🌱 How a new $100K grant boosts Mason’s AI data center security

Greetings George Mason! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a new $100K grant boosts Mason’s AI data center security
• Mason researchers win $550K to rethink how AI handles shifting data

Also on today's calendar: 2026 Global "In Their Shoes" 5K to benefit Iraqi orphans and vulnerable children and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)

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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Heavy afternoon thunderstorms, with a high of 87 and low of 68 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Humid with a thunderstorm, temps: high: 84, low: 67.
• Saturday: Periods of sun, with a high of 83 and low of 65 degrees.

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📰 News we're reading

• CEC researchers studying defense-in-depth cyber-physical security for AI data centers (eurekalert.org) — George Mason University researchers in the College of Engineering and Computing just landed $100,000 from the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority to bolster cyber-physical security for AI data centers, work based at Mason’s Northern Virginia campuses. The yearlong project underscores the university’s growing research profile and its role as a major regional innovation hub serving more than 40,000 students.
   

• Liu & Xu studying conformality-guided learning with evolving & heterogeneous data (eurekalert.org) — Researchers at George Mason University’s College of Engineering and Computing have secured a $550,000 National Science Foundation grant to advance “conformality-guided” machine learning that stays reliable as data changes over time. Their multi-year project, based at Mason’s Northern Virginia campuses, will develop new theory and algorithms for handling heterogeneous, drifting data in real-world systems.
   

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📸 Around George Mason

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

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🗓 Upcoming Events in George Mason

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday August 29

• 2026 Global "In Their Shoes" 5K to benefit Iraqi orphans and vulnerable children →
  Burke Lake Park, 7315 Ox Rd, Fairfax Station
  8:00 am
• Around The World Cultural Food Festival Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary →
  Oronoco Bay Park, 100 Madison St, Alexandria
  9:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

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Other local events

Thursday August 27

• Boys Varsity Volleyball @ Fairfax High School
  Fairfax HIgh School Blue Days Gym, Annandale High
  6:30 pm
• George Mason Patriots vs William & Mary Soccer Men →
  George Mason Stadium, 4495 University Dr, Fairfax
  7:00 pm

Friday August 28

• August 2026 on Mason Arts Amplified
  De Laski Performing Arts Virtual Event
• Back to School family Picnic
  Eagle View Elementary School Eagle View Elementary
  5:30 pm
• Ranjit Bawa Live in Concert
  De Laski Performing Arts Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall
  8:00 pm

Saturday August 29

• August 2026 on Mason Arts Amplified
  De Laski Performing Arts Virtual Event
• Back to School Bash with Little Hands Pediatric and Virginia Hands
  Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Persons Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, 22831 Hanson Park Dr, Aldie\
  12:00 pm
• "As You Were" Exhibition Opening Reception
  De Laski Performing Arts 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030
  4:00 pm

Sunday September 6

• Shoff Promotions Comic Book, Sports Card and Pokemon Show →
  Annandale Virginia Fire House Expo Hall 7128 Columbia Pike 22003
  9:30 am

Saturday September 12

• Fairfax (aka Centreville) Moose Shrimp Feast →
  3529 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax
  4:00 pm

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📣 George Mason Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making George Mason PatchAM possible:

• Neutral Ground Counseling Group — (703) 988-4236
• EZ Mobility Company — (703) 436-8883
• Trouble Defense LLC — 7038350692

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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🗞 Nearby News

Fairfax

• Jeff Goldblum Leads A Packed Fall Lineup At George Mason In Fairfax (patch.com)
• Fruit Flies And Unsanitized Dishes Cited In Fairfax Inspections (patch.com)
• ‘Ask Fairfax': Meet Fairfax County's New Generative AI Chatbot (fairfaxcounty.gov)

Vienna

• Vienna Medical Building To Get Major Renovation: Report (patch.com)

Annandale

• Body-Camera Video Released Of Annandale Police Shooting (patch.com)

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Ok George Mason! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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