Simon Belt

Teaching interests

The majority of my teaching covers organic chemistry and NMR spectroscopy. I am particularly interested in the practical applications of these subject areas. I am a strong advocate of using a context-based approach in my teaching and I have received several awards from funding bodies to develop this further. Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry (Analytical Trust Fund), and in collaboration with Dr Tina Overton (Director of the Higher Education Academy Physical Sciences Subject Centre, University of Hull), I have written a series of six context-based case studies for Analytical Chemistry. More recently, we have extended this project to write some context-based teaching material for Stage 1 undergraduate chemistry courses covering various aspects of organic, inorganic and physical chemistry. This project was funded by The Cutter Bequest (Royal Society of Chemistry). I have also co-written mathematics packages for chemists with Dr Robin Horan and Dr Martin Lavelle who are based in the School of Maths and Statistics. I have worked on a project to develop 'green' chemistry laboratory exercises using enzymes (with Dr Les Jervis, School of Biological Sciences, HEA Physical Sciences funded) and on a problem-based flavourings investigation with a local school (with Sue Kendall, Plymouth High School for Girls, funded by The Royal Society). I am currently working on a project funded under the Chemistry For Our Future program (RSC/HEFCE) investigating the effectiveness of problem and context based teaching in undergraduate chemistry courses. In 2003, I was awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry Higher Education Teaching Award.

Publications in Teaching and Learning

Articles in Books

S T Belt, T L Overton and S Summerfield, The Use of Case Studies in Teaching Science in The International Simulations and Gaming Handbook, 2002, Volume 9, SAGSET.

S T Belt (2003) Preparing for fieldwork - A case study from the environmental sciences. In: A Handbook for Teaching & Learning in HE (edited by Fry, Kettridge and Marshall), 265-266. Kogan Page.

Refereed journal articles

L Jervis, L Jervis and S T Belt (2008) Halogenating enzymes in organic synthesis. Education in Chemistry 45, 24-28. 
S T Belt and T L Overton (2007) Active Learning: Models from the analytical sciences – Context-based case studies in analytical chemistry. ACS Symposium Series 970, 87-99.

S T Belt and S B Kendall, (2006) Getting nosy with handy chemicals. Education in Chemistry 43, 15-17
S T Belt, M J Leisvik, A J Hyde and T L Overton, T.L. (2005) Using a context-based approach to undergraduate chemistry teaching – a case study for introductory physical chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice 6, 166-179

S Summerfield, T Overton and S Belt (2003) Problem-solving case studies. Analytical Chemistry 75, 181A-182A.

S T Belt, E H Evans, T McCreedy, T L Overton and S Summerfield. (2002) A Problem based learning approach to analytical and applied chemistry. University Chemistry Education 6, 65-72.

S T Belt, M J Clarke and L E Phipps, (1999) Exercises for chemists involving time management, judgement and initiative U.Chem.Ed.  3, 52-58.

S T Belt and L E Phipps, Using Case Studies to Develop Key Skills in Chemists: A Preliminary Account. (1998) U. Chem. Ed., 2, 16-20.

Other refereed output

S T Belt and L E Phipps, LIAISE – Linking Industry and Academia in Science Education. In SEED publication: A guide to developing employer links in higher education: with case studies from the sciences. (eds. M Burns, S Lane and J –A Philips, ISBN 1-84102-036-2) 1999, 63-66.

S T Belt, Problem Based Learning (PBL) – A case study from Environmental Sciences, LTSN GEES Subject Centre, special publication, 2001, pp. 17-18.

