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Excellence and leadership in conservation, water and watersheds, and healthy ecosystems by bridging environmental science and public policy

ESP is a growing academic and professional force spanning the twin domains of the natural and social sciences. We are focused on understanding and implementing science and public policy to address and solve complex environmental issues that challenge the integrity and sustainability of global systems.

ESP students who are trained in environmental policy, conservation sciences, climate change, aquatic ecology, wildlife management or one health, go on to professional careers in government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector.

Students also planted and mulched saplings as a part of the ongoing Rappahannock Parking Deck Reforestation Project. Photo by Sarah D'Alexander

Visit Us On Campus

See what our program can do for you. 

  • Environmental Science and Policy Office

    3005 David King Hall, Fairfax Campus

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David King Hall at George Mason University Fairfax Campus
George Mason Statue

The Catherine and Richard Becker Graduate Fellowship in Environmental Science and Policy

Made possible through a generous endowment by Catherine Z. and Richard J. Becker, students who are pursuing their graduate degrees in Environmental Science and Policy are selected each academic year. Recipients receive financial support while they learn, teach, and conduct research. All the Becker Fellows to date can be viewed here:

Why study Environmental Science?

Just some of the things you can do with a degree in Environmental Science and Policy!

Why Study Environmental Science and Policy at Mason?

#1

First in the country to offer a PhD program that explicitly blends Environmental Science and Public Policy.

100,000+

Over 100,000 middle school students reached since 2009 through the PEREC Field Interpreter environmental stewardship program.

26.1%

Steady year-on-year increase in enrollment in the B.S. in Environmental Science degree program over the last 5 years.

Our strategic approach to academic and research excellence

Every student pursues their own passion and conducts research in that area to contribute to the health of our environment. Undergraduates can choose from 6 concentrations, drawn from our three areas of expertise: water and watersheds, One Health, and conservation.

Ahn Wetland EVPP/BIOL 355

Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC)

We have a multi-investigator research and education center on the tidal Potomac River - the Potomac Science Center. About half of the ESP core faculty is housed here.

Potomac Science Center

News and Events

Upcoming Events

More Events
Mar21

Reading and Discussion Group: Scholarship of Teaching & Learning

Mar 21, 2023/11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Register for the discussion session. Turn your teaching into research. Join this informal Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) reading and discussion group to explore examples of successful SoTL projects. The topic for this session is investigating student collaboration in an introductory STEM class through a mixed method study. You
Mar21

Mason Science Series: Preparing for a New Normal: Making Mason and the Commonwealth More Resilient to the Impacts of Climate Change

Mar 21, 2023/4:00 - 6:00 PM

Country Club of Fairfax

Register to attend. Please join the conversation with Jim Kinter, Professor of Climate Dynamics and Director of the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA) to discuss the role of the Virginia Climate Center, which was recently funded by a generous grant from NOAA under the sponsorship of Rep. Jerry Connolly, to
Mar22

UL Faculty Engagement Series 2022-2023 - It's More Than A Dorm: The Current Landscape of On-Campus Living

Mar 22, 2023/2:00 - 3:00 PM

Merten Hall 1202 

It's More Than A Dorm: The Current Landscape of On-Campus Living Shannon Jordan, Ed.D., Associate Dean and Chief Housing Officer Visit the ULife website for Zoom access Mason’s residential population has grown to over 6,000 students living in more than 40 residence halls. National research demonstrates that students who live