Delta State University

Delta State students contribute to research presented at national botany conference

Cleveland, MS (08/19/2026) — Contact: Nathan Duff FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: (662) 846-4678

Email: nduff@deltastate.edu

Delta State students contribute to research presented at national botany conference

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Seven Delta State University students and recent graduates contributed to research presented at the Botanical Society of America's Botany 2026 Conference in Tucson, Arizona.

Their work was featured in two scientific posters presented during the conference's Aug. 3 session at the JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort. The annual conference brought together botanists and researchers under the theme "Biodiversity of the Boundaries."

The first poster, "A Preliminary Anatomical Study of Allium canadense," grew from a Spring 2026 Plant Anatomy class project. It was co-authored by students Aubrie Pitts, Aspen Shipp, Canaan Mercer and Ezell Landrum with Professor of Biology and Environmental Science Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding,

Mercer, of Cleveland, and Landrum, of Greenville, graduated in August with degrees in environmental science and concentrations in wildlife management. Pitts, a senior environmental science major from Brandon, is also concentrating in wildlife management. Shipp is a senior biology major from Opelousas, Louisiana. Although work commitments prevented them from attending the conference, all four students contributed significantly to the poster and accompanying abstract.

Three additional Delta State students and recent graduates contributed to the second poster, "Palynology of the Cockfield Formation, Mississippi and Louisiana, USA: Paleoenvironmental and Taphonomic Implications." The researchers included Molly Mellen, a May 2026 environmental science graduate from Cleveland, and Olivia Pharr, a December 2025 environmental science graduate from Charleston. Sara Davis, a senior environmental science major from Smithville pursuing a general concentration, also contributed to the project. Using an Olympus BX43F compound microscope and an Olympus Q Color 3 camera, the students photographed specimens, analyzed imagery and helped identify and count palynomorphs, microscopic organic remains that can provide information about prehistoric environments.

Their contributions earned them formal recognition in the research acknowledgments.

"Both poster presentations were highly well received, drawing specific praise for their meticulous detail and outstanding photography," said Baghai-Riding.

The Cockfield Formation study was co-authored by Baghai-Riding, Dr. Carol Hotton of the National Museum of Natural History and James E. Starnes and Dr. Johnathan Leard of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Hotton and Baghai-Riding presented the poster jointly.

In addition to presenting the research, Baghai-Riding served as a judge for the conference's ecology and paleobotany sections, including entries considered for the Isabel Cookson Award. She also participated in the Paleobotanical Section business meeting and met with editors of the Plant Science Bulletin, which recently featured Delta State students involved in her Mississippi INBRE grant project, "Testing for Manmade Chemicals from Mississippi Delta Plants."

Baghai-Riding also attended a workshop on LI-COR environmental science instruments as she prepares to incorporate new equipment into her Fall 2026 Materials and Methods in Environmental Science and Economic Botany courses.

For more information about Delta State's Division of Mathematics and Sciences, visit deltastate.edu/nursing-health-sciences/mathematics-sciences.

Cutline: Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding displaying the poster, "A Preliminary Anatomical Study of Allium canadense," produced by her Spring 2026 Plant Anatomy (BIO 410) class.

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About Delta State University: Delta State University is a four-year public institution whose nearly 2,800 students come from most U.S. states and more than 45 countries. Acknowledging its beginning as a teacher's college, the University sustains excellence in teacher education while continuing to expand offerings in traditional as well as unique fields of study. Programs such as those available through the Delta Music Institute, the Commercial Aviation Department, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information highlight the University's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the students it serves with world-leading, industry-acclaimed programs. Situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Delta State offers top-notch academic programs in business, arts, sciences, nursing, education, and more. DSU Athletics has won 15 national championships, 70 conference championships, and 37 regional titles.

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Dr. Nina Baghai-Riding displaying the poster, "A Preliminary Anatomical Study of Allium canadense," produced by her Spring 2026 Plant Anatomy (BIO 410) class.

Molly

Mellen