Stony Brook University hosted its annual CommUniversity Day on September 27, drawing 3,300 visitors to the campus. The event served as an open house for the university’s research, healthcare programs, and partnerships with the local community.
More than 100 exhibits, performances, and demonstrations were available for families, students, and residents. Activities were organized into themed neighborhoods focused on science and technology, health, arts, and safety.
“CommUniversity Day is a dynamic event where we showcase many of the things that make Stony Brook unique,” said Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith in a message to the campus community. “Our students, faculty, healthcare heroes, first responders, campus partners and community organizations have put together countless interactive activities, including a teddy bear clinic, instrument petting zoo, marching band performances and health screenings.”
In the Health neighborhood, attendees participated in screenings and learned about various health topics. Physical Therapy students tested balance and fall risk. The School of Dental Medicine provided over 225 dental checks while sharing information about oral hygiene and conditions such as diabetes.
“A lot of people don’t realize that we’re not only a school, but also a clinic, and we treat a lot of patients in the community,” said Astrid Bucaro, a third-year student who volunteered at the event. “We’re here to give some oral hygiene and oral health information to the community. We have information about diabetes and different types of oral health conditions, and we also have a free screening for adults and kids.”
Bucaro noted that many visitors wanted to know how they could access care through the dental clinic. “Some people either don’t have insurance or might have insurance but the office they’re at right now isn’t giving them a price they can afford. Our team of dental students, supervised by our dental professors, are able to check for oral cancer or provide any quick screening we might have.”
The Heart Institute staff shared cardiovascular health resources while children took part in demonstrations like setting splints on stuffed animals at the Teddy Bear Clinic.
The Safety neighborhood included fire trucks and emergency vehicles with displays on fire prevention and campus safety programs.
In Tech and Discovery areas focused on research innovation; children interacted with aquatic animals from Long Island Aquarium while students presented experiments. Derek O’Connor from the Office for Research and Innovation explained that his team highlighted educational programs including geothermal pipe installation training run with Suffolk Community College for HVAC students as well as new renewable energy initiatives with WhyMaker aimed at K-12 learners.
“We’re showing what we’re able to present not just to the Stony Brook community, but to our Long Island community partners in the workforce and K-12 ecosystem,” O’Connor said. “We’re showcasing our geothermal pipe installation training program, which we run with Suffolk Community College for HVAC students, and a new program with WhyMaker to help K-12 students learn how renewable energy can power batteries and be harnessed for energy consumption.”
Short presentations called “Find Out in 15” allowed students to share their research across disciplines including medicine and arts. The Arts neighborhood featured music performances alongside creative activities such as Chinese calligraphy.
Community members saw another side of Stony Brook outside its role as a healthcare provider. Jennifer Yang of Centereach attended with her grandchildren: “Most of my visits involving Stony Brook lately have been to Stony Brook doctors,” she said. “So it’s nice to come to campus on such a beautiful day and see what’s going on here. My grandkids had a great time at the Teddy Bear Clinic.”
A LEGO competition returned for its second year featuring models built by elementary through high school students as well as university affiliates; entries were judged by university leaders along with local officials including Senator Anthony Palumbo; Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay; Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow; business owner Rachel Joffe; Kiwanis member James Miola; among others.
CommUniversity Day coincided with Family Weekend at Stony Brook University ahead of its football team’s win over Merrimack.
— Beth Squire
