Stony Brook University President Andrea Goldsmith addressed more than 250 interns at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) Summer Internship Closing Ceremony on August 7. The event, held at BNL’s Berkner Hall and hosted by the lab’s Office of Workforce Development and Science Education, marked the end of a summer program that drew participants from across the United States.
The ceremony included a symposium and poster sessions where interns presented their research projects conducted during their time at BNL. Goldsmith, who also serves as co-chair of Brookhaven Science Associates—the organization managing BNL for the U.S. Department of Energy—shared her own experiences as a young researcher.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have chosen a profession that is so gratifying, and it all started for me as a summer intern at a prominent research lab,” Goldsmith said. “We are so lucky to have places like Brookhaven National Lab that not only advances discovery but also inspires the next generation of STEM researchers through internships programs like the one you have all experienced.”
Goldsmith spoke about her path into science and engineering, which began with junior college classes and an unexpected stint as a bouzouki singer in Greece during a summer trip for a French program. She explained how this experience contributed to her entrepreneurial mindset.
She later attended UC Berkeley to study engineering while working as a waitress to support herself. As one of few women in her program, she faced skepticism about women succeeding in STEM fields but focused on pursuing her interests despite those doubts.
A key moment in her academic journey was meeting algebra professor William Arveson and his teaching assistant Elizabeth Strauss, who became an important mentor for Goldsmith. “This is the power of mentorship,” she said. “And it’s also why I believe that world-class public institutions — laboratories like Brookhaven National Lab and universities like Stony Brook University and all those in the SUNY system — are so essential to the future of scientific knowledge. They help create space for any and all motivated young scholars—regardless of gender or background—to see what’s possible. In fact, to see themselves in the future of STEM.”
Goldsmith concluded by encouraging graduates to keep learning and value mentors throughout their careers: “Soak up all the knowledge and experience you can,” she said. “Foster unique experiences and cherish those people — those mentors and guides — who show you new ways of thinking and being. They are more important than you can imagine.”
BNL offers several summer education programs designed to support development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These include initiatives under the Department of Energy’s Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists program aimed at building a strong national STEM workforce pipeline.
