Gettysburg College students work alongside faculty mentors in the field and on the battlefield, turning the region’s landscapes into living classrooms for collaborative research in subjects such as history, art, and environmental science.
At Gettysburg College, the classroom often has no walls. Instead, it might be a winding path through the battlefield, a quiet stream alive with wildlife, or a hillside where geology meets history. Here, faculty and students work side by side, using the region’s unique landscape as a living laboratory and an open-air museum.
“It’s likely that all the faculty in Environmental Studies uses the battlefield in some way,” said Prof. Sarah Principato, who leads trips exploring the area’s geologic history and its influence on the Battle of Gettysburg.
Field-based learning ties natural science to human events, giving students a richer understanding of both. Leah Nath ’26, an environmental studies major and writing minor from Ellicott City, Maryland, is studying beaver activity in Plum Run, an area of the battlefield that lies between Little Round Top and Devil’s Den.
Her work blends ecological surveys and research with archival photography to examine the balance between preserving biodiversity and maintaining the battlefield’s historic appearance. Nath’s work is culminating in a public website to present perspectives from every stakeholder involved to encourage viewers to think more broadly about the subject. As a Kolbe Fellow, she has worked side-by-side with Environmental Studies Prof. Salma Monani and has gained critical understanding of wildlife ecology from Environmental Studies Chair Andy Wilson.
“Spending early and late hours in the park has given me a new appreciation for its beauty,” said Nath. “Salma's encouragement to follow every idea and think outside the box has been wonderful and has allowed me to express my own artistry in a way that classes previously had not.”
Casey Deck ’24, an environmental studies and political science double-major from York, Pennsylvania, also benefited from faculty mentorship during his senior capstone on ecological light pollution. Partnering with DarkSky PA and guided by Environmental Studies Prof. Tasha Gownaris ’09, he designed research methods, navigated the permitting process, presented findings to the public as part of a spring exposition hosted by the College’s Center for Public Service, and organized a community Night Sky event featuring DarkSky PA president Mark Grosz.
“We sparked conversations on cultural astronomy, human health, and lighting policy,” said Deck, who has worked on three political campaigns since graduating and is pursuing a career in law. “I am benefiting from the mental flexibility Gettysburg helped me develop through projects such as this one that push students to study, comprehend, and apply advanced concepts.”
For Art and Art History Prof. Sarah Kate Gillespie, the battlefield offers lessons in art, history, and public interpretation. In her Civil War Photography course, students stand on the very ground where 19th-century photographers once worked, using enlarged historic images to pinpoint exact locations. In her Introduction to Museum Studies course, the battlefield becomes a case study in interpreting a cultural landscape rather than an object—helping students think critically about how museums extend beyond brick-and-mortar walls.
“When students are able to stand in the spots where the dead were photographed, it makes the 19th-century images feel more relatable,” Gillespie explained. “They can bridge what may feel distant to something understandable by being at the site where the image was made.”
In each case, Gettysburg’s faculty aren’t just instructors—they’re collaborators, guiding students as they apply their skills to real-world challenges. The result is a shared journey of discovery, rooted in the land and in the enduring power of learning together.
Conduct hands-on research on topics with global implications alongside our world-class faculty.
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By Corey Jewart
Photos courtesy of Diptiman Das ’27
Posted: 09/12/25