Author Archives: Jessica Clark

Libraries announces new Graduate Student Fellowship program – now accepting applications

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The Libraries is pleased to announce a new program designed to support the pursuit of excellent graduate research at George Mason University – the Mason Libraries Graduate Student Fellow Program. This program is made possible by the generosity of many donors (including alumni, friends, and university faculty and staff) who contributed to the creation of the Libraries’ new Student Research Endowment, with the initial challenge gift coming from the members of the Libraries Advisory Board.

The Graduate Student Fellowship will be awarded annually to a graduate student currently pursuing their master or doctoral degree at George Mason University and conducting research for their Thesis or Dissertation. One fellowship of $2,500 may be awarded for the 2022-23 academic year. In addition to award funds, the student fellow will be assigned a dedicated graduate study carrel in Fenwick Library for their use during the academic year in which they receive the award. The fellowship is for one academic year, and is not renewable.

Awarded funds may be used for expenditures related to conference attendance and/or travel for research related to the student’s research project; may be applied to student’s account for academic expenses; or may be designated towards acquisition of library research materials and/or digital infrastructure and tools needed for the student’s specific research project.

Criteria and Eligibility

  • Current master or doctoral degree student at George Mason University in any formally advanced field of study conducting Thesis or Dissertation level research.
  • In good academic standing with a minimum G.P.A. of 3.5.
  • Demonstrate exemplary research skills and proposed utilization of the Libraries’ services, resources, and expertise for master or doctoral level research project.

Application Requirements

  • Thesis Proposal or Dissertation Abstract.
  • Statement of interest (minimum 750 words) addressing the role of the Libraries resources in the applicant’s research plans; proposed use of funding (i.e. travel for research or conference plans; research materials or tools to be acquired; etc.); and expected outcomes.
  • Brief curriculum vita.
  • Academic Transcript (unofficial accepted).
  • Letter of Support from George Mason University department chair or graduate coordinator in the applicant’s field of study (submitted separately via e-mail to library@gmu.edu).

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted via e-mail to library@gmu.edu by 11:59 p.m., Monday, June 27, 2022. Late applications will not be accepted.

Selection Process

Graduate student fellowship applications will be reviewed by a selection committee appointed by the Dean of Libraries and University Librarian. The selected recipient will be notified prior to the start of the fall semester.

Requirements of the Fellow

All library research materials and/or digital tools acquired on behalf of the Graduate Student Fellow will remain the property of the University Libraries. At the conclusion of their fellowship year, the recipient will submit a brief report of their accomplishments during the fellowship, including how the funding supported their research.

Fenwick Gallery hosts exhibition of self-published student comics

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Fenwick Gallery at George Mason University is pleased to host “We Make Comics!” an exhibition of minicomics and process art from students in the School of Art. The exhibition is on view in Fenwick Gallery from April 27 through May 29, 2022.

“We Make Comics!” showcases the process of creating comics from first pitch through final print, and features work from students in the inaugural “Dynamic Publishing” course at Mason. Students in this class developed minicomics (short, self-published comics) in multiple genres, from science fiction to fantasy and slice-of-life. These artists worked in a range of media through the sketch and design stages and produced the final version of their comics using Risograph printing. The exhibition presents story outlines and notes, character sketches, and rough drafts alongside the finished minicomics, demonstrating the breadth of the creative process and showing how much a story can change during development and final printing. 

“We Make Comics” features work from thirteen student artists, and is curated by Chen Bi (Fenwick Gallery Graduate Research Assistant) and Stephanie Grimm (Art & Art History Librarian and Fenwick Gallery Manager), with support from Prof. Christopher Kardambikis, instructor for “Dynamic Publishing” in Spring 2022.

“We Make Comics” is on display in Fenwick Gallery, located in Fenwick Library on Mason’s Fairfax campus, and may be viewed during the library’s business hours. Visit the Libraries website at http://library.gmu.edu for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

For more information on “We Make Comics!”, contact Stephanie Grimm at sgrimm4@gmu.edu. For general inquiries about the University Libraries or George Mason University, contact Jessica Clark, Development and Communications Officer, at jclarkw@gmu.edu.

