THE CAMPUS NATURE AREA AS A FOCAL POINT FOR INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND TEACHING

The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown’s 600-acre nature area provides a convenient outdoor laboratory for many departments. This nature area consists of second growth forest and successional vegetation, perennial and intermittent streams, old homesteads, open fields, and rock outcrops. Many faculty and students have utilized this natural laboratory over the years, often working in isolation and resulting in incomplete projects. Recent budget cuts and reduction of faculty lines, as well as an increased interest in interdisciplinary collaboration on campus, has renewed interest in the campus nature area, especially between the Geology and Biology departments. Ongoing research projects include investigating the role of acid mine drainage on macro-invertebrates and soils and vegetation studies. The nature area also serves as the focal point for a new interdisciplinary course with a strong undergraduate research component. This course, entitled “Investigating Nature,” includes faculty from all five academic divisions – Natural Science (including Geology and Biology faculty), Social Science, Education, Humanities, and Engineering Technology. In the first half of the course, participating faculty teach a relevant module in their area of interest and lead field excursions in the nature area. The second half of the course is dedicated to mentoring undergraduate students in self-selected research projects, many of which had a field component that utilized the nature area. Data collected from the first cohort of students in this class indicated increased critical and independent thinking, improved communication skills, and an appreciation of the interdisciplinary perspective.