Senior Lecturer, Environmental Chemistry

The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.

Telephone: 868-662-2002 Ext. 83534

Email: denise.beckles@uwi.edu


Research Interests

My research interests are in the field of environmental science, a broad area that includes the study of chemistry and biology in the natural environment.

Specifically, I am interested in the biologically-mediated degradation and fate of xenobiotic compounds in systems consisting of aqueous and non-aqueous (liquid and/or solid) phases, particularly of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents and pesticides. I am also interested in the local regulatory system for the maintenance of environmental quality and baseline environmental data collection for Trinidad and Tobago.  My research projects require the use of a wide variety of analytical skills and techniques, including gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography.

In addition, I also have a deep interest in the teaching of Chemistry at the tertiary level, particularly how our students learn chemistry, and how we as lecturers can improve our students’ performance.

Selected Publications

Hitlal, D., D. Beckles, D. Thurab-Nkhosi.  2026.  Multidimensional interest and achievement outcomes following immersive virtual reality integration in undergraduate Chemistry: A quasi-experimental study in a Caribbean Context.  Chemistry Education Research and Practice.  https://doi.org/10.1039/D6RP00196C.

Hitlal, D., D.M. Beckles, D. Thurab-Nkhosi.  2025.  Virtual Reality in the Caribbean Classroom: Boosting Undergraduate Chemistry Motivation through 3D Immersion.  Journal of Chemical Education.  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jchemed.5c00948.

Schulze-Makuch, D., S. Haque, D. Beckles, P. Schmitt-Kopplin, M. Harir, B. Schneider, C. Stumpp and D. Wagner.  2020.  A chemical and microbial characterisation of selected mud volcanoes in Trinidad reveals pathogens introduced by surface water and rain water.  Science of the Total Environment.  707: 136087.

Joseph, E.P., V.B. Jackson, L. Cox, D.M. Beckles and S. Edwards.  2019.  A citizen science approach for monitoring volcanic emissions and promoting volcanic hazard awareness at Sulphur Springs, Saint Lucia in the Lesser Antilles arc.  Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 369:50-63. 

Mohammed, F.K., J. Opadeyi and D.M. Beckles.  2019.  The relationship between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentration and traffic count along the urban roadways of a small island state: a spatial analysis technique.  International Journal of Urban Sciences, 23:534-550. 

Beckles, D.M., L. Cox, G.-A. Bent, V. Cooper, K. Banerjee, D. Dawkins, N. Hosein, A. Samaroo, E.M. Davis, R. Clarke, X. Chadee, S. Mahabir and M. Allong.  2016.  The Impact of the Contaminants Produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the Surrounding Environment.  Final Report for the UWI-Trinidad and Tobago Research and Development Impact Fund project entitled “The Impact of the Contaminants Produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the Surrounding Environment”.  Department of Chemistry, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.  172 pages.

Hosein, R., S. Haque and D.M. Beckles.  2014.  Mud volcanoes of Trinidad as astrobiological analogs for Martian environments.  Life, 4:566-585. 

Wyse-Mason, R. and D.M. Beckles.  2012.  Characterisation and alkaline catalysed transesterification of waste cooking oil collected from various types of restaurants.  Energy for Sustainable Development, 16:515-519. 

Beckles, D.M., W. Chen and J.B. Hughes.  2007.  Bioavailability of PAHs sequestered in sediment: microbial study and model prediction.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry.  26:878-883. 

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. Environmental Science and Engineering. Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA 2000
  • M.S. Environmental Science and Engineering. Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA 1997
  • A.B. Chemistry, cum laude. Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA 1994

Fellowships and Training

  • I have had extensive training in a variety of teaching and learning areas, including, but not limited to, academic advising, writing multiple choice and other types of examination questions, action research and using case studies in the classroom.

Professional Experience

  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).  Higher Education Policy Mutual Learning Group on Advanced STEM Skills in Higher Education, Member 2026.
  • College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTATT).  Chemistry Programme Advisory Committee, Chair 2026 – present.
  • Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards.  CABUREK National Steering Committee, Chair.  Quality Infrastructure for Circular Economy in Latin America and the Caribbean (QI4CE LAC) Project 2022 – 2024.
  • Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards.  Specification Committee for Upstream Effluent Management, Member 2022 – 2023.
  • United Nations Environment Programme.  Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources (LBS Protocol) of the Cartagena Convention Open-Ended Working-Group (OEWG) on Monitoring and Assessment, Member 2021 – present.
  • Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards. National Mirror Committee for Biodegradable Products, Chair 2020 – 2023.
  • Caribbean Examinations Council. Chief Examiner for Environmental Science (CAPE) 2015 – present.
  • Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Reviewer of applications for the NASA Postdoctoral Programme 2014, 2023 – 2025.
  • Editor for Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.
  • Reviewer for Environmental Research and Journal of Environmental Management.

Honours and Awards

  • Campus Award, “Most Impacting Research Project” for the project entitled “The Impact of the Contaminants Produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the Surrounding Environment”.  UWI-NGC Research Awards, 2016.
  • Faculty Award, “Best Research Team – Encouraging Multi-Disciplinary Research” for the project entitled “The Impact of the Contaminants Produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the Surrounding Environment”.  UWI-NGC Research Awards, 2016.

Public Service

  • Undergraduate Admissions Interviewer for Harvard University, 2002 – present.

Courses Taught

  • CHEM 2470 Introduction to Analytical Chemistry
  • CHEM 2471 Analytical Methods in Chemistry I
  • CHEM 2472 Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
  • CHEM 3570 Chemistry of the Environment
  • ESST 2001 Principles of Environmental Chemistry
  • ESST 3001    Environmental Fate and Transport
  • OESH 6010 Advanced Topics in OESH: Measurement Methods and Ventilation

Research Projects

  • The Impact of the Contaminants Produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the Surrounding Environment. 
  • Global Environment Fund Project 5558 Training Manual 4: Analytical methods/sampling, screening and testing (BAT/BEP) of POPs and Training Manual 5: Human health and ecological risk assessment of POPs. 
  • A new volcanic emissions monitoring network: Integrating community engagement and public health hazard management through the application and transfer of low-cost technology.
  • The Impact of the Contaminants Produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the Surrounding Environment. 
  • Second National Communication of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Graduate Students

  • Ph.D. (5)  Successfully completed (4)
  • MPhil (14)  Successfully completed (8), In examination (1), In progress (1)
  • MSc (29)  Successfully completed (27), In progress (1)

Grants

  • Citizen science: Developing a community-based, ambient monitoring network for criteria air pollutants utilizing low-cost technology. Principal investigator Project funding: TT$35,000 UWI Research and Publications Fund.
  • The impact of the contaminants produced by the Guanapo Landfill on the surrounding environment. Principal investigator Project funding: TT$1,000,000 UWI-TT Research and Development Impact Fund.
  • Biodiesel from used cooking oil evaluation of production method and engine emissions Principal investigator Project funding: TT$20,000 UWI Research and Publications Fund.
  • Characterisation of endocrine disruption in aquatic systems in Trinidad and Tobago. Co-principal investigator Project funding: TT$100,000 UWI Dean’s Award.
  • Assessment of atmospheric CFC usage and emissions in Trinidad and Tobago.  Co-principal investigator Project funding: TT$693,000  Government of Norway.

Curriculum Vitae

DMBeckles CV 20260707.pdf


Top of Page