George Mason University has numerous research centers that do research that have policy implications.

This post aggregates the research centers that are featured in Meet the Changemakers Day on Oct. 24, 2023. The feature image has the logos for the three research organization with town halls for Meet the Changemakers Day and the two academic units with the most research center presentations and roundtables.

Thumbnails 2-4 in the GMU Research Center slideshow have posts on the featured research town halls. Thumbnails 5-24 have posts on the research centers giving presentations and having roundtables. These centers are listed in the order of their presentations on MTC Day.

To view in full screen mode this post and other posts in this slide show, click anywhere on a Feature Image.

The Center for Climate Change Communication (Mason 4C) develops and applies social science insights to help society make informed decisions that will stabilize the earth’s life-sustaining climate, and prevent further harm from climate change.

As a result of human activity – primarily the burning of fossil fuels – the earth’s climate is becoming dangerously disrupted and destabilized. Our mission is to develop and apply social science insights to help society make informed decisions that will stabilize the earth’s life-sustaining climate, and prevent further harm from climate change. To achieve this goal, our center engages in three broad activities: we conduct unbiased communication research; we help government agencies, civic organizations, professional associations, and companies apply social science research to improve their public engagement initiatives; and we train students and professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve public engagement with climate change.

The Institute for Immigration Research (IIR) is a multidisciplinary research institute at George Mason University. The IIR’s mission is to produce valid, reliable, and objective multidisciplinary research on immigrants and immigration to the United States and to disseminate this information through peer-reviewed academic journals, as well as in print and digital formats that make this research easily accessible to policy-makers, the media, the business community, and the general public.

IIR Director is James Witte.

Our faculty affiliates, graduate students, and partners are at the forefront of immigration research. The IIR produces high quality, timely research and analysis that examines the economic contributions of all immigrants in the United States, with a particular emphasis on immigrant entrepreneurs with high levels of education and skills.

The IIR is a joint venture between George Mason University and The Immigrant Learning Center, Inc. (ILC) of Massachusetts. The IIR was founded in 2012 through the generous donation of Ms. Diane Portnoy, educator and philanthropist from Malden, Massachusetts.

The IIR is located on the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, outside the nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Its strategic location allows the IIR to draw on unparalleled academic, government, and private resources to advance its mission in research, education, and professional opportunities for current and future scholars of immigration studies. Through conferences, workshops, lectures, and other events, the IIR is able to engage in community outreach with one of the most diverse populations in the United States.

Vision

The Institute of Digital InnovAtion (IDIA) is George Mason University’s commitment to inclusively shaping the future of our digital society, promoting well-being, security, and prosperity.

IDIA is a sector leader that provides transdisciplinary research, innovation, and next-generation workforce development strategy across the university for scaled, sustainable growth in digital innovation, leverages synergies, strengthening the innovation ecosystem and growing capacities for transdisciplinary research, scholarship, and innovation, supports placemaking, instigating and building research and innovation communities around places and activating and supporting a culture of transdisciplinary research and shared research infrastructure, and amplifies the visibility and awareness of George Mason University as a globally recognized leader for its world-class research, innovation, and economic impact activities, as well as its next-generation students and scholars.

Information systems security is of increasing importance in government, military and commercial arenas.  The Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS) provides a dedicated environment to encourage the development of expertise in both the theoretical and applied aspects of information systems security.  CSIS emphasis on information security makes it unique among the institutions of higher learning in this country.

Securing the World’s Cyber Infrastructure

Established in 1990, CSIS has the distinction of being the first academic center in security at a U.S. university. CSIS differentiates itself from other centers by working in a broad spectrum of security topics and issues.  The Center resides within the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University.

Proven Track Record in National Security
RPRC’s Research Drives Advancements that Enable Competitive Edge.

Mason’s Rapid Prototyping Research Center was established to further advance research and innovation development that requires accelerated processes combined with specialized expertise to meet national security and defense objectives. RPRC, working in conjunction with our other research affiliates and technology partners has created a proven and repeatable technology development program, uniting engineers, students, mentors, and technology vendors to deliver rapid and resilient solutions.

Eric Vollmecke  is the Director of  RPRC.

The Mason Autonomy and Robotics Center (MARC) conducts research and provides unique educational opportunities to address local and global needs in autonomy, embedded artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics. Our interdisciplinary activities take a holistic approach to growing technological demands by combining computer science, electrical and mechanical engineering, systems engineering, psychology, philosophy, and policy education and research.

All new facility coming in 2023
MARC will open its new facility in 2023 on the Fairfax Campus in Research Hall. The area will include a high-bay space for testing drones and other robots, faculty offices, as well as meeting and collaborative spaces for maximum contact with students and faculty.