S Summerfield, T L Overton and S T Belt, 6th European Conference on Research In Chemical Education and 2nd European Conference in Chemical Education, Portugal, 2001, conference proceedings (x 2)

 

Research interests

Environmental organic chemistry

Structure, function and biosynthesis of natural products from marine organisms

Pharmacological properties of marine natural products

Organic photochemistry

Chemical education

 

Other research

 

Research degrees awarded to supervised students

PhD supervisions:

2000-2003 R. Clough

2000-2003 G.G. Massé

1998-2001 W.G. Allard

1998-2001 P.A. Bodurtha

1996-1999 E.L. Smith

1995-1998 A.J. Hopper

1995-1998 L.A. Johns

 

Grants & contracts

2008-2009 NERC Isotopic signatures of Arctic sea-ice biomarkers. £39,040 (in-kind funding)
2008-2009 RSC/HEFCE Evaluation of context-based teaching in undergraduate chemistry courses £25,500
2007-2008 NERC Climate change in the Holocene: A multi-proxy case study £38,671
2006-2008 RSC/HEFCE Evaluation of context-based teaching in undergraduate chemistry courses £55,520
2006-2009 NERC A novel proxy for Arctic sea ice. £333,012
2006 NERC A novel proxy for Arctic sea ice. £14,136 (in-kind funding)
2006 The Royal Society A novel proxy for determining palaeo-temperatures of Arctic sea waters £9204
2005 The Higher Education Academy. Development Project Grant. Using Haloperoxidase Enzymes to Develop Inter-disciplinary Student Work. £5000

2004 Seale Hayne Educational Trust. A novel geochemical indicator for past sea-ice levels. £4000

2004 NERC Dynamic Aspects of terpenoid biosynthesis in diatoms. £5250 (in-kind funding)

2004 The Royal Society Partnership Grant £2,500

2003-2005 NERC Diversity of novel, technologically usdeful, pigment-producing diatoms in estuaries of South Devon, U.K. £24,340

2002-2005 HEFCE, FDTL Phase 4 OLAAF: On-line assessment and feedback with Dr L. Jervis (Biological Sciences), Dr N. Witt (IMS), Dr R. Rayne (Birkbeck College)] £249,956

2002-2003 The Royal Society of Chemistry (Cutter Bequest) Development and dissemination of case studies for undergraduate courses £30,000

2002-2003 NERC Life on Earth: Identification of primordial membrane constituents £47,293

2001-2002 LTSN Physical Sciences Centre Development of LATEX/PDF support materials for learning mathematics £5,000

2001 Strategic Research Infrastucture Fund (SRIF) HEFCE Compound specific isotope ratio mass spectrometer and associated equipment £200,000

2001 Region des Pays de la Loire Identification of HBI alkenes, their source organisms and factors effecting large scale culture ca FF 100,000

2000-2003 LGC Factors affecting the accuracy and precision of isotope dilution analysis for speciation studies £49,995

2000 RSC Analytical Trust Fund Development of case studies in analytical chemistry for undergraduate chemistry courses £46,728

2000 Region des Pays de la Loire Determination of HBI alkenes in the oyster Crassostrea gigas FF 30,000

2000 RSC JWT Jones Travelling Fellowship 3 month sabbatical to University of Nantes, France £2,800

1999 ESF The Learning Connection Flexible training programmes to meet the needs of industry £35,646

1999 University of Plymouth SCL Initiative Development of interactive website for field-course £3,000

1998-1999 British Council Alliance Program Investigation of highly branched isoprenoids as environmental markers £3,180

1997 University of Plymouth Innovations Fund Development of case study teaching material (2 Projects) £5,700

1997 Project IMPROVE (HEFCE) Secondment grant to develop project LIAISE £4,200

1996 RSC JWT Jones Travelling Fellowship 2 month sabbatical to University of Ottawa, Canada £2,000

1995-1998 NERC ROPA Highly branched isoprenoid hydrocarbons as environmental indicators £82,000

 

Publications

Publications since 2000 

Vare, L L, Massé, G, Gregory, T R, Smart, C W and Belt, S T (2009) Sea ice variations in the central Canadian Arctic Archipelago during the Holocene. Quaternary Science Reviews (in press)

Andrews, J T, Belt, S T, Olafsdottir, S, Massé, G and Vare, L L (2009) Sea ice and marine climate variability for NW Iceland/Denmark Strait over the last 2000 cal yr BP. The Holocene (in press)

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Vare, L.L., Rowland, S.J., Poulin, M., Sicre, M.-A., Sampei, M. and Fortier, L. (2008) Distinctive ¹³C isotopic signature distinguishes a novel sea ice biomarker in Arctic sediments and sediment traps. Marine Chemistry 112, 158-167. 

