Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress.…

George Mason University received a $4.75 million grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) on July 12, 2025, to support the Global Energy and Water Cycle Exchanges (GEWEX) International Global Project Office (IGPO) through 2030. The contract (23-SMDSS23-0033) is a research grant with no set-aside designation, and work will be performed at the university's Fairfax, Virginia campus. This award supports GMU's participation in a comprehensive science program aligned with National Academies guidance, administration priorities, and congressional direction, encompassing discipline-specific research across multiple domains including lunar and Mars exploration initiatives, emerging cross-disciplinary scientific fields, and applied programs in earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness.

As a major public research institution with extensive federal contracting experience, George Mason University will leverage its multidisciplinary research infrastructure and scientific expertise to advance GEWEX initiatives, which focus on understanding global energy and water cycles critical to climate science and Earth system research. The university's track record of managing substantial grants from NSF, NASA, and other federal agencies positions it to effectively administer this award and contribute to the agency's broader exploration and discovery objectives through the five-year performance period ending July 11, 2030.

Execute a balanced science program based on discipline-specific guidance from the national academies of sciences, engineering, and medicine, administration priorities, and direction from congress. Participate as a key partner and enabler in the agency s exploration initiative, focusing on scientific research of, on, and from the moon, lunar orbit, mars, and beyond. Advance discovery in emerging fields by identifying and exploiting cross-disciplinary opportunities between traditional science disciplines develop a directorate-wide, target-user focused approach to applied programs, including earth science applications, space weather, planetary defense, and space situational awareness