Missy Cummings is the Director of MARC.

Source: Website

The Center for Air Transportation Systems Research at George Mason University was chartered in 2003.

The CATSR mission is to foster excellence in education and research in Air Transportation System Engineering. Contributions to the field include:

• transportation network-of-networks simulation, optimization, and analysis
• complex adaptive systems simulation and analysis
• NAS, airport and airspace simulation and performance analysis
• rare-event safety analysis for systems and devices
• aviation environment (noise and emissions)
• strategic planning and forecasting/industrial sector economics
• auctions and other allocation schemes
• portfolio analysis/costs-benefits analysis
• flightdeck design and human factors

Our outstanding students are successful leaders in industry, government and academia. Where are they now?

CATSR Director is Lance Sherry.

The Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy, founded in 1976 by Peter Brown and Henry Shue, is one of the oldest research institutions in the United States providing expertise on the normative dimensions of public policy. The Institute works on pressing issues in public policy, including climate change and environmental policy, peace and security, bioethics and emerging technologies,  international human rights, international criminal law, and global demands for justice.

 Over 40 Years of Philosophy and Public Policy

The Acting Director for Institute for Philosophy and Public Policy is Jesse Kirkpatrick.

The mission of the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies is to advance a sound and nuanced understanding of Muslim societies and the Islamic faith, its role in world history, and its current patterns of globalization. The center recognizes that Islam is a universal faith and a world civilization with a global community.  Thus, the center provides a global, rather than regional, framework for exploring Islam.

The AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies supports research, interdisciplinary academic programs, and community outreach.  By providing educational and research opportunities for students, faculty, and visiting scholars, it is helping develop 21st century leaders with a sophisticated understanding of the complex dynamics that shape Muslim communities worldwide.

The Director for the AbuSulayman Center for Global Islamic Studies is Maria M Dakake.

We use digital media to democratize history.

Our digital projects emerge from our engagement with the practice of history in universities, schools, libraries, archives, museums, and local communities.
They are shaped by collaborations with practitioners and audiences, and are produced by teams of researchers, developers, designers, and graduate and undergraduate students.

In 2020, our various projects attracted an audience of more than 2 million unique visitors. To do this work, and to keep our projects free and open access and (mostly) open source, we depend on grant funds from government agencies, private foundations, and individuals who believe in our mission. We also do contract work for like-minded organizations across the humanities, in education, and in public history.

The Executive Director for the Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media is Lincoln Mullen.

George Mason University’s Center for Social Science Research (CSSR) is committed to conducting publicly engaged social research that can promote social justice and inform equitable social policy. Housed within the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, the CSSR builds on a long tradition of social science research for the public good. At its center are thematic research hubs focused on quantitative, qualitative, community-engaged research, and program evaluation.

Amy Best is the director of the Center for Social Science Research.

The mission of the Center for Evidence-Based Behavioral Health (CEBBH) is to increase the availability of cutting-edge, culturally responsive, evidence-based behavioral health interventions in our community and beyond for all youth, adults, and families in need. We are also committed to decreasing barriers in access to care so that all individuals have access to these high-quality behavioral health services. We accomplish these aims through two venues.

The Center for Evidence-Based Behavioral Health director is Christy Esposito-Smythers.

The Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science (ICES) at George Mason University is a research center and laboratory affiliated with the Antonin Scalia Law School, School of Business, Department of Economics in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and the Mercatus Center. ICES was founded in 2001 by Vernon Smith (2002 Nobel Laureate in Economics).

ICES brings together researchers and students interested in using the methods of experimental economics to answer research questions from a variety of fields. Using both laboratory and field experiments, research at ICES has been conducted in such areas as public choice, development, bargaining, neuroscience, and economic systems design (ESD).

Director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Economic Science is Daniel Houser.

The mission of the Center for Business Civic Engagement is to study the impact of the application of business theory and principles to government to determine if government can be both more effective and efficient for its stakeholders.

One of the Center for Business Civic Engagement’s primary projects is the Intelligent Automation (IA) Initiative. The mission of the Intelligent Automation (IA) Initiative is to research, educate, and communicate how the adoption of this emerging technology can improve productivity, operations and service delivery of public sector organizations. The Initiative will also study and recommend possible governance models and public policy initiatives for IA deployment in the context of the broader economic outlook and the future of work.

The Center for Business Civic Engagement director is David Rehr.

The Gender and Policy (GAP) Center leverages the existing expertise of George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government to investigate and address the underrepresentation of women in positions of influence and power in the public sphere, as well as identify policy inequities for women and other underrepresented groups.

