Faculty and students from Stony Brook’s Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) provided a hands-on science experiment to fifth graders in five elementary schools for more than 250 students on Long Island.

Their goal is to help promote an early interest in STEM education through the Science Ambassador Program sponsored by Bio-Rad, a chemical supply company.

Fifth graders from five elementary schools participated in the DNA experiment.

Led by the BME’s honor society Alpha Eta Mu Beta (AEMB), the Stony Brook group taught these fifth graders about DNA with the ‘Genes in a Bottle’ experiment.

Through simple steps, students isolated their very own DNA from their cheek cells. The isolated DNA was stored in an amulet that was converted into a keepsake necklace.

The event was made possible through the AEMB committee,  Ravi Patel (President), Adiba Chowdhury (BMES Liaison), Arun Ajay (Secretary), Bilal Haider (Webmaster) and Lukas Vasadi (Vice President), as well as faculty advisor Dr. M. Ete Chan and numerous BME students who volunteered their time to prepare for the experimental lesson and to generate 3D-printed DNA gifts for the students.

Learn more about Biomedical Engineering: http://www.bme.sunysb.edu/

Dozens of Stony Brook’s United University Professions (UUP) members participated in the Hats for Heroes program honoring the servicemen and women  who served our country.

More than $2,300 was raised this year through donations to purchase military service hats for the veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home (LISVH). Each of the veterans received a new hat representing their branch of service or service time spent at a celebration on November 10.

Kevin Moriarty, UUP West Campus/Southampton Chapter President, and Nancy Gaugler, UUP Community Services Committee Chair join Jonathan Spier, Deputy Executive Director, Long Island State Veterans Home.

UUP West Campus/Southampton Chapter President Kevin Moriarty, a veteran himself, addressed the group, thanking the UUP Community Services Committee and the employees of the LISVH where the residents receive the care and respect they deserve.

The ceremony included a special musical selection of songs by the fifth grade classes at New Lane Elementary School. After their performance, the students visited with each of the veterans to thank them for their service.

Learn more about the Long Island State Veterans Home: http://www.listateveteranshome.org/

For some Seawolves Spring Break is not equivalent to time off and relaxation, but hard work and dedication as they participate in the Alternative Spring Break Outreach program.

This year, 78 Stony Brook students in the program volunteered in Nashville, Tennessee to help in community gardens, local food banks, and farms and community education projects.

Seawolves in Nashville working to improve local communities.

ASBO, as it is known on campus, is a student-developed, student-run community service organization that strives to promote civic engagement and social action by involving students to “give back” their Spring Break in favor of contributing to community-based projects.

In one week, these hard working Seawolves served with 12 different programs and contributed a total of 1,574 hours of service to the Nashville community.

Learn more about Alternative Spring Break: http://www.stonybrook.edu/happenings/student-spotlight/lending-a-hand-in-nashville-seawolves-make-an-impact-with-alternative-spring-break/