Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2008



Complimentary Breakfast
9:30 in the Wang Center
Enjoy coffee, juice, breakfast danishes, and fruit (compliments of University Advancement.)

Academic Showcases

It's a weekend-long celebration of all that's best about Stony Brook University. On Saturday morning, before your Famous Dave's BBQ lunch and the football game, you're invited to these special talks given by some of our dynamic, influential and inspiring faculty members.

All alumni, faculty, staff, students and community members are welcome to attend - at no charge.

Below is our current schedule of talks. Check back periodically to confirm times, locations and additional talks added to the schedule. For more information, call 631-632-4466. (Arrive early - seating is limited.)

Academic Workshop Schedule

Session I. 10:00 am - 10:45 am (Locations TBD)

How Do You Know If You're Getting the Truth From the News Media?

Election Day is coming and it's never been more important. Sample Stony Brook's pioneering course in News Literacy, presented by School of Journalism Dean Howie Schneider. After, tour the School's cutting-edge "Newsroom of the Future" located in the Ward Melville Library.


Science with a Social Conscience: Digging for Dinosaurs and Helping Children in Madagascar

Meet Dr. Krause and get a first-hand account of his 1993 expedition in search of dinosaur remains in Madagascar, home to some of the most bizarre plants and animals on the planet. Among his most significant finds are exquisitely preserved skulls and skeletons of previously unknown dinosaurs and most recently the largest frog ever to have existed.

On The Razor's Edge: A Forecast of the Obama-McCain Race

Join Political Science Professor Helmut Norpoth as he explains his forecast model and his predictions for this November's election. His forecast model relies on primary elections data from as far back as 1912. Dr. Norpoth assists the New York Times with its election night analysis and has served as a polling analyst for the Foreign Policy Association.

Session II. 11:00am- 11:45am (Locations TBD)

***CANCELLED*** Guyland! Learn About the Buddy Culture of Today's Young Men

The average young American man today is moving through a new stage of development, a buddy culture unfazed by the demands of parents, girlfriends, jobs, kids and other nuisances of adult life. SB Professor, Sociologist, gender studies authority and author of the recent book Guyland!, Dr. Michael Kimmel, identified this territory as a place that's both a stage of life and a new social arena. Join Kimmel's research assistant, Ryan Hubbell, as he takes you into the world of today's young men.

What Everyone Should Know About Autism: Hope, Help and Hype

Learn about the latest in Autism Research from SB Professor Patrica M. Whitaker-Azmitia and Graduate Assistant Lauren Adamek. The hope of recent biological work in animal modes of autism that show how autism might be prevented in the future. The help currently available to help people with autism spectrum disorder and the hype from recent autism research and treatment. A brief Q&A will follow.

9/11 & 9 AD: Unexpected Events and the End of Empire

The defeat of the Roman legions in the German forest and the attack on the World Trade Center have certain similarities which could theoretically signal the end of political dominance. Join professor Bill Godfrey as he examines aspects of each event and their terrifying similarities.

Radiation Detectors for Homeland Security

Hear about the current research on semiconductor scintillators funded by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation. Serge Luryi, of the ECE Department and the Sensor CAT, will be on hand to share the development of a compact device for detecting the presence of radioactive substances with isotope discrimination (to avoid false alarms) and rapid determination of the direction to source.

Tour the College of Business Facility

Tour the College of Business facility with Professor Art Lekacos and see how technology delivers cost-effective collaboration between departments, businesses and customers.


Check back for more academic showcases and locations.