Stony Brook University recently featured two of its SUNY Distinguished Professors, Chang Kee Jung and Clinton Rubin, in the Provost’s Lecture Series. The event took place on November 20 at the Charles B. Wang Center Theatre and aimed to highlight the achievements of Stony Brook faculty.
Provost Carl Lejuez opened the program by noting the importance of giving internal scholars a platform. “We had fewer opportunities for our great people inside the university to present and for us to learn from them,” he said. “This series ensures our distinguished scholars receive the same benefit and visibility we offer to guests from other universities. Sometimes we’re not even aware of what our colleagues are doing. This series is an opportunity to change that.”
Nobel laureate Barry Barish introduced Chang Kee Jung, chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, recognizing his impact on neutrino physics. Barish stated, “Chang Kee works at the very frontier of particle physics. He tackles complicated problems with remarkable clarity. He does this by being a great collaborator with others.”
Jung’s presentation, titled “Universe According to Neutrinos, Nobel Prizes, Breakthroughs and Future,” focused on how neutrinos contribute to understanding matter in the universe and challenge existing theories in particle physics. He explained that neutrinos are extremely abundant but difficult to detect: “If you put your hand out, there are ten trillion neutrinos going through it every second.” Jung discussed how research involving Stony Brook scientists led to discovering that neutrinos have mass—an observation that extends beyond current models in physics. “This remains the only phenomenon beyond the standard model ever observed in a laboratory setting,” he said.
He also addressed broader questions about why matter exists in the universe: “Without that imbalance, the universe would be empty,” Jung said.
Clinton Rubin, director of the Center for Biotechnology, delivered a lecture called “Good Vibes: Developing an Exercise Surrogate as a Non-Invasive Means of Extending Healthspan.” His work centers on using low-intensity vibration (LIV) as an alternative method for maintaining muscle and bone health when traditional exercise is not possible.
Yi-Xian Qin introduced Rubin by highlighting his foundational role in biomedical engineering at Stony Brook: “He served as a founding chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and helped build one of the strongest programs in the country,” Qin said. “His work has influenced generations of scientists and engineers.”
Rubin described how mechanical signals affect bones and muscles over time: “Our bodies are constantly adapting to the mechanical environment around us,” he said. He emphasized that LIV technology could help older adults or those with limited mobility maintain their physical health without replacing exercise entirely.
Rubin’s research has led to clinical trials and partnerships with NASA as they investigate vibration therapy for astronauts facing muscle and bone loss during space missions.
Lejuez concluded by underscoring Stony Brook’s culture of innovation: “One tie between our two presenters today is that tey are intellectually fearless. Whether it’s how they are this amazing mentor or department chair, how they are willing to go into areas where they are blazing a path, they’re never afraid,” said Lejuez. “Whether it’s Clint helping us understand how we keep our mass, or Chang Kee helping us find out that neutrinos had mass all along, this is a truly great example of what makes Stony Brook an amazing place, because we have the best scholars here. It’s really exciting to be around them.”
