Mason Sustainability Institute receives $35,000 grant

The Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources Inc., presented George Mason University with a grant for $35,000 at the Jan 26. Board of Visitors meeting.

The grant is in support of the Mason Sustainability Institute, which works to foster education and leadership in the field of sustainability for the Northern Virginia region.

The institute has worked with city and council leadership on ways to decrease the region’s carbon footprint and increase exposure for local green businesses.

Lenna Storm, sustainability coordinator for Mason’s Office of Sustainability, said the funds would be used towards establishing six workshops that will cover topics related to home efficiency including energy conservation, water conservation and waste management. Students in the Sustainability in Action capstone course will be involved in planning and teaching the workshops, while speakers will be provided by local “green” businesses.

-Ryan MacDougall, Broadside

George Mason Center for History and New Media close to fundraising goal

George Mason University’s Center for History and New Media is $50,000 away from meeting a $1 million goal to name the center after the late Roy Rosenzweig, who founded CHNM in 1994.

CHNM uses digital media and computer technology to make history more accessible to the Mason community. The National Endowment for the Humanities has issued a challenge grant, which will provide $250,000 when CHNM raises $750,000.

The center makes primary sources available to high school students and teachers at no cost, and preserves decades worth of historical archives from the French Revolution to Hurricane Katrina. They also develop research software such as Zotero and Omeka.

-Jeff Giorgi, Broadside

Information from The Mason Gazette was used to write these news briefs.