Research & Discovery
At Columbian College, scholars and scientists join student researchers to challenge assumptions and
Advance the forefronts of knowledge.
Research
Discovery and innovation are a Columbian College tradition—from our century-long research partnership with the Smithsonian Institution to our state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Hall. As a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), George Washington University is a distinguished leader in global research. Whether our scholars are observing celestial bodies light years from Earth or examining the roots of diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, Columbian College faculty and students are uncovering age-old mysteries and finding solutions to 21st-century challenges.
13
CCAS research centers
and institutes
$21M
annual college research expenditures
500+
permanent full-time faculty members
720+
average annual
faculty media hits
Impact
Faculty Research
Columbian College faculty are prolific authors, awarding-winning scholars, innovators and artists. They are recipients of Guggenheims, Pulitzers and NEH fellowships, and are published in top media outlets and journals.
Student Research
From labs and classrooms on campus to field sites around the globe, Columbian College students work side-by-side with world-renowned researchers and scholars on a journey of cultural and scientific discovery.
Centers & Institutes
Columbian College is home to top research centers and institutes that explore an array of issues and ideas such as the origins of humankind, the inner workings of the brain and the growth of solar energy.
"Research has definitely broadened what I know about myself and what I want to do in the future. It's really changed my perspective on my career goals, and I'm very excited to keep going on that path now."
Sarah Schrup
BS '19
Faculty Books
Faculty Research Conversations
There are currently no articles available.
Research Making Headlines
Researchers Switch Off Gene to Switch On Ultraviolet in Butterfly Wings
A team of researchers led by Assistant Professor of Biology Arnaud Martin identified a gene that shows if ultraviolet iridescence in the wings of butterflies.
Online Parenting Communities Pulled Closer to Extreme Groups
A team of GW researchers led by Professor of Physics Neil Johnson revealed how dangerous misinformation has spread during the pandemic.
A Changing Supreme Court: Politics and Polarization
Public pressure and the increasingly politicized process in nominating justices is changing perceptions of the court’s role.
the GW Humanities Center brings together humanities scholars to share their expertise while also providing mentored research opportunities for students.
NASA Pact Rockets Astrophysics Impact
GW's Astrophysics Group in the Columbian College is expanding its reach into space exploration with a new agreement with the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
Smartphone Society: Have Our Phones Changed Ourselves?
A panel of CCAS and Smithsonian anthropologists debated the cultural and ecological impact of smartphones on our daily lives as part of the CCAS Dean’s Seminar