The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the State University of New York at Stony Brook contains one of the top Physics departments in the country as well as a nationally recognized program in Astronomy. The research activities, graduate course offerings and profiles of our faculty can be found in the brochure: Graduate Studies in Physics and Astronomy Our research activities span a broad range, and are at the forefront of their fields, giving our students great opportunities for study. Our own facilities are complemented by the unique resources available at nearby Brookhaven National Laboratory. Recent external rankings of the department are available. Why study Physics or Astronomy? Physics considers the most fundamental forces of nature, and applies the knowledge gained to obtain detailed understanding of complex systems. Astronomy seeks to understand the structure and evolution of the Universe on all scales. In both cases, asking good questions of our understanding of nature often leads to unexpected discoveries. The study of radioactivity eventually led to an understanding of supernovae (when stars explode), and the study of atomic spectroscopy led to the development of the laser and the discovery of the Universe's expansion. At the introductory level, the study of these disciplines serves to demystify our technological world both by explaining the basic ideas behind many technologies, and by introducing the scientific process (quantified critical thinking). At the B.A. degree level, one learns classical and quantum physics and how to test theories against reality in the laboratory; this training in independent thinking is valuable for further studies in engineering, biology, chemistry, and (of course) physics and astronomy. At the Ph.D. level, one obtains a more complete picture of the disciplines and then becomes a participant in extending the frontiers of knowledge in a selected research area. ATTENTION ALL STONY BROOK PHYSICS ALUMNI! Please send email to Pam.Burris@sunysb.edu with your current address, so the department can update its alumni address list! Further information For information about application for graduate studies in our department, please contact Ms. Diane Siegel at diane.siegel@sunysb.edu. For other information about the Stony Brook Physics and Astronomy Department contact: Paul Grannis, Chairman Pam Burris, Assistant to the Chair Department of Physics and Astronomy SUNY Stony Brook Stony Brook NY 11794-3800 Phone (631) 632-8100, FAX (631) 632-8176 Pam.Burris@sunysb.edu Click here for instructions on how to correct errors etc. Undergraduate Program: Physics, Astronomy, REU Graduate Program People: Faculty, Staff, Former Faculty and Staff, Postdocs, Students, Alumni, Email, Phone, Database, Jobs Happenings: Seminars, Colloquium, Newsletters, Conferences Research Groups Research News Our Setting Course Info: Course Webpages, Undergrad. Courses Instructional Lab Laser Teaching Center Community Outreach: Astronomy Open Night, The Worlds of Physics Links: Physics, Astronomy Search: www.physics.sunysb.edu physics.sunysb.edu ess.sunysb.edu sunysb.edu WWW Last updated 9/17/2003, by Chi Ming Hung