At the Volgenau School of Engineering, the world is your laboratory, with studies in the classroom and in the field. Because Civil Engineering students study geological formations to learn how to build sustainable bridges, roads, and tunnels, professor Burak Tanyu’s geotechnical engineering class toured the 1,500-acre Cedar Mountain Quarry in the Shenandoah foothills.

Mason junior Marqus Keith began developing his mobile desktop during spring of his sophomore year. He used a 3-D computer-assisted design (CAD) package and printed 3-D models to perform the initial engineering analysis. He continued developing and testing the portable desk for the next year and a half, working in Mason’s Machine Shop every Wednesday night, on Fridays, and weekends.

At the Laboratory of Nanotechnology, Volgenau researchers study particles thinner than a hair on an infant's arm, smaller than a droplet of sea mist, and attachable to a single molecule. Assistant Professor in Bioengineering Carolina Salvador Morales focuses on the design and applications of a wide range of carriers at the nano and micron-size scale to treat a disease. The research holds the promise for revolutionizing the way scientists target cancer.

The Smithsonian National Zoo called on students from the Volgenau School of Engineering to design new objects to enrich the lives of Asian elephants in their care. The Smithsonian's recently introduced LEED certified facility already includes a play sand pit, wading pool, and a shower the elephants can operate themselves. These features, along with newer ones designed by Mason students, will serve the health of the herd, and give zoo biologists better insights toward preserving this threatened species.