Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University

10/05/2026

ESP faculty, staff, and students,

Please join us for our first seminar series of the semester!

"Water in a Changing World: Emerging Challenges and New Opportunities for Scientific Synthesis. Introducing Springer Nature's Current Water Management Reports" by Dr. Marco Cantonati on Wednesday, October 7, 2026 from 12:15-1:15PM EXPL HALL, room 3301 and virtually via Zoom.

To join by Zoom, register here:
https://gmu.zoom.us/meeting/register/7QZ4NRaYQ86Op2Rd0Dq-qw #/registration

09/24/2026

Get ready for George Mason’s Fall Career Fair! This 3-day event will be hosted in the Johnson Center’s lower level on:

Tuesday, Sept 29: STEM
Wednesday, Sept 30: All Interests
Thursday, Oct 1: Business, Government, and Nonprofit

It’ll be your chance to connect with 60+ employers each day, meet Mason alums, and even land an interview or job offer! Follow to stay updated or visit the link in our bio.



George Mason’s Fall Career Fair is right around the corner, and the best way to get ready is by attending ’s prep events! Resume Clinic is a unique opportunity to have your resume reviewed by ACTUAL EMPLOYERS. And don’t miss Ask the Recruiters to find out what really matters at the career fair. Both events are happening Sept 28. Get details on Handshake!

09/24/2026

🌎 How can science and policy better earn public trust?

K. L. Akerlof, associate professor in George Mason University’s Department of Environmental Science and Policy, co-authored a new Nature commentary outlining six ways governments, universities, and scientific institutions can more meaningfully involve the public in research and policymaking.

The authors call for moving beyond simply communicating science to the public and instead creating opportunities for people to help shape research priorities, scientific advice, and policy decisions.

“If a researcher, a decision-maker, or a member of the public walks away with one concrete action they can move forward tomorrow, it is a win,” Akerlof said.

🔗 Read more: https://science.gmu.edu/news/george-mason-college-science-faculty-member-co-authors-nature-commentary-public-participation

Photo: K. L. Akerlof and an international group of scholars and practitioners outline six ways governments and scientific institutions can more meaningfully involve the public in research and policymaking.

Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University

08/31/2026

Happy Monday!
Here is the schedule for the Welcome Back events for our ESP graduate students this week. Please join us for one or more of them!
Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center

08/31/2026

🎨🌎 What happens when sustainability meets art?

Students in EVPP 480: Sustainability in Action explored a creative new way to communicate complex environmental issues: turning them into visual art.

Led by Environmental Science and Policy assistant professor Jennifer Sklarew, students created felt artwork inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, tackling topics ranging from ecosystem conservation and community resilience to the environmental impacts of data centers.

The project is part of a STEAM approach that helps students think about sustainability from different perspectives and find new ways to make science accessible and engaging.

The student artwork is now on display at the Potomac Science Center in Woodbridge.

🔗 Learn more about Sustainability in Action: https://science.gmu.edu/news/sustainability-action-how-george-mason-students-use-art-communicate-environmental-solutions

📷 Sustainability in Action, EVPP 480, outdoor class with fiber artist Felicia Reed and Professor Jennifer Sklarew. Photo by R. Sison.


Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University

07/15/2026

Congratulations to our MS student Carsyn Bennett on the publication of her policy memo "Strengthening EPA's Neonicotinoid Regulations - An Integrated Approach to Pollinator Protection" in the Journal of Science Policy & Governance.

The Journal of Science Policy & Governance - JSPG
College of Science at George Mason University

Read “Strengthening EPA's Neonicotinoid Regulations - An Integrated Approach to Pollinator Protection,” an article from Volume 28, Issue 01 of the Journal of Science Policy & Governance.

06/24/2026

By now, everyone's heard about the (wrong color of the) Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in DC.

The science behind the "wrong color" is explained by multiple experts, including professor of aquatic ecology Rosalina Stancheva Christova, who had taken water samples from the pool for analysis.

Christova confirmed that the algae belongs to the genus Desmodesmus, which she said is "growing in excessive amounts" but is not toxic or harmful. However, she would like to see the water monitored weekly.

"If we don't have any control over algal growth, we don't know what is growing," she said, adding that not all types of algae are as harmless as the one currently blooming in the pool.

Read the NPR story (heard on All Things Considered): https://www.npr.org/2026/06/19/nx-s1-5863044/dc-reflecting-pool-algae-green-trump

Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center
College of Science at George Mason University

The shallow, sunny waters of the reflecting pool are an ideal incubator for algae growth in the summertime. Experts say the recent renovation may have helped accelerate it.

06/12/2026

Collaborating researchers at George Mason University and The University of Virginia's College at Wise use phylogenomics to identify cyanobacteria in the Shenandoah River with a 4-VA grant.

You’ve probably seen slimy mats of brownish green clinging to rocks in streams or on lake beds, and perhaps not given it another thought. But George Mason University’s Rosalina Stancheva Christova has.

06/12/2026

Spend a semester away without falling behind at Mason. 🌿

Students in our undergraduate semester-away programs can apply credits toward a wide range of degree requirements, including Mason Core, and majors such as Environmental Science, Environmental & Sustainability Studies, Biology, Global Affairs, and Integrative Studies. In some programs, all semester-away credits can count directly toward concentration requirements. Plus, completing any SMSC semester program can fulfill the requirements for the Conservation Studies minor!

Talk to your advisor. Explore how a semester at SMSC can fit into your degree plan and advance your graduation goals while you gain hands-on conservation experience!

🐾🌳🌍
School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University
Global Affairs at George Mason University
GMU Department of Biology

05/16/2026

Have you made plans after graduating? George Mason University wants to know!
The Career Plans Survey is now open to all May 2026 graduates, undergrad and grad. You can update your responses later if your plans change. Your input helps George Mason showcase the success of our alums to employers, grad schools, and future Patriots. Your participation directly contributes to the strength of the Mason community – now and in the future.

https://careercollective.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bq1VyFrJE0uHF7E