Smith, B.E., Lewis, C.A., Belt, S.T. Whitby, C. and Rowland, S.J. (2008) Effects of alkyl chain branching on the biodegradability of naphthenic acids. Environmental Science & Technology 42, 9323-9328.

Booth, A.M., Scarlett, A.G., Lewis, C.A., Belt, S.T. and Rowland, S.J. (2008) Unresolved complex mixtures (UCMs) of aromatic hydrocarbons: Branched alkyl indanes and branched alkyl tetralins are present in UCMs and accumulated by and toxic to, the mussel Mytilus edulis. Environmental Science & Technology 42, 8122-8126.

Massé, G., Rowland, S.J., Sicre, M.-A., Jacob, J., Jansen, E. and Belt, S.T. (2008) Abrupt climate changes for Iceland during the last millennium: Evidence from high resolution sea ice reconstructions. Earth Planetary Science Letters 269, 564-568

Jervis, L., Jervis, L. and Belt, S.T. (2008) Halogenating enzymes in organic synthesis. Education in Chemistry 45, 24-28

Belt. S.T. and Overton, T.L. (2007) Active Learning: Models from the analytical sciences – Context-based case studies in analytical chemistry. ACS Symposium Series 970, 87-99.

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Rowland, S.J., Poulin, M. and Michel, C. and LeBlanc, B. (2007) A novel chemical fossil of palaeo sea ice: IP₂₅. Organic Geochemistry 38, 16-27.

Belt, S.T., and Kendall, S.B. (2006) Getting nosy with handy chemicals. Education in Chemistry 43, 15-17.

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Rowland, S.J. and Rohmer, M. (2006) Highly branched isoprenoid alcohols and epoxides in the diatom Haslea ostrearia Simonsen. Organic Geochemistry 37, 133-145

Belt, S.T., Leisvik, M.J., Hyde, A.J. and Overton, T.L. (2005) Using a context-based approach to undergraduate chemistry teaching: a case study for introductory physical chemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice 6, 166-179

Poulin, M., Massé, G., Belt, S.T., Delavault, P., Rousseau, F., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2004) Morphological, biochemical and molecular evidence for the transfer of Gyrosigma nipkowii Meister to the genus Haslea (Bacillariophyta). European Journal of Phycology 39, 181-195.

Massé, G., Belt, S.T., Allard, W.G., Lewis, C.A., Wakeham, S.G. and Rowland, S.J. (2004) Occurrence of novel monocyclic alkenes from diatoms in marine sedimenting particles and sediments. Organic Geochemistry 35, 813-822.
 

Sinninghe Damste, J.S., Muyzer, G., Abbas, B., Rampen, S.W., Massé, G., Allard, W.G., Belt, S. T., Robert, J.-M., Rowland, S. J., Moldowan, J.M., Barbanti, S.M., Fago, F.J., Denisevich, P., Dahl, J., Trinidade, L.A.F., and Schouten, S. (2004) The rise of rhizosolenid diatoms. Science 304, 584-587.
 

Massé, G., Belt, S.T. and Rowland, S.J. (2004) Biosynthesis of unusual monocyclic alkenes by the diatom, Rhizosolenia setigera (Brightwell). Phytochemistry 65, 1101-1106.

Massé, G., Belt, S.T., Rowland, S.J. and Rohmer, M. (2004) Isoprenoid biosynthesis in the diatoms Rhizosolenia setigera (Brightwell) and Haslea ostrearia (Simonsen). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 101, 4413-4418.

