GWVIRGINIAnews - September 2012 Issue

Science + Big Data = New Interdisciplinary Institute

 

Dr. Keith Crandall, renowned biologist and population geneticist, is the director of GW's new Computational Biology Institute.


Computational biology is a field that brings together elements of computer science and biology. It is where big data intersects with science and where much of biology can be described by mathematical equations. Computational biologists conduct bench research and develop tools to effectively analyze the huge volumes of data generated in researching genetics and genomics, including genetic mapping and DNA sequencing.

Dr. Keith Crandall, a renowned biologist and population geneticist, recently joined GW as the founding director of a new interdisciplinary Computational Biology Institute.The Institute, considered a major research priority by the University, will focus on large-scale integrative bioinformatics and genomics, and will be located at the GW Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC) in Ashburn, Va.  MORE


No Summer Break for These Teachers

GW's Teachers in Industry Project participants learned skills from area business leaders to bring back to their classrooms.

 

Teachers in Industry participants learn from Chris Browne, VP/Airport Manager, Dulles International Airport, about the operational complexity of the airport and the Dulles toll road (Photo by Jessica Burt).


Although George Washington's Teachers in Industry Project occurred during the month of July the knowledge participants have gained is just about to start its journey through area middle and high school classrooms.

The project, hosted by GW's Virginia Science and Technology Campus (VSTC), is a three-week externship where teachers learn about the work environment in various companies focused on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), then bring that knowledge back to their classrooms, letting it shape their lesson plans, objectives and goals.

For the program’s fourth year, 19 teachers from Loudoun County Public Schools, Prince William County Schools and Manassas City Schools participated in two four-day externships and heard from executives at top regional businesses including Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems & Global Solutions Division, Neustar, REHAU North America, Telos Corporation, Fortessa, Inc., Inova Loudoun Hospital, Dulles International Airport, Loudoun Water and DBI Architects.  Lockheed Martin is a third-year sponsor of the program. MORE


VSTC Campus Growth Continues

 

The George Washington University continues its investment in its Virginia Science & Technology Campus (VSTC) through expansion of both its academic programs and its physical presence.

The campus continues to experience growth of its academic programs, expanding its focus from graduate education to a broader set of offerings including certificates, specialized undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs in education, engineering, business, nursing and health sciences. Currently, the VSTC is also home to 17 research laboratories and distinctive centers of excellence focusing on areas such as transportation safety, high performance computing, and sustainable energy. The campus provides educational and research opportunities for more than 600 students and is also the location of a variety of administrative departments, with a total of approximately 425 GW faculty and staff assigned to the campus. The university is committed to the growth of the VSTC and envisions the campus as a unique opportunity for the development of innovative research centers, educational programs and corporate partnerships at this strategic position in the Northern Virginia technology corridor.  MORE


SON Receives Nearly $1 Million Grant to Diversify Workforce

 

The School of Nursing hopes to attract a diverse set of students to its undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
 

The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration -- a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- awarded the George Washington University School of Nursing (SON) a three-year grant totaling nearly $1 million to increase the number and diversity of nursing professionals in Washington, D.C. and rural Virginia.

The grant will support the school's Success in Nursing Education project, which aims to specifically attract African-American, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, male and economically disadvantaged students into the nursing profession and fill the shortage of nurses in the D.C. and rural Virginia areas.  MORE


School of Engineering Alumni Tour Research Labs

 

Randy A. Graves, D.Sc. '78 (on left), chair of SEAS National Advisory Council,
speaks with Majid Manzari, Ph.D. (center), chair, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and director of the Earthquake Engineering and Structures Laboratory (Photo by Eleanor Kaufman Photography).


Over 100 alumni, faculty, staff, and students from the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS), along with members of the school's National Advisory Council (NAC), gathered on August 16, 2012 at GW's Virginia Science & Technology Campus (VSTC) for the fourth annual summer barbeque.

The event, organized by SEAS, serves to engage their alumni in the DC metropolitan area with the SEAS National Advisory Council, through an evening of networking and a showcase of key research laboratories. This year eight VSTC laboratories from the civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical and aerospace engineering departments were open for tours.  MORE


GW Launches Intensive Short Courses in Energy Technologies

 

Dr. Stephen Hsu launches a pilot education program designed for professionals from a wide range of industries and sectors who are interested in organizational sustainability and energy efficiency.

The first week-long intensive training course, Energy Efficient Building Technology, is scheduled to take place from Sept. 10-Sept. 14, 2012. Register by Sept. 1. Visit the website for more information on this course and future courses.



GW's Department of Information Technology Receives Award: Best Place to Work

 

The George Washington University's Division of Information Technology has been selected as one of the top workplaces for information technology (IT) professionals by IDG's Computerworld. This honor is part of the bi-weekly IT publication's 19th annual "Best Places to Work in IT" survey.  MORE


GW Faculty Member Appointed to JCOTS Cyber Security Committee

 

Diana L. Burley, GW associate professor of human and organizational learning, has been appointed to the 2012 JCOTS Cyber Security Committee. JCOTS, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1997, is the Virginia Joint Commission on Technology & Science.  MORE


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