Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center

Representative Eugene Vindman Visits PSC

On January 28, 2025, the Potomac Science Center had the pleasure of hosting Congressional Representative Eugene Vindman (VA-7) and his staff for a tour of the facility. PEREC Director Dr. Chris Jones led the tour, and Rep. Vindman met members of the many labs housed at PSC. Thank you to Rep. Vindman, his team, Ron Aira from GMU’s Creative Services, and the many lab members around PSC who shared their research with everyone!

Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-7) tours Potomac Science Center in Woodbridge, VA. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Dr. Leigh McCue shows examples of her lab’s work to Rep. Vindman. Rep. Vindman and his team met Dr. McCue in the Vessel Dynamics Laboratory, where she and her students research the dynamics of both manned and unmanned vessels. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Dr. Celso Ferreira explains the importance of iFlood, his lab’s groundbreaking flood forecasting system, to Rep. Vindman. Dr. Ferreira and the Flood Hazards Research Lab focus on flood preparation, mitigation, and forecasting. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Rep. Vindman views a specimen under the microscope. He met with some students in the Hupp Geochemistry & Paleoceanography Lab who focus on the geochemistry of Earth’s materials in connection to climate change. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Rep. Vindman learns about algae from Sydney Brown. The Christova Algal Ecology Lab studies algal taxonomy and ecology to better understand and protect our aquatic ecosystems. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Rep. Vindman with Jordan Sims, a member of the Salerno Laboratory of Integrative Microbial Ecology (SLIME). SLIME focuses on microorganisms’ impacts on the overall health of ecosystems. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Batool Murtadha shares her research with Rep. Vindman as part of Dr. Benoit Van Aken’s lab. The Van Aken Research Group focuses on toxicogenomics and pathogen detection. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Members of Rep. Vindman’s team interact with a mud crab in Dr. Amy Fowler’s Aquatic Ecology Lab, which focuses on invasion ecology in aquatic ecosystems. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Dr. Chris Jones shares about Dr. Reid Nelson’s Fisheries Ecology Lab. Dr. Nelson and his students focus on aquatic resource management and fisheries. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Dr. Chris Jones explains equipment used by his Freshwater Ecology Lab. Students in Dr. Jones’ lab focuses on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and water quality in the Potomac River. Photo by Sydney Jackson
Outreach Assistant Sydney Jackson shares the K-12 education and outreach efforts by Dr. Cindy Smith and PEREC’s programs with Rep. Vindman. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University
Rep. Vindman enjoying the fish tank. Photo by Sydney Jackson
From Left to Right: Colby Grant, Rep. Eugene Vindman, Dr. Chris Jones, Kerry Bolognese, Dr. Leigh McCue, Sydney Jackson. Photo by: Ron Aira/Creative Services/George Mason University

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