Heidelberg students Riley Elliott and Aliysa Mullin recently had the opportunity to present their honey characterization research at the Ohio Statehouse during the 2026 Choose Ohio First Scholar Showcase.
Led by Dr. Brandon Van Ness, assistant professor of Chemistry, the research focuses on analyzing honey from across northwest Ohio using both analytical chemistry and biological techniques. The goal is to better understand how environmental factors such as soil, weather, and region influence the characteristics of honey.
“There were two sides of this project, the biological and analytical sides,” Aliysa said. “We used a spectrophotometer to analyze the color of the honey, which was later correlated to the type of pollen used in the production of the honey.”
Riley, a senior Biochemistry, has been working hard on the project for the past two years after being invited by Dr. Van Ness to get involved in research. Since then, she said, “It has been a great opportunity to improve my lab and problem-solving skills.”
Aliysa, a junior majoring in Chemistry with minors in Environmental Studies and Business, joined the project this year to gain research experience and quickly found a strong interest in the work, with plans to continue it moving forward.
Being selected to present at the Statehouse gave both students the chance to share their research with lawmakers, faculty, and other students from across Ohio.
For Aliysa, it was a completely new experience. “I was pretty nervous to present because it was my first time presenting in an environment like this,” she said. “But after the first couple of people came by, I relaxed and was able to just enjoy the experience.”
For Riley, who was presenting at the showcase for the second time, it was a chance to see how much she had improved. “It was nice to get to see my improvements in my presentation skills in the last year,” she said. “The environment at the showcase is very inviting and comfortable, which is great for improving presentation skills.”
Throughout the event, both students had the opportunity to talk with people who shared the same passion for science, leading to conversations that went beyond just their project.
“We had a very engaging conversation about microplastics in our environment and ways to combat that issue,” Riley said. “It was a very good environment to talk about everything and anything science with people who all share a passion for learning and research.”
One of the biggest highlights of the day came when Sen. Jon Husted stopped by their presentation and later mentioned their research during his keynote speech.
“It was really exciting hearing him mention our project during his keynote speech,” Riley said. “It was nice to know that our presentation was memorable, and it showed me how impactful our project is.”
Aliysa also remembered presenting directly to him. “I was super nervous while we were presenting to him, but his friendly disposition helped me relax a little bit,” she said.
For both students, the experience meant more than just presenting research. It was also an opportunity to represent Heidelberg and show what students are capable of.
“It was nice to be able to represent our school and show the research opportunities we have at a small school,” Riley said.
Their work on the project has also helped shape what comes next. Riley plans to attend medical school while continuing to stay involved in research, and Aliysa said the experience showed her she wants to work in a lab setting, with an interest in environmental science.
After two years of work, the opportunity to present at the Statehouse was not just a milestone, but a reflection of the dedication behind the project and the impact Heidelberg students are making through hands-on research.