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The liberal arts is known for its broad, interdisciplinary approach to an education that has the ability to connect the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and even the arts. Conner Penz ’26 (Medford, N.J.) put that notion to the test when he enrolled at Lycoming College as an astronomy major and later added a second major in archaeology – two seemingly distinctive areas, but two that he was able to seamlessly bridge when he traveled to Kenya for a prestigious research internship.
“When I came to Lycoming it was for astronomy. I wasn’t planning to go into archaeology, but it was a second option in case I wanted it. Not a lot of places offered both of those majors, but Lycoming was different,” said Penz, who later added a minor in chemistry. “I really like astrochemistry, and it can augment my understanding of archaeology.”
In the middle of his junior year, Penz started searching for a summer research project and spoke to his advisors about his options. Emily Wilson, Ph.D., assistant professor of astrophysics, helped Penz scour the internet for opportunities, and landed on one that required a solid foundation in archaeology with a strong understanding of STEM. Koobi Fora Field School (KFFS) offered Penz an opportunity that looked as if it was custom-made just for his unique skillset.
“Coming into Lycoming, I wasn’t sure where I would be after graduating. My time and experiences in Kenya set the path for me, and I now know that I want to pursue graduate studies in archaeology.”
Located on the eastern shore of Kenya’s Lake Turkana, KFFS provides both undergraduate and graduate students with hands-on experience in all of the major subfields of paleoanthropology, including paleontology, archaeology, geology, taphonomy, and ecology. Students are invited to join a research project with a mentor and participate in original research that is often publishable. While Penz was there, project topics varied from human biology, fossil fish, fire studies, ancient footprints, lithics, Holocene ethnoarchaeology, and Pleistocene excavation.
“KFFS had different opportunities for different students – some projects were excavations, some were human biology intensive working with the local Daasanach community, some worked with ancient fire, and some worked with fish fossils in the area of marine archaeology. It isn’t a place to develop just one skill. You could go there for a variety of reasons and variety of projects.”
Penz decided to join a project entitled, “Landscape Selection by the World’s Oldest Stone Tool Users.” The work focused on reconstructing ancient river systems, identifying the availability of raw resources inside them, and relating the raw material availability to the nearby archaeological sites.
“I conducted my research in the modern-day Naitirwa River, sampling exposed conglomerates, which are essentially dense layers of rock. Then I coded the data to create QGIS maps of the area based on that data and the material sampled,” he explained. “This allowed me to infer about how the hominins — very ancient pre-humans — in the area decided to select raw material, which is an extension of looking into their behavioral patterns.”
Day to day life as a researcher in Kenya
The living accommodations at KFFS were sparse, requiring all students and instructors to live in tents during their six-week stay. Base camp, however, did feature a central building where participants were provided meals, as well as working showers and bathroom facilities.
Penz explained that breakfast was served at dawn, and he usually got out into the field by 8 a.m. for field activities. Lunch, which was served during the hottest time of the day, lasted around two hours, providing a break from the sun and heat, with dinner at the end of the day. “I never drank so much water in my life,” he added.
Penz worked alongside fellow undergraduates, as well as graduate students from across the United States, Europe, and Africa.
“In the beginning, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Penz. “Overall, I had an outstanding time! The landscape was breathtaking and the local Daasanach community was very welcoming.”
Preparing for a life after college
Penz isn’t new to enhanced academic experiences that occur outside of the classroom. As a rising senior, he utilized his STEM scholarship of $5000 to offset the cost of attending a May term course entitled, “Hiking the Highlands.” While traversing the mountains of Scotland, he was able to set up a program tour and meeting to learn more about graduate archaeology programs at the University of Edinburgh. Penz’s senior archaeology capstone project will focus on Mesolithic Scotland.
“The internship at KFFS definitely solidified my desire to go to graduate school for archaeology,” said Penz. “The best experiences I’ve had are these extracurricular field schools. I’ve seen the world. I’ve learned in an outdoor capacity, which is such a different experience than being in a classroom,” he said.
Penz stays involved as a student, serving as a residential assistant, as well as an outdoor leadership and education student instructor.
Now in his senior year, Penz is once again thinking about the future. “Coming into Lycoming, I wasn’t sure where I would be after graduating. My time and experiences in Kenya set the path for me, and I now know that I want to pursue graduate studies in archaeology. After that, I’d like to work in the field, and I’m open to a doctoral degree too!”