Tackling topics in three primary areas—politics and public authority, women’s health and wellbeing, and gender-based violence—GAP Center faculty and students collaborate as researchers, and benefit from the extensive knowledge and expertise of an Advisory Board comprised of professionals from the public and private sectors.

Bonnie Stabile is the founder and director of the Gender and Policy (GAP) Center

MISSION
CESP’s mission is to build a vibrant interdisciplinary energy science and policy hub at George Mason that develops integrative applied science and policy solutions for Virginia’s energy security, climate change,  sustainability, and resilience challenges and beyond.

VISION
CESP’s vision is to lead energy security, climate change, sustainability, and resilience innovations. This vision includes exploring energy’s critical nexuses with health, water, climate, food, transportation, national security, technology and innovation, and conflict resolution. Research on these multidisciplinary relationships is where Mason has world-class expertise. The vision’s foundational element is translating energy science innovations into policy recommendations. This approach requires integrated science-policy studies to ensure realistic and desirable energy and climate policy outcomes.

We seek to modernize this vision around five pillars of activity: international strategy and energy security, local government and energy, energy and international development, energy resilience, social justice, and behavioral economics.

Richard D. Kauzlarich is Co-Director, Center for Energy Science and Policy.

Mission
The principal mission of the Center for Regional Analysis (CRA) is to provide research and technical assistance to local government and businesses, primarily located in the Washington DC Metro region. These efforts focus on economic, demographic, transportation, housing and fiscal issues.

To execute this mission, the Center’s staff conducts regular research on the performance of the Washington area economy, issues regular reports on the region’s economy, housing, and demographic conditions, and participates in local meetings and conferences sponsored by governments, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce and like organizations.

The Center for Regional Analysis is the “go to” organization for economic, demographic and housing data and analysis within the Washington and Baltimore regions and is cited locally and nationally as the source of information for the media, research scholars, and investors interested in understanding the Washington area‘s economy.

The Center posts reports, presentations, data and other information its website (cra.gmu.edu). This readily available research and analysis, and the Center’s location within George Mason University, have made CRA the primary source of public information about the region.

The Center for Security Policy Studies (CSPS) provides a vibrant intellectual space for Mason students and faculty to work alongside government, military, think tank and private sector experts to address today’s pressing security issues. Such challenges range from so-called ‘traditional’ threats, including great power conflict, civil war, nuclear proliferation, and terrorism, to so-called ‘nontraditional’ threats, including climate change, pandemic disease, demographic shifts, extreme poverty, state failure and refugee crises.

All of these threats transcend traditional academic boundaries. Therefore, CSPS seeks to produce multidisciplinary, policy-relevant research by leveraging experts from across George Mason University. CSPS also sponsors innovative extracurricular activities for Mason students to prepare them for service as tomorrow’s security scholars and leaders.

Ellen Laipson is the director of the  the Center for Security Policy Studies

Collaborative and creative research to advance evidence-based practices and treatment to practitioners and policymakers in the criminal justice and health fields.

We work with our partners in crafting new policies focused on proactively preventing criminal behavior rather than simply responding to it. Click here to check out a summary of ACE! in the last year.

Faye S. Taxman is Director of the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence (ACE!).

The Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise seeks to improve the effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, philanthropy, and social enterprise through research, training, public education, and other initiatives that engage those who care about these important institutions and activities.

Current major interests are: the state of the regional, national, and international nonprofit sectors; nonprofit-government relations; the role of foundations and philanthropy in our society; nonprofit accountability, governance, and effectiveness; global civil society; and social enterprise and social entrepreneurship. Mason’s center is a long-time member of the Nonprofit Academic Centers Council (NACC), the major association of university-based, nonprofit research centers in the U.S.  This new center replaces the previous Center for Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, and Policy.

The director of the The Center on Nonprofits, Philanthropy, and Social Enterprise is Alan J. Abramson.

The Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy is dedicated to advancing objective considerations of transportation P3s through research, education, and public service. Virginia has been a leader in innovative transportation finance in the U.S. – the Commonwealth’s 1995 Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) was one of the first state laws of its type. Virginia’s program has continued to expand with major facility improvements throughout the state as evidence of its impact.

The Director of the Center for Transportation Public-Private Partnership Policy is Jonathan Gifford.

The aim of the center is to bring together like-minded research faculty with different backgrounds including biology, medicine, biostatistics/informatics, mathematical modeling and big-data analytics to perform cutting-edge research with direct policy relevance. In particular, we aim to work collaboratively on the intersection of biomedicine and artificial intelligence (AI) to generate policy recommendations.

The Center for Biomedical Science and Policy directors are:  Naoru Koizumi and Jim Olds.