The Western Illinois University Chemistry Department hosted high school and middle school students from across central Illinois during the Spring 2026 semester as part of a partnership aimed at expanding access to laboratory space, scientific equipment and scientific mentorship for student researchers.
Students from Dunlap High School, Richwoods High School, Limestone Community High School, Elmwood High School, Bushnell-Prairie City High School and Mark Bills Middle School conducted independent research projects at WIU using university lab facilities and resources.
The initiative was carried out in collaboration with the Illinois Junior Academy of Science (IJAS), with mentorship provided by WIU Professor of Chemistry Brian Bellott and WIU chemistry graduate student Emily Dawson. Through the partnership, students gained access to equipment and research tools that may not otherwise be available in their schools, including UV-Vis spectrophotometers, centrifuges, ultrasonic homogenizers, pH meters and high-resolution imaging systems.
A total of 10 students presented nine projects in poster format at the Region 1 IJAS competition, hosted by WIU. All nine projects qualified for the state competition, with eight projects earning gold ratings and one receiving a silver rating at the regional level.
'Many of the projects would not have been possible without access to the infrastructure, equipment and laboratory support available at WIU,' Bellott said. 'The partnership allowed students to conduct hands-on experiments and test their hypotheses using university resources not typically available in area schools.'
Funding for the student research projects was provided through private grants and donors, including Forrest E. Mars, Jr. Chocolate History Grant, the Society for Science Advocate Program, Science Coach, Inc. and the Ataxia Foundation.
For more information, contact Brian Bellott at [email protected] or Emily Dawson at [email protected].
For more information on WIU's Chemistry program, visit wiu.edu/cas/chemistry.
