NSF Accelerating Research Translation – Institute for a Sustainable Earth

Translating Research to Practice to Create Climate Ready Communities Across Virginia

George Mason University is one of 18 academic institutions to have been awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Accelerating Research Translation (ART) cooperative agreement in an effort to encourage academic research that directly benefits communities.

Climate-related disasters are costing the United States billions of dollars in damages, exposing the public to health risks, and threatening lives and livelihoods – but the widespread implementation of science-based solutions at the community level remains elusive. Mason’s Insititute for a Sustainable Earth (ISE) and Virginia Climate Center (VCC) are collaborating with the University of Kentucky and the Center for Climate Strategies on the NSF ART initiative to close this gap and create climate-ready communities in Virginia.

Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger tours Celso Ferreira's, PhD, (pictured far right), Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, Flood Hazards Research lab at the Potomac Science Center with George Mason University President Washington. — ART Co-PI Celso Ferreira leads Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger on a tour of Mason’s Flood Hazards Research lab at the Potomac Science Center with George Mason University President Washington. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Mason’s NSF ART program will establish a transformative new model for research translation; one which establishes university-wide programming that enables community stakeholders to co-produce solutions and enhance local resilience to climate change. Projects under the initiative will empower Mason faculty and students to serve communities across Virginia – especially within the underserved regions – and translate their research into practice with tangible benefits for the Commonwealth.

Projects

Mason’s NSF ART projects will be organized into three categories of activity: outreach and engagement with municipal and other community-based stakeholders; community-focused research translation; and training programs to create a climate-ready workforce. New instructional programs at Mason will create climate science-literate instructors, use-inspired scientists who can translate their research into practice, and social entrepreneurs. Municipal and other community-based practitioners will also be trained in how and why to use science-based methods, tools, and data to plan and implement climate change resilience strategies.