Senior year for Rebecca Hametz-Berner ’25 was defined by not one but two major research projects: a fall capstone on equity in environmental education and a year-long thesis in paleobotany that traced the evolutionary history of conifers, some of Earth’s most resilient plants. Her work combined field research, lab analysis, and engagement with the evolutionary past as she sought to understand how ancient plants evolved to survive and what that might teach us about today’s biodiversity crisis.
In her thesis, “Conifer Chronicles, Pycnoxylic Parts,” Hametz-Berner, an environmental studies major with minors in geology and classical cultures, examined how the internal anatomy of conifers has remained stable since the Devonian period, approximately 400 million years ago. By analyzing subtle structural differences, she examined why conifers have historically thrived in extreme environments and how they might fare in the face of modern climate change.
“I know so much about conifers and their ancestors. I also have a better understanding of the history of the Earth, at least within the last 400 million years, such as all of the climatic transitions and key moments of evolution,” she says. “Learning all this illuminated the inner workings of ecosystems and the relationship between plants and the inorganic Earth, with plants functioning as the interface between the biosphere and geology.”
Her work contributes to an NSF-funded project led by Professor of Biology Jonathan Wilson, who served as her thesis advisor and research mentor. Hametz-Berner began working in Wilson’s lab during her sophomore year, pursuing independent projects that have contributed to a large-scale modeling system tracking vegetative, atmospheric, and climatic changes.
“It was up to me to get and interpret the data,” she says. “Professor Wilson was very intentional about incorporating my peers and me into the paleobotany conversation. He gave us the feeling that this wasn’t just a thesis but could also be a whole way of life that has meaning and purpose.”
Beyond the lab, Hametz-Berner found inspiration in science communication. Her thesis challenged her to interpret complex data for broader audiences, and she connected with museum curators who helped her see how research and public engagement can coexist. “I was really inspired by this intersection of science and public engagement, and hope to replicate it in my career,” she says.
A Center for Peace and Global Citizenship-sponsored summer experience at WHYFarm, a youth agricultural education center in Trinidad, shaped her fall capstone, “Assessing Accessibility and Equity in Environmental Education.” Through it, she explored how environmental education can foster youth development and community engagement. “I was inspired by the potential of environmental education for youth development and community organization, and wanted to explore pedagogies and ongoing discussions in this field,” she says.
Hametz-Berner now looks ahead to a career that combines botanical and paleontological research with youth development and public outreach. “I definitely want to continue botanical and paleontological research,” she says. “But I also want my research to be easily accessible by the public.”