MSRC ‘s Dean and Director David Conover welcomed a crowd of students, faculty, local politicians, University administrators, and friends of marine sciences on Saturday afternoon to the grand opening of MSRC ‘s new research and teaching facilities in Southampton. The event marked the beginning of Stony Brook University’s (SBU) operation of the site and of the undergraduate marine sciences program that was transferred to SBU from Southampton College earlier this year.
In his opening remarks, Dean Conover highlighted the past, mutually beneficial relationship between the two institutions and looked forward to the new opportunities that the Southampton adoption provides. With the addition of the new undergraduate program, MSRC is now the only institution awarding, bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in marine sciences in New York state. Undergraduates will benefit from being a part of one of the world’s leading marine science institutions, and the new facilities at the Southampton campus provide MSRC with water front access on the south shore. “We are thrilled about the addition of these new students, faculty, staff and facilities to MSRC,” said Dean Conover.
Shirley Strum Kenny, President of SBU, expressed her excitement about what is happening between Stony Brook and Southampton. She also praised State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle, Congressman Tim Bishop, and State Assemblyman Fred W. Theile for their support in SBU’ s continuing effort to purchase the Southampton College campus and establish academic programs focused on the environment and sustainability.
“The role of the University,” Dr. Kenny explained, “is to take advantage of the resources on Long Island, both natural and intellectual.” The vision for the Southampton campus is to emphasize ecological sustainability with the broadest interpretation. This highly interdisciplinary approach will address what she thinks will be the issue of the 21″ century.
