Sahit Liyanage | Student

Everything is possible

What is the value of undergraduate research? One is the experience itself: the chance to learn and engage in hands-on professional work. Other benefits are more personal. That has been the case for Sahit Liyanage, a DePauw creative writing and biology double major from Sri Lanka for whom undergraduate research at DePauw University unlocked a long-held ambition.  

An opportunity to spread his wings

“I came to DePauw from Sri Lanka and declared a creative writing major," says Liyanage. "I love writing, and I also had a passion for biology, animals and the natural world. But where I grew up, access to studying the sciences is limited. The educational system is strict and very difficult to break into for a young person.” 

At DePauw, Liyanage opened himself up to the possibility that there was more to his story. “I quickly realized that there were opportunities here — a chance to explore,” he says. “I took BIO 102 with Professor Olivia Gearner. She was looking for students to work on an insect biodiversity project in the DePauw Nature Park.” 

Liyanage joined the team, and the experience rekindled his passion for the natural world. “I joined because I was interested in doing research,” he says. “That experience in the field encouraged me to declare biology as a major. I was able to make one of my true interests an academic pursuit at DePauw, not just a hobby. Being at DePauw changed what felt possible for me.” 

A quintessential DePauw interdisciplinary experience 

Liyanage cites the conservationist and zookeeper Steve Irwin and naturalist David Attenborough as influences. As a creative writing and biology double major, these influences now take on new meaning. 

“The idea of doing the kind of practical, hands-on fieldwork I saw people like Irwin or Attenborough doing felt almost impossible at home,” he says. “At DePauw, as an undergraduate, I get to do field-based nature science work that looks a lot like what they do. I can see myself in those roles. What once felt like a surprise, now feels essential to my education. I can’t wait to build upon my research experience, possibly through more research or an internship, and bring my creative writing and biology together.”

While he continues his studies at DePauw, Layinage will write and interact with nature. “I enjoy taking field notes and observations and giving them a poetic quality or finding a narrative,” he says. “I’m drawn to small, sometimes overlooked species or ecosystems that aren’t ‘charismatic’ enough to draw popular attention. I’d like to write about them.” Liyanage cites the clouded leopard as a most charismatic animal. As for the less “charismatic” animals he may study and write about in the future — stay tuned.