Explore Our Short Course Programs
The Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) Short Course Programs offer George Mason University students immersive, interdisciplinary learning experiences connecting emerging technologies, entrepreneurship, and hands-on innovation. Designed to complement traditional coursework, MIX Short Courses blend technical instruction, collaborative projects, and mentorship from faculty and industry professionals within the MIX makerspace ecosystem. Successful participants receive a digital badge that elevates resumes, showcases verified technical skills to employers, and builds a standout professional portfolio — making a hands-on MIX experience visible and credible in today's competitive job market.
Current offerings include Robotics, Drone/UAS Prototyping, BLIMP (Biologically-Inspired Lighter-Than-Air Mechatronics), and Student Innovator & Entrepreneurship programs — giving students real-world experience in embedded systems, fabrication, prototyping, and engineering design through team challenges, competitions, and portfolio-building projects.
The MIX also partners with faculty to integrate digital badges and micro-credentials into existing credit-bearing courses. Current badge pathways include Kinetic Sculpture with Arduino and Sensors, Mastering 2D-to-3D Multi-Material Fabrication, Innovative Package Design with Digital Fabrication, Virtual Reality Creation, and Interactive Embedded Systems Design — helping students strengthen their portfolios and professional visibility while bridging classroom theory with advanced fabrication and emerging digital tools.
BLIMP Short Course
( Biologically inspired, Lighter-than-air, Instructional, Mechatronics Program)
Sponsored by KEEN, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, the MIX, in collaboration with Assistant Professor Daigo Shishika, PhD of Mason’s Mechanical Engineering Department, will be offering the MIX Biologically-inspired, Lighter-than-air, Instructional, Mechatronics Program (BLIMP) during this Spring 2026 semester to introduce Mason students to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing through the hands-on design of flapping-wing lighter-than-air blimps.
Innovators Launchpad Program
A 3-Phase Entrepreneurship Program Incorporating the Mason I-Corps
First-time founders eager to launch their business ideas now have access to a valuable resource on campus: the MIX Student Innovators Launchpad.
This program supports student entrepreneurs aiming to establish and expand their business ventures. Participants will gain a working knowledge of how to evaluate their innovative ideas from both business and customer perspectives, along with essential skills in conducting customer discovery interviews—the crucial first step in any commercialization process. The workshop series is integrated with the NSF Regional I-Corps program.
Robotics Prototyping Short Course
Autonomous Robotics and Sensor Integration
The MIX Robot Prototyping, Autonomous Robotics and Sensor Integration, Short Course introduces robotics fundamentals—microcontroller programming, sensor integration, and hardware assembly—through hands-on projects that include maze navigation, obstacle avoidance, line tracking, and object manipulation.
Drone Prototyping Short Course
Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping
Sponsored by KEEN, the Kern Entrepreneurial Engineering Network, the MIX Unmanned Aerial Systems Prototyping (Drone) Workshop Series returns for Spring 2026, building on four successful semesters of a 10-week, hands-on short course in which students learn UAV fundamentals and advanced manufacturing through drone prototyping. This semester, students will be encouraged to use 3D printing, Laser Cutting, and other fabrication processes to customize their drone airframes.
MIX Innovators Launchpad Fall 2025 Final Pitch
Anvil Labs LLC.
The Atlast Project →
“The biggest benefit (of the MIX Innovators Launchpad) for us was getting a chance to network with people in our industry who could help us take our business to the next step. Try to take advantage of having business-savvy people at your disposal.”
- Anvil Labs LLC. (Justin Luckenbach Chelsea Camacho-Zambrana, James Hope, Finn Schaefer)