Pitt’s Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology is only one hundred miles north of the University’s bustling Oakland campus, but for some it seems like a different world. Surrounded by quiet forest on the shore of a fishing lake that straddles the Pennsylvania-Ohio state line, Pitt students and researchers have enjoyed field and laboratory experiences here for generations. Known informally as PLE, the facility has space for large-scale research and ecosystems studies where students and researchers can get their hands on plants and animals in their natural environments.
“We often have visitors from within the University who don't realize what we are and what we do, because we are a bit farther away,” says Cori Richards-Zawacki, director of PLE. “They are always surprised by the breadth of what we do and the lab resources we have available. So, we are really trying to grow that footprint and find ways to connect with the University at large. A lot of folks could benefit from the resources we have.” In addition to students in geology and environmental science, PLE has also recently welcomed students and researchers studying public health and pathology, as well as writers’ retreats.
You can read the full story on Pitt Research.