George Mason’s first Grand Challenge Exchange Day builds connections across disciplines

George Mason University held its first Grand Challenge Initiative (GCI) Exchange Day on Tuesday, September 15, bringing together more than 200 faculty members from across the university to talk to about the GCI-related work being done and invite collaboration as the call for proposals in second year of funding launches.

Board of Visitors rector and George Mason alumnus Sumeet Shrivastava and Aurali Dade, interim vice president of research, innovation, and economic impact. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

George Mason launched GCI in 2025 to align university resources, faculty expertise, and educational programs around six interconnected solutions addressing what George Mason President Gregory Washington describes as "humanity's ultimate grand challenge"-securing a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous future.

Supported by a five-year, $15 million investment, GCI awarded funding to two large and five small catalysts projects in the first year, and those projects were highlighted throughout the half day.

Hosted by Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Impact (ORIEI) and Aurali Dade, interim vice president, the program included a fireside chat with George Mason alumnus Sumeet Shrivastava, rector of George Mason's Board of Visitors and CEO of Unissant, and a panel discussion with the associate deans of research from four George Mason colleges.

President Washington opened the day talking about how GCI is transforming George Mason from a collection of strong units into a unified research engine capable of competing at the highest levels and how this investment in faculty talent, research development, and cross-campus infrastructure is positioning George Mason for long-term competitiveness.  

"The Grand Challenge Initiative signals to federal agencies and foundations that George Mason is organized, coordinated across disciplines, and strategically focused on areas of national priority," Washington said. "Government, industry, and NGOs are increasingly seeking universities that can integrate expertise across sectors. And George Mason University, today more than ever, is viewed as a partner of choice."

In the fireside chat with Dade, Shrivastava talked about his connection to the university and his work not only with the BOV, but with the Costello College of Business, the George Mason University Foundation, and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation.

From left, associate deans of research-Anya Evmenova, Amarda Shehu, Michele Schwietz, and Patrick Gillevet Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

"This was so exciting for me when I first heard this," he said of GCI. "Through this process we are putting a framing on everything we do. This is the North Star for George Mason going forward."

Shrivastava said that five years from now George Mason will not only be an exemplar in this work, but "we're going to be showing the nation how you do this right."

During the research panel, "GCI as a Catalyst for George Mason," moderated by Institute for Digital Innovation Executive Director Massimiliano Albanese, the associate deans of research-Anya Evmenova of the College of Education and Human Development, Patrick Gillevet of the College of Science, Michele Schwietz of College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Amarda Shehu of College of Engineering and Computing, who is also vice president and chief AI officer-discussed the challenges of putting together those first GCI proposals and figuring out how to collaborate across units.

Schwietz emphasized how all this coordination was important to moving forward on the six bold solutions. "Even if you don't get the seed funding, you know you've started something important."

In the last session of the half day, Dade kicked off Year 2 of the GCI funding with a call for research proposals. They expect to again award up to two large catalyst grants-up to $750,000 in GCI funds for up to 36 months, and up to five small catalyst grants-up to $100,000 in GCI funds for 18 months.

New this year, research teams are expected to file a Letter of Intent to the lead school/college dean's office by December 4, 2026. Final proposals are due February 15, 2027, by 11:59 p.m. Award decisions are expected to be announced by April 30, 2027.

Dade also announced that the next GCI convening will be a networking event for faculty looking to collaborate on GCI-related research.