Stony Brook University hosted its annual CommUniversity Day on September 27, drawing 3,300 visitors to the campus. The open house event was designed to highlight the university’s research, healthcare initiatives, and community partnerships.
The free event included over 100 exhibits, performances, and demonstrations organized into themed neighborhoods focusing on science and technology, health, arts, and safety. Attendees included families, students, and local residents.
“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 provided by students from various programs. Physical Therapy students offered balance and fall risk assessments. The School of Dental Medicine performed more than 225 dental checks while providing information about oral hygiene and health 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 were interested in accessing 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.”
Other stations included staff from the Heart Institute discussing cardiovascular health topics with visitors. Children attended the Pediatric Trauma Injury Prevention program’s Teddy Bear Clinic where stuffed animals were used to demonstrate basic healthcare procedures.
The Safety neighborhood displayed fire trucks and emergency vehicles while providing information about fire prevention programs on campus.
In Tech and Discovery areas focused on research activities at Stony Brook University Research & Innovation (https://research.stonybrook.edu/), children interacted with aquatic animals from Long Island Aquarium while university students presented experiments. Derek O’Connor from the Office for Research and Innovation explained that his office used CommUniversity Day to promote educational outreach such as geothermal pipe installation training run with Suffolk Community College for HVAC students as well as new renewable energy learning programs for K-12 audiences.
“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… 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 titled “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 like Chinese calligraphy.
Jennifer Yang of Centereach brought her grandchildren ages four and seven: “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; most participants were elementary school children along with middle schoolers, high schoolers, university affiliates—and one Pre-K participant—who built models reflecting their ideas about community. A panel comprising university leaders as well as local officials judged entries; prizes were awarded.
The event coincided with Family Weekend at Stony Brook University ahead of its football team’s win over Merrimack.
