From Turkana to Madagascar, President Goldsmith Highlights Stony Brook’s Global Reach

President Andrea Goldsmith and her husband, Arturo Sanz, at the Centre ValBio in Madagascar with Distinguished Professor of Anthropology Patricia Wright (right). Photo courtesy of Haoyu Zhang.

Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith returned to New York in late January after a 10-day visit to two of the university's international research centers, the Turkana Basin Institute(TBI) in Kenya and the Centre ValBioin Madagascar. The journey took her from fossil-rich deserts to rainforest field stations, delivering an experience she described as "inspirational and educational" and a reminder of Stony Brook's expanding global impact.

"This has been a truly remarkable experience," Goldsmith wrote in a message shared during the trip. "I have learned so much about paleontology, stratigraphy, anthropology, biodiversity and conservation, which drive home the enrichment of lifelong education."

Goldsmith's trip began in northern Kenya, where she visited TBI, a globally recognized center for human origins research founded in 2005 by the late paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and Stony Brook University. Reaching the institute required travel deep into the Lake Turkana region, where TBI provides permanent infrastructure to enable year-round research in one of the world's richest regions for fossil and archaeological discoveries.

"In the Lake Turkana region we learned about the transformative human evolution research by some of Stony Brook's preeminent scholars in the study of human origins," Goldsmith said. "It was impressive to see the impact of strong collaborations between students, faculty members, local researchers and staff whose partnerships have driven and supported groundbreaking scientific discoveries."

President Andrea Goldsmith at the Turkana Basin Institute with research professor Louise Leakey.

At the institute's field centers in Ileret and Turkwel, Goldsmith toured fossil laboratories, visited excavation sites and met with Kenyan researchers and staff. She joined Louise Leakey, a research professor at Stony Brook and daughter of Richard Leakey, for guided fossil walks and discussions about the region's geological history and recent discoveries.

The visit also included tours of community projects supported by the institute, including a local health clinic, school and sustainable infrastructure initiatives in hydroponics, renewable energy and water systems. Those programs, Goldsmith said, illustrate how scientific research and community support are deeply intertwined, representative of the university's commitment to ensuring that research benefits local communities.

"Visiting two magical and beautiful places that have enabled Stony Brook to play a leadership role in advancing the frontiers of science has been educational, enriching and enjoyable," she said. "It was equally inspirational meeting the incredibly passionate and thoughtful experts who are leading vital research on conservation, climate change, biodiversity, ecology, agriculture and human-wildlife interactions."

A highlight of the Kenya portion of the trip was Goldsmith's time with 21 sophomores and juniors from the Simons STEM Scholarsprogram, who were in the Turkana Basin participating in the second Simons STEM Scholars field-based research program at TBI, the first opportunity to study abroad for many of them. Goldsmith shared dinner with the students and the next morning joined them touring Nakwaperit, an archaeological site inhabited c. 5,000 years ago by some of the earliest pastoralists in eastern Africa.

Together, Goldsmith and the students learned about TBI Origins Field School excavations at the site since 2016, and how one of the TBI-based research teams works with Turkana community members near the site.

From Kenya, Goldsmith traveled to Madagascar to visit Centre ValBio, an internationally renowned conservation research station located on the edge of Ranomafana National Park. The shift from desert to dense rainforest offered a different perspective on Stony Brook's global research presence. Founded and directed by Stony Brook distinguished professor of anthropology Patricia Wright, the center focuses on preserving Madagascar's biodiversity while supporting sustainable development in surrounding communities.

At Centre ValBio, Goldsmith met with faculty, students and international collaborators conducting research on lemur behavior, forest ecology, climate resilience and ecosystem health. During a rainforest hike, one of many highlights was observing three species of bamboo lemur within one hour. On an evening walk later that day, she encountered many species of chameleons and an adorable mouse lemur, the world's smallest primate.

At Centre ValBio and in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, she met with community leaders, government officials and academic partners working to protect the region's ecosystems.

Goldsmith also spent time with SUNY students participating in the university's winter study abroad program in Madagascar, congratulating them for embracing the transformative opportunity to study in another country so different from their own. She met with students at the start of their return journey to New York, many of whom were conducting research alongside Malagasy peers and faculty, strengthening academic partnerships between Stony Brook and universities in Madagascar.

Throughout the visit, Goldsmith emphasized that Stony Brook's growing global engagement will be a defining feature of the university's future.

"The trip to Africa was timely as we engage in efforts to chart a bold strategic vision for Stony Brook's future," said Goldsmith. "As we identify opportunities to accelerate our excellence and impact across all dimensions of education, research, healthcare and service to our community, the great state of New York, the country, and the world, we will strengthen our commitment to research excellence, student opportunity and global engagement." Goldsmith added, "I know I will continue to reflect on this uplifting visit in the days, weeks and months ahead."

- Beth Squire