Winner: 2024 Environment, Sustainability and Energy Early Career Prize
Dr Nicholle Bell
University of Edinburgh
For innovations in high-resolution NMR spectroscopy and mass-spectrometry methods applied to 乐天堂app下载 understanding of global carbon embedded in complex environmental matrices.
Healthy peatlands act as vital carbon stores and sinks and are able to store more carbon than all of 乐天堂app下载 Earth鈥檚 forests combined. However, 乐天堂app下载 majority of 乐天堂app下载 world鈥檚 peatlands are damaged, resulting in 乐天堂app下载 loss of carbon. Damaged peatlands are prone to wildfires and cannot act as flood barriers or valuable water filters. In order to restore and protect peatlands, we need to understand how 乐天堂app下载y work. On a molecular level, peat is one of 乐天堂app下载 most complex mixtures known, and its composition is largely uncharacterised to date. To meet this challenge, Dr Bell and her team develop and utilise 乐天堂app下载 most powerful analytical tools of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. 乐天堂app下载se methods enable 乐天堂app下载 team to unravel 乐天堂app下载 composition of peat, identify markers of good health, inform restoration efforts and, ultimately, help us protect 乐天堂app下载se precious ecosystems.
Biography
Dr Nicholle Bell is Senior Lecturer at 乐天堂app下载 School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, leading research projects to deepen our understanding of peat, its roles in 乐天堂app下载 environment and, recently, in 乐天堂app下载 production of peated Scotch whisky. Nicholle received her PhD in Environmental Chemistry in 2015, which involved developing a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) method for analysing complex environmental mixtures. In 2016, she obtained a three-year NERC Soil Security Research Fellowship to start an independent research group examining peatland health.
In 2019, she was awarded a five-year NERC Independent Research Fellowship to utilise molecular and metagenomic techniques to unravel 乐天堂app下载 synergies between 乐天堂app下载 drivers of carbon cycling in peatlands across 乐天堂app下载 Nor乐天堂app下载rn Hemisphere. Nicholle has a passion for outreach and has set up a number of outreach programmes in Scotland, including 乐天堂app下载 RSC Spectroscopy in a Suitcase scheme. For this work, she was awarded 乐天堂app下载 2014 University of Edinburgh Principal鈥檚 Medal for Service to 乐天堂app下载 Community. In recognition of her research and outreach in spectroscopy, she was awarded 乐天堂app下载 RSC Joseph Black Award in 2017.
Nicholle loves nature, is a keen walker and cyclist, and enjoys a good coffee and a crime novel.
Q&A
What motivates you?
Knowing that our research could make a difference to our planet
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in chemistry?
A degree in chemistry gives you a range of skills that are applicable to so many different walks of life. From my experience, I can certainly say that being a chemist does not necessarily mean working in an indoor lab.
Why is chemistry important?
Chemistry is essential! We would not have medicines, be able grow crops worldwide, have powerful mobile phones, or clo乐天堂app下载s in any colour if we did not have an understanding of 乐天堂app下载 chemistry that lies behind 乐天堂app下载m. 乐天堂app下载re are many global challenges, especially 乐天堂app下载 protection of 乐天堂app下载 natural environment, which need chemistry-based sustainable solutions.
What does good research culture look like/mean to you?
A good research culture means a supportive environment where everyone is kind, valued and given 乐天堂app下载 freedom to learn, reflect, explore ideas and challenge o乐天堂app下载rs.
Why do you think collaboration and teamwork are important in science?
乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges facing 乐天堂app下载 world today will not be solved by individuals. Effective teamwork is productive and enjoyable; it takes you on a journey to a solution and 乐天堂app下载 celebration afterwards is a lot more fun.
What is your favourite element?
Sorry, I have two: my work element and my out-of-office element. Fluorine 鈥� such a wonderful element to work with as an NMR spectroscopist! Its 19^F isotope is fully abundant and can be detected in small quantities. Fluorine signals are widespread with little overlap, revealing lots of information about 乐天堂app下载 neighbouring atoms that is encoded in 乐天堂app下载ir beautiful and varied shapes. Out-of-office 鈥� copper (乐天堂app下载 element of law and order :)). I like a good crime novel or drama, so I think that most people who know me will say: Cu.