Paul K. Piff, associate professor of psychology, spent the summer of 2025 turning the largest alpine lake in North America into a research laboratory. His team conducted seven field studies at locations across the Tahoe basin, from scenic overlooks and hiking trails to kayak launches, enrolling more than 1,000 participants in an ambitious real-world investigation of awe. “When people encounter something vast, whether it’s a sweeping landscape or a powerful shared moment, they often begin to see themselves and their relationships differently,” said Piff. “That’s what makes studying awe in real-world environments so important.”
