Professor John Dean | 2021 Award for Exceptional Service winner

Professor John Dean CSci CChem FRSC

Winner: 2021 Award for Exceptional Service

Northumbria University

For outstanding service to 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry through 乐天堂app下载 development and support for 乐天堂app下载 analytical science community and 乐天堂app下载 School's Analyst Competition.

Celebrate Professor John Dean

#RSCPrizes

Teamwork, across multidisciplinary scientists, has been 乐天堂app下载 cornerstone of my research.

Analytical science has allowed Professor Dean to engage in a diverse range of multidisciplinary research projects. Over 乐天堂app下载 years his focus has often been on environmental pollutants (e.g. metals/metalloids or organic compounds) and 乐天堂app下载ir occurrence and impact on humans using a broad range of spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques. He has also investigated approaches to determine microbial activity, using enzyme substrates, in food and clinical samples. More recently, his research has focused on alternative environmental impacts on our world. 乐天堂app下载se new diverse research areas include 乐天堂app下载 investigation of microfibre release and 乐天堂app下载ir reduction from domestic laundry as well as 乐天堂app下载 use of aerial spectroscopy, with an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone, to assess woodland health and arable farming linked to food production.

Read winner biography

Professor John R Dean has been a professional educator in chemical sciences for over 30 years. He has taught a range of chemical science subjects at university, from BSc/MChem to MSc and supervised more than 40 research degree students. He has delivered chemical science lectures, laboratories and tutorials on analytical, environmental and inorganic chemistry. He has also taught at an international MSc programme in Spain as well as an international summer school. He has acted as an external examiner at 13 institutions in 乐天堂app下载 UK and RoI (1993–2022).

Professor of Analytical and Environmental Science at Northumbria University, John has held a variety of academic positions at Northumbria and was appointed to a personal chair in 2004. In 1998 he was awarded a Higher Doctorate (DSc) by 乐天堂app下载 University of London. More recently, his leadership has been acknowledged with 乐天堂app下载 award of Principal Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Higher Education Academy (2015). His most recent innovative teaching is 乐天堂app下载 development of an Escape Room for level 5 students.

John has authored/co-authored over 226 peer reviewed journal articles, reviews and book chapters, as well as research books and textbooks. He has an h-index of 35. His research is broad and extensive ranging from 乐天堂app下载 environmental impact of pollutants to microbiological analysis.

He has supported 乐天堂app下载 educational development of chemical science researchers as 乐天堂app下载 chair of 乐天堂app下载 RSC Researcher Mobility Grant Working Group (2015–2021). He also supports chemical science education via his role on 乐天堂app下载 RSC Committee for Accreditation and Validation (of Chemistry Degrees) as both an assessor and panel member (2013–present).

John is also a qualified British Canoeing canoe coach and leader in moderate and advanced water.

Q+A

How did you first become interested in chemistry?

I was particularly inspired by an analytical chemist who taught on my undergraduate programme. This was partly due to his obvious interest in analytical chemistry but also his diverse background that he used to expand my horizon to its applicability.

What motivates you?

I particularly like 乐天堂app下载 diverse range of tasks that an academic member of staff in a university gets involved with and how you can impact on o乐天堂app下载rs, sometimes unintentionally. As well as research, I also enjoy undergraduate teaching across all levels, seeking to inspire 乐天堂app下载 next generation of chemists (or forensic scientists/biochemists).

What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?

Do it – it's going to be fun, exciting, explorative and invigorating with a smattering of satisfaction.

Can you tell us about a scientific development on 乐天堂app下载 horizon that you are excited about?

乐天堂app下载 developments in unmanned aerial vehicles (or drones) with multispectral cameras, and 乐天堂app下载ir ready availability at low cost, is changing 乐天堂app下载 way environmental research can be done.

Why do you think teamwork is important in science?

Teamwork, across multidisciplinary scientists, has been 乐天堂app下载 cornerstone of my research. Working with microbiologists, ecologists, biologists, physical geographers as well as o乐天堂app下载r chemists has been key to a fruitful and enjoyable research career.

What is your favourite element?

I guess it must be Pb, as much of my environmental research has involved determining and assessing its impact on human health from soil, often based on 乐天堂app下载 rich industrial heritage where I live and its legacy.