Connecting Science to People: The SUNY Research Leadership Academy Launches First Session at Stony Brook

Stony Brook University kicked off the first session of the SUNY Research Leadership Academy last week, bringing together 34 faculty members from across the SUNY system for a year-long program designed to strengthen science communication and public engagement.

The inaugural three-day session, held September 17-19 in Stony Brook, marks the beginning of a SUNY system-wide initiative aimed at training faculty in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) fields to become more effective research leaders and communicators. The next meeting will be hosted at the University at Buffalo November 5-7.

Opening the first day of the Academy, Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, SUNY's senior vice chancellor for research, innovation and economic development, said, "It is inspiring to see 34 of SUNY's most accomplished faculty come together in this year's SUNY Research Leadership Academy cohort. These scholars are already driving discovery and transforming lives through their research. This program, grounded in the proven Alda Method, equips them with new tools and connections to further amplify their impact - especially by strengthening how we communicate science and engage with the public.

"With Chancellor John B. King, Jr.'s leadership, we are building on SUNY's commitment to advancing research excellence and public engagement. Looking ahead, we see the potential to expand this program to match the scale and scope of SUNY's research enterprise, reaching even more experts across our campuses. I am deeply grateful to our partners and the Stony Brook team for making this possible."

Following the Vice Chancellor's remarks, Laura Lindenfeld, executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, outlined the philosophy behind the Academy. "While you can be a good communicator without being a good leader, you cannot be a great leader without strong communication skills. True leadership isn't about simply being the point-person in a room - it's about actively engaging, guiding conversations, and inspiring others to embrace a shared mission and vision that drives meaning."

Lindenfeld paused, then invited participants to turn and look around the room, locking eyes with one another as a reminder that leadership is lived through connection, not just words. She added, "Good leaders take full ownership of outcomes while empowering others to lead alongside them. The Alan Alda Center's science communication experience is about planting those leadership seeds in scholars, researchers, and professionals across industries, then cultivating them for sustained growth. This Academy, in partnership with SUNY, is about taking the transformative power of that Alda essence to a much bigger stage."

The Alda Method® uses improvisational techniques and communication tools to strengthen relationships and build trust between people from diverse backgrounds and fields of expertise. Success depends on genuine engagement - actively listening, thinking critically, feeling authentically, and participating fully with the ideas, practices, and people involved.

In partnership with the SUNY System Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development and the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, Stony Brook's Office for Research and Innovation and the Office of DI3 co-led the initiative. The Academy was made possible through the generous support of the Henry Luce Foundation.

Kevin Gardner, vice president for research and innovation at Stony Brook University, said the program seeks "visionary researchers prepared to lead, challenge conventions, and operate at the critical juncture where scientific insight informs public discourse."

Gardner noted that higher education has historically struggled to communicate the public benefits of research, particularly at state institutions funded by taxpayers, making communication training essential for modern researchers.

The academy emphasizes building greater capacity to connect authentically with communities outside of the university. This can provide reciprocal benefits where scientists understand what communities and decisions makers need, which can help to inform their research.

"Training leaders to actively listen to the range of viewpoints and concerns of various perspectives creates a direct path for innovation that aligns with people's real-world needs, while also advancing cutting-edge science," said Judi Brown Clarke, vice president for equity and inclusion at Stony Brook University. "It enables our researchers to effectively build teams that genuinely reflect the communities they aim to reach and are equipped to meaningfully address their needs.

Participants expressed enthusiasm for improving their communication skills and expanding their professional networks across the SUNY system.

Christine Schaner Tooley, an associate professor of biochemistry at the University at Buffalo who researches cancer biology and neurodegenerative diseases, said effective science communication has become increasingly urgent.

"I think now we are all looking for a sense of belonging, so building scientific understanding with the public is going to be more and more vital," Schaner Tooley said. "I hope the academy will help me find my voice within my department and think of better ways to reach out to the community."

Jingyun Wang, an associate professor at the SUNY College of Optometry, whose work requires direct interaction with young patients and their families, said communication could expand the impact of her research.

"I already realized the bottleneck of my research is communication," she said, noting that simple exercises in finding common ground help her better explain complex research concepts.

Lindenfeld emphasized that the new program will leverage the power of the SUNY system, bringing together scientific leaders from across New York State. "Focusing the leadership academy on communication will equip these remarkable researchers to clarify the impact of their work for New York and the nation, "

"Building strength across SUNY is essential to advancing scientific discovery and that their power depends on communication: the glue that builds trust, bridges divides, and ensures all voices are heard."

The academy will continue with virtual sessions and three additional in-person meetings across New York State throughout the academic year. Organizers plan to expand the program in future years as part of SUNY's broader strategy to enhance its research impact and public engagement.

SUNY's 64-campus system serves nearly 400,000 students and employs thousands of faculty researchers across the state.

"It's incredibly important to connect to strong leaders across SUNY who are now in the room," said Sara Hamideh, associate professor of coastal resilience in Stony Brook's School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. "The unique benefit of being part of a statewide program is seeing yourself in that bigger context, and in the bigger mission of the whole system, which I think is very powerful because it gives you more relevance and meaning."