From early discoveries to today’s breakthroughs, the work of Ohio State researchers has improved lives, advanced industries, strengthened communities and became the foundation for the next-generation of startups and technologies. Read more about these innovators organized by America 250-Ohio's monthly themes.
A Legacy of Impact
Together we've made history through our land-grant legacy. As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Ohio State is proud to showcase its tradition of innovation.
January – Ohio Firsts and Originals
Robert Michler, David Brown and Randall Wolf
First use of a minimally invasive heart surgery technique utilizing robotic technology in the U.S.
Clifton Latiolais
Brought the modern age of hospital pharmacy to Ohio State, which became an example for hospitals around the country
February – Inventions, Innovation, Business and Work
Thomas Mendenhall
Invented the Mendenhall Gravimeter used for measuring the local gravitational field of the earth
Melvin Degroote
One of America’s greatest inventor of all times, with over 900 patents
Jessica Winter
Commercialized research on nanoparticle diagnostic to match cancer patients to therapies
Paul Kitchin
Contributed to the improvisations for dentifrice, known today as toothpaste
Richard Olsen
Developed a vaccine that prevents feline leukemia, a commonly fatal disease in cats
Scott Gaudi
A pioneer in the discovery and research of extrasolar planets using transit and gravitational microlensing
March – Music and Entertainment
Donald Borror
Considered a pioneer in the field of bioacoustics with the Borror Lab of Bioacoustics archive holding one of the oldest and most extensive collections in the world
April –Transportation: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (and more!)
Robert Fenton
His research led to the creation of one of the first self-driving cars
Walter Mcclure, Ben Lamp and Ken Harkness
Their work led to the Slow Moving Vehicle symbol
Ken Waldron and Robert Mcghee
Developed one of the first walking machines known as the Adaptive Suspension Vehicle
Buckeye Bullet
Launched to provide hands-on engineering challenges and push electric vehicle technology
May – Arts, Culture, Literature, and Movies
Roy Lichtenstein
Alumni and former teacher at Ohio State, was a pioneer in the pop art movement of the 1960s
Ann Hamilton
Contemporary artist internationally known for her large-scale multimedia installations, public projects and performance collaborations
Rudine Sims Bishop
Nationally recognized for scholarship and teaching concerning multiculturalism in children’s literature
Charles Csuri
Described by Smithsonian Magazine as the “father of digital art and computer animation”
Clark Spencer Larsen
His work focuses on history of the human condition viewed from the perspective of health, quality of life, adaptation and lifestyle over the last 10,000 years
Maggie Smith
The poet of “Good Bones” whose message of despair and hope struck a chord and went viral
June – Natural Resources
Rattan Lal
His work focuses on the potential of soils to help solve critical global challenges
Lonnie Thompson
Propelled the field of ice core paleoclimatology out of the Polar Regions to the highest tropical and subtropical ice fields
Edmund Secrest
Ohio’s first state forester. Developed the Wooster Arboretum (now Secrest Arboretum)
Ellen Mosley Thompson
Uses the chemical and physical properties preserved in cores collected from both ice sheets and glaciers to reconstruct Earth’s complex climate history
July – Ohio Statewide Picnic and Homecoming
Melvin Degroote
Invented the chemical recipe that allows chocolate to stick to ice cream, leading to the creation of the Eskimo Pie
Perfecting the Drumstick
Ohio State food scientists came up with the idea of coating the cone in chocolate for the ice cream drumstick
August – The Ohio State Fair and County Fairs
Beatrice Cleveland
Inducted into Ohio State Fair and Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame
A.B. Graham
First superintendent of Agricultural Extension at Ohio State, founded 4-H
September – Sports and Recreation
Karla Zadnik and Donald Mutti
Credited with research that showed children who spent significant time outdoors were less likely to become myopic
October – Agriculture and Food
Norton Townshend
Noted for introducing field drainage tile to farmers and firm believer in the value of agricultural experimentation for future economic success
Ahmed Yousef
Developed ozone-based processes for pasteurizing the shell of an egg
William Lazenby
Actively involved in legislation that established the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station (now OARDC) and also served as the first director
Charles Thorne
First full-time director of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station (now OARDC)
November –Veterans and First Responders
James Warren
In partnership with the Columbus Division of Fire, created the Heartmobile program, a mobile coronary care unit – a precursor to today’s paramedic programs
Howard Sirak
Performed the first open-heart surgery in Columbus and led an Ohio State team that developed a heart pump before being drafted into the U.S. Marines as a trauma surgeon
December – Future Ohio
Albert Tuttle
Most famous for a commencement address, "The University of Utopia" which described the land-grant ideal of education to produce useful and dedicated citizens who seek to improve the world as they find it—that is, The Ohio State University.
David Staley
Research and Innovation Showcase 2020 Spotlight speaker, "The Future of the Research University: Creating the Infrastructure of Polymathy", president of Columbus Futurists and associate professor of History at Ohio State.
Be part of the legacy
As we reflect on the past, we also look ahead. By investing in talent, collaboration and bold thinking, Ohio State continues to shape the future — how knowledge becomes innovation, and how innovation drives economic growth, better health, stronger communities and new opportunities.
Want to be part of what comes next? Email our team.