Building a strong foundation one course at a time

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Emma (Xijin) Zhang

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As one of the key focal points of George Mason University's Grand Challenge Initiative, building a climate-resilient society requires not just innovation in sustainable infrastructure, but innovation in how the university prepares future leaders in sustainability.

Assistant professor Xijin "Emma" Zhang recently launched CEIE 499/619 Innovations in Civil Engineering Materials, a first-of-its-kind special topics course in George Mason's College of Engineering and Computing that aims to give students-undergraduate and graduate alike from any degree program - a strong foundation in the emerging technologies that are reshaping the future of civil engineering.

Emma Zhang presents to her students. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

The course was developed after Zhang submitted a proposal to the Institute for a Sustainable Earth's Creating Impactful Research Connections Through Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) program. Following panel review, the proposal was selected for development, an outcome that underscores George Mason's emphasis on translating research into real-world solutions.

"My hope is that the course helps students understand how climate issues impact material properties and how we can improve material properties [when designing] future infrastructure," said Zhang.

In the course, students study the fundamental physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of major construction materials, including aggregates, steel, concrete, asphalt, and wood. This course also introduces students to analytical techniques for assessing material performance and explores how advancements in civil engineering materials are influencing modern design, construction, and sustainability practices.

"I noticed that there was an opportunity to further expand students' exposure to civil engineering materials within the CEIE program, and I really wanted to help students become more familiar with this topic," Zhang said. "While developing this course, I spoke with government agencies and community partners that specialize in sustainability design in the Northern Virginia area and beyond to better understand the skills and knowledge communities and industries are seeking from future professionals in terms of sustainable infrastructure techniques and materials."

One of Zhang's students presents his work. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

Those conversations also highlight another defining strength of George Mason: its close connections to government, industry, and regional partners. Zhang engaged with organizations including Northern Virginia Regional Commission, Federal Highway Administration's Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Virginia Department of Transportation. 

 Discovery interviews with these partners helped shape the course around real-world priorities such as safety, cost efficiency, and sustainability maintenance. In turn, students' semester projects focus on analyzing the life-cycle of construction materials, encouraging them to think critically about how engineering decisions affect both infrastructure performance and environmental outcomes.

In preparing the course, Zhang also worked with George Mason's University Sustainability to learn more about sustainable materials and practices already being implemented across campuses.

"I ask students to think about how materials are produced. For example, we need to consider their manufacturing process and the amount of carbon emissions associated with it," Zhang said. "Also, I encourage students to think about what happens at the end of the materials' life cycle, how can we recycle or re-utilize it for another project?"

Zhang said she hopes students will carry this mindset into their future careers in the civil engineering industry.

Senior civil engineering major Andres Lozano already sees how the course connects classroom learning to real-world impact Lozano hopes to enter the civil engineering field, specializing in structural and water resources engineering.

"I see this class as an opportunity to learn about innovations in materials and to contribute to the industry with new applications that are not yet widely used in current practice," Lozano said. "There is still a gap between research and field implementation, but in Professor Zhang's class, we're working toward filling that gap by analyzing the performance and sustainability of current material applications and exploring potential improvements for future practice."

Lozano, a Bachelor's to Accelerated Master's student, also works as a research assistant in George Mason's Flood Hazards Research Lab revising projects for real-world clients from jurisdictions such as Fairfax County, Arlington County, the City of Petersburg, the City of Emporia, and the Town of Jarratt in Virginia.

Zhang and her students in the Engineering Building. Photo by Shayla Brown/Office of University Branding.

"The bridge infrastructure in Virginia and throughout the country is facing challenges related to aging, durability and rehabilitation," Lozano said. "I see myself contributing to the development of rehabilitation strategies, that strengthen infrastructure resilience and protect the communities that depend on it. This course's focus on materials and construction methodologies is such a good fit for me, and I now feel more prepared to take on these challenges in a professional setting."

Through courses like Innovations in Civil Engineering Materials, George Mason is equipping students with the technical expertise, collaborative mindset, and community-connected experience needed to lead in a rapidly changing world. In doing so, the university continues to advance its mission of producing knowledge that matters-and solutions that strengthen communities locally and globally.