason Observatory. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Pereira came to George Mason after completing his undergraduate degree in physics and astronomy at University of Maryland (UMD), College Park. He initially became interested in space weather his freshman year at UMD. “I had an introductory electricity and magnetism course. It seemed interesting to me to learn about solar wind, the types of phenomena that occur in space, and how the physics of it all actually impacts us on Earth.”

In his junior and senior years, Pereira worked on space weather research with his then-advisor Surjalal Sharma and became interested in continuing that research in his graduate studies. He then visited George Mason, where he met with his current advisor Jie Zhang of the Department of Physics and Astronomy. “[Zhang] helped me set up the possibilities for what can be done in this field, and he had the idea for the project that I'm working on now,” Pereira said.

On the same visit, Pereira had the opportunity to meet with graduate students who let him know that the PhD program wasn’t easy, but he would have the support he needed. He was able to see the graduate student culture with his own eyes, which helped him feel like he could belong at George Mason.

Pereira offers advice to other students considering PhD programs. “You should talk to as many people as possible—that can help guide your decision process. Some people have good experiences, some people have bad experiences, and they’re all valid. Everyone’s on their own path.”

“Pereira’s passion to research and commitment to his doctoral program are inspiring,” said Laurence Bray, senior associate provost for graduate education. “He represents the Mason Nation at heart by designing his own path to success with strength and resilience.”

Pereira’s enthusiasm for his research continues. “The reason I do physics is because I like figuring out how things work. And it's not necessarily easy, but in the end, when you have that ‘aha moment,’ it really is rewarding,” he said.

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Breaking down the composting process

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 14:46:23 +0000

Breaking down the composting process Lauren Reuscher Thu, 01/23/2025 - 09:46

Cindy Smith, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, took her EVPP 302 Biomes and Human Dimensions students to a composting facility last fall to give them a front-row seat for food and yard waste recycling.

Photo by Cindy Smith/College of Science

In the course, students examine human impacts on ecosystems. Because human activities often have a harmful effect on ecosystems, Smith also aims to show students positive, real-world examples of how humans can help mitigate these impacts.

“I want students to experience successful programs that are doing positive work, like keeping yard and food waste out of our landfills where the breakdown would produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas,” said Smith.

The field trip also offers insight into a career path for those interested in sustainability.

The Convertus composting facility, located in Manassas, Virginia, produces certified compost, mulch, and soil amendment products in bulk. The facility can process 80,000–100,000 tons of organic waste per year. This includes yard waste, tree branches, and food and restaurant waste.

A milk hauler dumps excess or expired milk products, which Convertus uses in the composting process. The students noted that it made the area smell like vanilla creamer. Photo by Cindy Smith/College of Science

During the field trip, students watched stages of the composting process, from the delivery of waste to the grinding, mixing, aerating, screening, and composting. They observed the different effects of various materials.

“The students were surprised to see a red tint in the leachate pond [during our visit], which resulted from red wine waste being processed,” said Smith.

��AV sends compostable scraps from multiple sources to the Convertus facility. Food waste is collected from campus dining and retail locations and Bigbelly Solar Zero Waste Stations. Two pilot programs collect compost materials in the form of paper towels from restrooms at the Facilities complex at Fairfax, and food waste from Katherine Johnson Hall at the Science and Technology Campus.

“It's great to see all this organic waste getting recycled into an economically viable product, rather than buried in a landfill or sent to a waste water treatment plant,” said Smith.

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George Mason scientist Anamaria Berea leads team to design lunar cultural archive for the ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow’

Colleen Rich — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 21:02:59 +0000

George Mason scientist Anamaria Berea leads team to design lunar cultural archive for the ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow’ Colleen Rich Thu, 01/16/2025 - 16:02

The ASPIRE ONE Lunar Record launched early on January 15 as part of the Ghost Riders in the Sky Lunar mission from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with a goal of establishing a new theoretical framework for planetary-scale archival communication.

Note from team on ASPIRE ONE. Photo provided

Anamaria Berea, an associate professor of computational sciences at ��AV, led an interdisciplinary team that designed a part of the LifeShip payload—an archive to preserve our Earth’s cultural and scientific heritage. It will be placed on the Moon through Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander.

Firefly missions are part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative in the Artemis program.

The digital portion of the LifeShip payload, similar to the Voyager Golden Records, contains diverse content including videos, global aspirations, scientific materials, historical records, and cultural artifacts intended for future humans to access. Highlights include Daily Life video capturing global snapshots of contemporary life, an Aspirations video featuring individuals sharing hopes for the future in their native languages, and collections of images from UNESCO and World Heritage archives. A Getty images documentation of the recent COVID-19 pandemic is also included.

Firefly Blue Ghost will deliver the lunar record to the Moon's surface. Photo courtesy of NASA

“We basically created an archive that is housed on a 1GB microchip encoded with diverse content,” said Berea, who also has a PhD is computational social sciences from George Mason. “It is also engraved with NanoFiche, including Berea’s name and affiliation with ��AV.

If it lands successfully, the payload will be placed on the Moon after 45 days [early March] and live there for posterity.

“This portion of the payload includes the Apollo 11 launch code, various works of art and music, information about the Moon, Earth Constitutions, and more,” Berea shared. “Not only my face, voice, name, and work will be on the Moon for future generations, but ��AV’s legacy too.”

Learn more about Anamaria Berea’s work on George Mason’s Access to Excellence podcast.

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