Environmental Chemistry
Denise M. Beckles – Lecturer
Selected Publications
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., D.M. Beckles and J. Opadeyi. 2018. Characterization, source apportionment, and human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in road dust of a small island state in the Caribbean. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 24:1852-1871.
Hosein, R., S. Haque and D.M. Beckles. 2014. Mud volcanoes of Trinidad as astrobiological analogs for Martian environments. Life, 4:566-585.
Kanhai, L.D.K., J. Gobin, D.M. Beckles, B. Lauckner and A. Mohammed. 2014. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Crassostrea rhizophorae and Cathorops spixii from the Caroni Swamp, Trinidad. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 22:1366-1379.
Joseph, E.P., N. Fournier, J.M. Lindsay, R. Robertson and D.M. Beckles. 2013. Chemical and isotopic characteristics of geothermal fluids from Sulphur Springs, Saint Lucia. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 254:23-36.
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.
Schulze-Makuch, D., S. Haque, S. Hallam, M. Resendes de Sousa Antonio, D. Ali, R. Hosein, Y.C. Song, D.M. Beckles, E. Guinan and H. Lehto. 2011. Microbial life in a liquid asphalt desert. Astrobiology. 11:241-258.
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 microbial 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.
Most recently I have included the exciting field of chemical education into my research mix. This allows me to study how our students learn chemistry, and how we as lecturers can improve our students’ performance.
