CU-Lock Haven student explores connection between art and ecology through research project

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What can a landscape painting from decades or even centuries ago tell us about the forests of the past?

For Commonwealth University-Lock Haven senior Ava Tomko, the answer may be more than just a beautiful work of art.

Tomko, a biology-natural history major, spent time exploring the connection between art and science through a research project examining historic landscape paintings and what they can reveal about past forest conditions.

Working with Dr. Heather Bechtold, Tomko developed the project through Commonwealth University's Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities (URSCA) program. The program provides students with the opportunity to develop research projects with faculty mentors and receive a summer stipend to support their work.

"I found it interesting to be able to see the connection between art and science," Tomko said. "Being able to use landscape paintings from the past as part of my research for biology was really insightful."

The project focuses on an emerging approach known as historical ecology, which uses evidence from the past to understand how ecosystems and landscapes have changed over time. Historical ecology traditionally relies on physical evidence such as soil and ice cores, pollen records and fossils. Tomko and Bechtold instead explored whether landscape paintings could provide another source of information about historical forest conditions.

"Art history can be integrated into ecological understanding of forest landscapes," Bechtold said. "Rarely are landscape paintings used to reconstruct previous forest conditions."

Tomko surveyed 10 landscape paintings at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, near her hometown of West Mifflin. During each survey, she carefully examined the artwork for details that could provide clues about forest conditions, including tree species and size, moss on trees, cavities and tree injuries, dead wood, understory conditions and evidence of human activity.

It took one to two hours to survey each painting. Tomko also used resources available through the museum's website as part of her research.

At the conclusion of the summer research period, Tomko compiled her survey results into an Excel spreadsheet for further analysis.

"The purpose of my research was to analyze and survey historic landscape paintings compared to current forest conditions, including differences in species diversity, tree size and understory conditions," Tomko said. "It's a very interesting approach to ecology that not a lot of people think about."

For Bechtold, the project also demonstrates the value of allowing students to pursue research that combines their academic interests and personal passions.

"Ava and I wanted to find a way to make her passion for fine arts applicable to her degree in biology at Lock Haven," Bechtold said. "I think that makes the best project because students are 100% behind the work."

Tomko initially considered majoring in art and later explored marine biology before settling on natural history. Her interest in the field comes from a love of the outdoors and a desire to understand how organisms and ecosystems have changed over time.

"I really enjoy learning about biology and how different organisms and ecosystems have changed over time," Tomko said. "I feel that natural history emphasizes observations more than experiments."

Her experience at Lock Haven also has allowed her to develop close connections with faculty and pursue research opportunities outside the traditional classroom.

"I really like to be outside, go on hikes, go fishing or camping, and Lock Haven is a great place to do that," Tomko said. "And since Lock Haven is a smaller school, it is easier to engage with professors and build connections compared to a bigger campus."

Bechtold encourages other students interested in undergraduate research to find a faculty mentor whose expertise aligns with their interests and to be willing to dedicate time to their projects.

"Students should establish a connection with a professor who has expertise on a subject that is interesting to them and where they need experience in the subject that they are passionate about," Bechtold said.

In addition to providing students with hands-on experience, research projects can help develop skills that translate to future careers and graduate education, including data collection, analysis and project design.

Tomko hopes to build on her research experience as she pursues her own career goals. She plans to earn a master's degree in natural history and hopes to become a museum curator or historical ecologist.

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