Clough,R., Belt, S.T., Evans, E.H., Fairman, B. and Catterick, T. (2003) Investigation of equilibration and uncertainty contributions for the determination of inorganic mercury and methylmercury by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Analytica Chimica Acta 500, 155-170
 

Belt, S.T. (2003) Preparing for fieldwork - A case study from the environmental sciences. In: A Handbook for Teaching & Learning in HE (edited by Fry, Kettridge and Marshall), 265-266. Kogan Page.

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Allard, W.G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2003) Novel monocyclic sester- and triterpenoids from the marine diatom, Rhizosolenia setigera. Tetrahedron Letters 44, 9103-9106.
 

Clough, R., Belt, S.T., Evans, E.H., Sutton, P., Fairman, B. and Catterick, T. (2003) Uncertainty contributions to species specific isotope dilution analysis. Part 1. Characterisation and stability of 199Hg and 13C isotopically enriched methylmercury by 1H NMR. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 18, 1033-1038.
 

Clough, R., Belt, S.T., Evans, H.E., Fairman, B. and Catterick, T. (2003) Uncertainty contributions to species specific isotope dilution analysis. Part 2. Determination of methylmercury by HPLC coupled with quadrupole and multicollector ICP-MS. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 18, 1039-1046.
 

Clough, R., Belt, S.T., Evans, H.E., Fairman, B. and Catterick, T. (2003) Isotope dilution ICP-MS for speciation studies. Applied Spectroscopy Reviews 38, 101-132.

Summerfield, S, Overton, T. and Belt, S. (2003) Problem-solving case studies. Analytical Chemistry 75, 181A-182A.

Belt, S.T., Evans, E.H., McCreedy, T., Overton, T.L. and Summerfield, S. (2002) A Problem based learning approach to analytical and applied chemistry. University Chemistry Education 6, 65-72.

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Allard, W.G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2002) Effects of auxosporulation on distributions of C25 and C30 isoprenoid alkenes in Rhizosolenia setigera. Phytochemistry 59, 141-149.

Belt, S.T., Overton, T.L. and Summerfield, S. (2002) The use of case studies in teaching science. In: The International Simulations and Gaming Handbook, volume 9, SAGSET.

Allard, W.G., Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Naumann, R., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2001) Tetra-unsaturated sesterterpenoids (Haslenes) from Haslea ostrearia and related species. Phytochemistry 56, 795-800.

Belt, S.T. (2001) Problem based learning - A case study from the environmental sciences. In: PLANET: Problem Based Learning. LTSN GEES Subject Centre Special Publication, pp. 17-18. (ISSN 1473-1835).
 

Belt, S.T., Allard, W.G., Johns, L., Konig, W.A., Massé, G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S. (2001) Variable stereochemistry in highly branched isoprenoids from diatoms. Chirality 13, 415-419.

Belt, S.T., Allard, W.G., Massé, G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2001) Structural characterisation of C30 highly branched isoprenoid alkenes (rhizenes) in the marine diatom Rhizosolenia setigera. Tetrahedron Letters 42, 5583-5585.
 

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Allard, W.G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2001) Identification of a C25 highly branched isoprenoid triene in the freshwater diatom Navicula sclesvicensis. Organic Geochemistry 32, 1169-1172.
 

Belt, S.T., Massé, G., Allard, W.G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2001) C25 highly branched isoprenoid alkenes in planktonic diatoms of the Pleurosigma genus. Organic Geochemistry 32 1271-1275.

Massé G., Poulin, M., Belt, S.T., Barreau, A., Robert, J.-M., Rinc�, Y. and Rowland, S.J. (2001) A simple method for SEM examination of sectioned diatom frustules. Journal of Microscopy-Oxford 204, 87-92.

Massé, G., Rince, Y., Cox, E., Allard, W.G., Belt, S. and Rowland, S.J. (2001) Haslea salstonica sp. nov. and Haslea pseudostrearia sp. nov. (Bacillariophyta), two new epibenthic diatoms from the Kingsbridge estuary, United Kingdom. Comptes Rendus de l'Academie des Sciences Serie III-Sciences de la Vie 334, 617-626.
 

