Visiting prospective students: Emily Allen, Elizabeth Burmster, Melissa Patrician,
and Claire Hoey
Prospective graduate students from across the North America visited Stony Brook University the weekend of March 26 – 28 for a recruitment weekend filled with activities designed to showcase all SoMAS has to offer. Students had the opportunity to tour SoMAS facilities and meet SoMAS faculty, current students, and other prospective students.
The prospective students represented a diverse group–interested in topics ranging from aquatic toxicology to climate modeling.
“We started doing this recruitment weekend about 6 or 7 years ago as a way to provide a more coordinated mechanism to show what the program is like,” said SoMAS Graduate Programs Director Anne McElroy, who took the lead in organizing this year’s event. “Students make a big commitment when they choose a graduate school and we want them to feel confident in their choice.”
SoMAS graduate student Sheryl Bell in conversation with visiting prospective student Marco Agostoni.
“We designed this weekend to enable prospective students to experience the high-quality research and educational opportunities at SoMAS and also to introduce them to the SoMAS community. I’ve heard from current students who attended the recruitment weekend that the camaraderie they experienced during their SoMAS visit played a big part in their decision to attend Stony Brook,” said Dr. McElroy.
On Friday, visiting students attended the weekly Oceans and Atmosphere Colloquium, met with advisors, and toured laboratories. In the evening, SoMAS hosted an potluck dinner in Endeavour 120 that featured an array of international foods prepared by SoMAS faculty, staff, and students, many of whom either come from or have ties to other countries.
On Saturday, there was a symposium held at The Sunwood Estate that featured presentations by faculty and current graduate students. With topics ranging from “Factors affecting hypoxia in Long Island Sound” to “Physical and chemical processes in Earth’s atmosphere – from aerosol particles to climate models,” the talks highlighted the quality and breadth of SoMAS research. In addition, the symposium included talks by SoMAS alumni, including Sarah Newkirk and Hudson Roditi who spoke about their post-SoMAS career paths.
SoMAS professor Ping Liu and his daughter Mia
Saturday afternoon, visiting students and their hosts had some fun bowling at Jefferson Lanes and engaged in a friendly contest that has become a new tradition of recruitment weekend. Despite stiff competition from Anna Web and John Carroll, David Black walked home with the coveted “Dude” trophy thanks to his high score of 210. Later, Bob Cerrato led a walking tour of the Flax Pond salt marsh and bird sanctuary and Saturday evening the Mt. Grey House hosted a pizza party for the students.
In his welcome to the students, SoMAS Dean David Conover explained what he has enjoyed most about Stony Brook University since he started here in 1981.
“For me it’s always a very exciting place to be,” he said. “I really like the intellectual stimulation at Stony Brook–not just within SoMAS, but university-wide. SoMAS students and faculty frequently collaborate with colleagues from allied disciplines including the departments of applied math, geology, physics, and ecology and evolution. ”
SoMAS graduate student Alisha Renfro presenting a talk at Saturday’s research symposium.
Dean Conover went on to explain the benefits of graduate education at SoMAS and discussed the variety of careers pursued by SoMAS graduates. He told the prospective students: “When you graduate from our program you will be joining a large network of alumni who maintain a sense of connection to one another and to SoMAS throughout their professional careers.”
He also complimented students on their wise choice to continue their education in the field of marine and atmospheric sciences. “Because of the federal government’s new emphasis on policy informed by the best available science, there’s not a better time for climate and marine science research than right now,” he said.
Faculty, students, and prospective students chat during breakfast at Sunwood.
Special thanks for making this weekend a success go to:
- Anne McElroy – for chairing the planning committee
- Carol Dovi – for handling almost all of the logistics, including student travel
- Jen Hertzberg – for organizing student housing and also to all the students who opened up their homes and served as hosts
- Gina Gartin and Cliff Jones – for planning the International Potluck supper and also Peter Alpert for his wonderful music
- Steve Munch and all the speakers – for the symposium at Sunwood on Saturday
- Bob Cerrato – for arranging the Flax Pond walk
- Brook Rogers and Maggi Mars – for generously opening up their home at Mt. Grey for the student party
- Institute for Ocean Conservation Science – for contributing refreshments
