Two-day campus visit connects congressional offices with Stony Brook researchers, clinicians and leaders while highlighting opportunities for continued federal partnership
Stony Brook University welcomed congressional staff from New York’s federal delegation to campus August 19 and 20 for an immersive visit showcasing the university’s leadership in research, innovation, emerging technologies and patient care.
Organized by Stony Brook’s Office for Research and Innovation and the Office of Federal Relations, the Congressional Staff Campus Retreat provided congressional staff with firsthand access to the people, facilities and programs behind some of the university’s most innovative work. The visit also created opportunities for university leaders, researchers and clinicians to hear directly from congressional staff about federal priorities and discuss how Stony Brook’s expertise can serve as a resource to policymakers.
Offices in attendance included Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Nick LaLota, Rep. Andrew Garbarino, Rep. Laura Gillen and Rep. Joseph Morelle.
The retreat comes as federal investment and partnerships continue to play a critical role in advancing Stony Brook’s research enterprise, supporting scientific discovery and innovation, and strengthening the university’s ability to address major scientific, technological, health and societal challenges.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to bring congressional staff to Stony Brook so they can experience firsthand the extraordinary breadth and impact of our university,” said President Andrea Goldsmith. “From pioneering research in quantum science and artificial intelligence to groundbreaking innovations that are transforming healthcare, Stony Brook is tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing our nation. These engagements are an important opportunity not only to showcase our transformative work to advance the frontiers of knowledge to benefit our communities and our great state, but also to understand the priorities of our elected officials and partners. Together we will harness Stony Brook’s expertise and excellence to further solidify New York State as a leader in discovery and in translating that discovery into positive impact.”
The visit began on August 19 with programming that included the Quantum Data Center, Stony Brook Medicine’s Clinical Trials Unit and the Quantum Free Space Link at the Health Sciences Center, giving participants an early look at the connections between Stony Brook’s scientific, technological and clinical capabilities.
On August 20, congressional staff met with Goldsmith before dividing into two specialized tracks designed to provide a deeper look at Stony Brook’s research and clinical strengths.
Experiencing Stony Brook Science and Innovation
The science and technology track offered an inside look at research spanning engineering, quantum science, artificial intelligence, coastal resilience, robotics and advanced technology.
Congressional staff visited the Engineering Studio Lab and learned about research involving quantum sensing and machine intelligence. They also toured the Coastal and Hydraulic Engineering Research Laboratory and explored Stony Brook’s work in embodied artificial intelligence.
Later in the day, staff experienced research on high-fidelity immersive environments for naval robot training, visited the future Characterization Core Facility at the Innovation and Discovery Center, and concluded with demonstrations at the Center of Excellence in Wireless and Information Technology (CEWIT), including the Reality Deck, Home of the Future, Drone Lab, Silo and CAVE.
For Interim Vice President for Research and Innovation Mónica Bugallo, the visit offered an opportunity to demonstrate not only individual areas of research excellence, but the broader impact of Stony Brook’s research enterprise.
“One of Stony Brook’s greatest strengths is our ability to bring together exceptional researchers across disciplines to address complex problems with real-world and national significance,” Bugallo said. “There is tremendous value in giving congressional staff the opportunity to step inside our laboratories, meet our faculty and students, and see this work in action — including how we are inspiring students from elementary school through high school to engage in STEM and envision themselves as the next generation of scientists and innovators. Federal partnerships are essential to advancing discovery and innovation and to building the skilled STEM workforce our nation needs to remain competitive. These partnerships help ensure that Stony Brook can continue pushing the boundaries of research while developing the talent that will drive America’s scientific and technological leadership for decades to come.”
Highlighting Innovation in Healthcare
Stony Brook Medicine’s health track gave congressional staff an up-close look at clinical innovation, research and specialized patient care.
The day included demonstrations and discussions focused on the Mobile Stroke Unit and CatchU, as well as a Lunch & Learn with Stony Brook Medicine leaders. Staff later visited Stony Brook’s PET imaging facilities and Cancer Center before concluding the program with Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine William Wertheim, MD.
The experiences demonstrated how research, technology and clinical expertise come together across Stony Brook Medicine to improve patient outcomes and expand access to advanced care.
“Stony Brook Medicine has a unique responsibility as an academic medical center to provide exceptional care to our patients while advancing the research and innovation that will shape the future of medicine,” Wertheim said. “Having congressional staff here to see our clinicians, researchers and facilities firsthand helps demonstrate the impact that federal policy and investment can have on patients and communities. Just as importantly, it gives us an opportunity to strengthen relationships with policymakers and serve as a trusted resource as they consider the healthcare challenges facing Long Island, New York and the country.”
Building Relationships Beyond Washington
While showcasing Stony Brook’s accomplishments was an important component of the retreat, the visit was also designed to deepen relationships between the university and congressional offices beyond traditional meetings in Washington, D.C.
By bringing staff directly into laboratories, clinical spaces and research facilities, the retreat provided context that cannot always be conveyed through briefing materials or meetings on Capitol Hill. Congressional staff were able to engage directly with faculty, researchers, clinicians and university leadership, ask questions, and better understand both the opportunities and challenges facing a major public research university and academic medical center.
Those relationships are particularly important as Congress makes decisions affecting federal research funding, healthcare, higher education, workforce development, innovation and U.S. leadership in emerging technologies.
The retreat also positioned Stony Brook as a resource to congressional offices, connecting staff with experts who can provide research, data and subject-matter expertise as federal policy questions arise.
For Stony Brook, that two-way dialogue is at the heart of the university’s federal engagement: ensuring policymakers understand the impact of Stony Brook’s work while making the university’s expertise accessible to those shaping federal policy.
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