Now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Fenwick Fellows Program

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The University Libraries is now accepting applications for the 2022-23 Fenwick Fellows program. The Fellowship is awarded annually to eligible Mason faculty members to pursue a research project that uses and enhances the Libraries’ resources while advancing knowledge in their field.

Up to TWO Fellowships of $5,000 each may be awarded; expanded program guidelines include funding for an additional fellowship for a project proposal that specifically aligns with the Libraries’ ever-increasing initiatives in the area of digital scholarship (e.g., digital humanities, data-focused research, development of digital content and curation). As always, the selection committee will be especially interested in research projects that make substantial use of the Libraries’ resources and services.

In all cases, the awarded funds are to be designated towards the acquisition of library research materials and/or digital infrastructure and tools that may be needed for the Fellow’s research project, as well as for associated research costs (e.g., research assistant support, survey costs, defrayal of conference costs when specifically required for the Fellow’s research project, and other related incidental costs). In addition, the Fellow is given use of a technology-equipped office in Fenwick Library for the term of the Fellowship (August 22, 2022– August 4, 2023).

The deadline for applications is Wednesday, June 15, 2022. The 2022-2023 Fenwick Fellow(s) will be announced at the start of the Fall 2022 semester.

For additional information and application guidelines, visit the Fenwick Fellow Program page: https://library.gmu.edu/about/fellow

If you have further questions, please contact Wally Grotophorst, Associate University Librarian at wallyg@gmu.edu

African Americans in STEM: Speaker Series

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The Libraries is pleased to announce a new speaker series, African Americans in STEM, resulting from a partnership between the Mason Libraries’ Teaching and Learning Team and NEOACM. This new series will commence in Spring 2022 and continue over subsequent fall and spring semesters.

The first two events, which will be virtual, will take place on Monday, April 25 and Thursday, April 28, 2022.

Think Black: IBM’s First Black Software Engineer, Monday, April 25, 6 p.m. EST, Register here.

Clyde W. Ford is a software engineer, a chiropractor, and a psychotherapist. He’s also the award-winning author of twelve works of fiction and non-fiction. THINK BLACK, Clyde’s most recent book published by Amistad/Harper Collins in September 2019, is a memoir about his father, the first Black software engineer in America. It is an examination of a father-son relationship that traces Ford’s story as a system engineer at IBM, and his father’s life as the first Black software engineer hired by Big Blue. The story is both a memoir and an exploration of the slow change in race relations, compared with the lightning speed of change in technology. 

Telling Robot S.T.O.R.I.E.S., Thursday, April 28, 6 p.m. EST, Register here.

Cameron Hughes, Software Epistemologist and author of eight software development books including Robot Programming: A Guide to Controlling Autonomous Robot published by Pearson Education, will be presenting about the obligations and challenges of a software engineer in an age of machine learning hype. The talk is presented from the perspective of those who must program computers and robots to engage in activities that are typically associated with human beings. The presentation will cover the moral and ethical obligations of software engineers when charged with implementing strategies for complex problem solving that interface with the public. The presentation will discuss laymen-level definitions of Artificial Intelligence,  Machine Learning, Autonomous Robots, and Computer Ethics.   

New subscription to all Nature journals

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Access to Nature

Thanks to a mid-year budget allocation for medical education resources, the Libraries has subscribed to Nature.com Complete. This collection features access to over 80 Nature journal titles – you can check out the full list here. We are particularly excited to add this important resource for our STEM researchers.

From major discoveries in the last 175 years to today’s breakthroughs – you can find important research from across science, technology, medicine, social sciences and humanities through the Nature portfolio of journals, books and databases.

The collection also ranges into the social and behavioral sciences, including one of the top-requested journals by our library users – Nature Human Behavior.

Other recent library collections updates