Rowland, S.J., Allard, W.G., Belt, S.T., Mass�, G., Robert, J.-M., Blackburn, S., Frampton, D., Revill, A.T. and Volkman, J.K. (2001) Factors influencing the distributions of polyunsaturated terpenoids in the diatom, Rhizosolenia setigera. Phytochemistry. 58, 717-728.
 

Rowland, S.J., Belt, S.T., Wraige, E.J., Massé, G., Roussakis, C. and Robert, J.-M. (2001) Effects of temperature on polyunsaturation in cytostatic lipids of Haslea ostrearia. Phytochemistry 56, 597-602.

Williams, C.E., Lowry, R.B., Braven, J. and Belt, S.T. (2001) Novel synthesis and characterisation of ruthenium tris(4-methyl-4'-vinyl-2,2'-bipyridine) complexes. Inorganica Chimica Acta 315, 112-119.
 

Belt, S.T., Allard, W.G., Massé, G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2000) Highly branched isoprenoids (HBIs): Identification of the most common and abundant sedimentary isomers. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64, 3839-3851.

Belt, S.T., Allard, G., Massé, G., Robert, J.-M. and Rowland, S.J. (2000) Important sedimentary sesterterpenoids from the diatom Pleurosigma intermedium. Chemical Communications, 501-502.

Belt, S.T., Allard, W.G., Rintatalo, J., Johns, L.A., van Duin, A.C.T. and Rowland, S.J. (2000) Clay and acid catalysed isomerisation and cyclisation reactions of highly branched isoprenoid alkenes: implications for sedimentary reactions and distributions. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64, 3337-3345.

Johns, L., Belt, S., Lewis, C.A., Rowland, S., Massé, G., Robert, J.-M. and K�nig, W.A. (2000) Configurations of polyunsaturated sesterterpenoids from the diatom, Haslea ostrearia. Phytochemistry 53, 607-611

 

Reports & invited lectures

Invited Lectures:

HEA Physical Sciences Subject Centre: C/PBL Special Interest Group Meeting, University of Birmingham, U.K., 21 May 2008 (invited speaker).

Learning and Teaching in the Sciences 2008, University of Leicester, U.K., 20 May 2008 (invited speaker).
RSC Invited Speaker, West Midlands Chemistry Teachers Centre, University of Birmingham, U.K., 10 January 2006

6th Variety in Irish Chemistry Teaching Conference, Dublin Institute of Technology, Dublin, Ireland, March 2005

The Royal Society of Chemistry Invited Lecture. The Open University, July 2004

The Royal Society of Chemistry Invited Lecture. University College, London July 2004

Variety in Chemistry Education, University of Plymouth, September, 2004

The Royal Society of Chemistry Invited Lecture. The University of Hull, September, 2004

The Royal Society of Chemistry Invited Lecture. The University of Edinburgh, September, 2004

The Royal Society of Chemistry Invited Lecture. Manchester Metropolitan University, October, 2004

UK Analytical Partnerships Skills Network, Teaching Analytical Chemistry in Undergraduate Courses, Royal Society of Chemistry, London, UK. (2001)

Symposium on Biological Chirality, Szeged, Hungary, 27-31 August 2000

LTSN Physical Sciences Centre Professional Development Workshop, New Directions in Problem Solving, UMIST, Manchester, UK. (2000)

Project IMPROVE Workshop for Higher Education Chemistry Teaching, University of Warwick, UK. (6/1999)

Project IMPROVE Workshop for Higher Education Chemistry Teaching, University of Warwick, UK. (2/1999)

Project IMPROVE Directors of Study Meeting, London, UK. (1998)

 

Conferences organised

Organiser of the Variety in Chemistry Education meeting, Plymouth, 2004

Member of the organising committee for the 4th European Meeting on Environmental Chemistry, Plymouth, 2003

Co-organsier of the 15th British Organic Geochemistry Symposium, Plymouth, 2003

 

Links

http://www.pegg.org

http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/chemistry