Roger Reeve
ECG Bulletin January 2019
Dr Roger Reeve is a committee member of the Environmental Chemistry Group. His career started within pollution control in the manufacturing industry and later moved into university, teaching environmental chemistry and chemical analysis. He has recently retired.
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What inspired you to become a scientist?
I always had a fascination to find out how things worked. This fascination developed through my school days looking at our world, seeing its complexity and its inherent beauty. How did you come to specialise in environmental analysis? My first job focused on research within a process plant for the manufacturing industry. In particular, I specialised in emission control technology. Sulphur dioxide from coal fired power stations was the major concern at the time, whilst serious concern over carbon dioxide was still twenty years away. Design of the processes involved process monitoring and so did the environmental analysis. My academic position combined the two aspects teaching environmental chemistry and analysis. |
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Could you describe your current position?
My recent retirement means I have more time to pursue my wider environmental and analytical interests. I am currently organising two symposia and a workshop and look forward to other opportunities becoming available in the future.
What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in environmental chemistry?
Being able to move with the times. Many of the current environmental problems weren’t even dreamt of at the start of my career, and instrumental analytical chemistry, which I specialised in, was still in its infancy. On the other hand, issues such as clean energy production were relevant then and still are today.
What are some of the challenges facing the environmental chemistry community?
Almost all major improvement in the environment is long term – problem recognition, developing possible alleviation methods, necessary changes in legislation, and ensuring that, in the long term, these changes in legislation are not diminished or removed. Media and funding are often focussed on currently perceived problems. How often is the ozone hole mentioned nowadays, even though it is taking more than a lifetime to repair?
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
Everyone in education is carried through life by seeing their students develop and succeed, sometimes often way above their expectations. I set up an annual regional schools competition 28 years ago, enjoyed by all, which is still thriving to this day; I wrote an environmental analysis text book which, on publication, turned out to be very popular. I feel privileged to have had a career in an area which has been of so much interest to me.
If you weren’t a scientist what would you do?
My history teacher suggested I followed his subject, perhaps because of my wish always to understand and analyse information. I don’t think there would have been too much of a career for me in it. Later in life, I have realised the importance of communication but I only master this in subjects I am passionate about.
And what do you do when you are not working?
My environmental and analytical interests are no longer classable as ‘work’. I am involved in the Methodist church. Charity work particularly includes supporting overseas students to continue their education in the UK. I enjoy making home-brew beer, mustard and stained glass art-work. I like cycling, but only in fair weather!
My recent retirement means I have more time to pursue my wider environmental and analytical interests. I am currently organising two symposia and a workshop and look forward to other opportunities becoming available in the future.
What advice would you give to anyone considering a career in environmental chemistry?
Being able to move with the times. Many of the current environmental problems weren’t even dreamt of at the start of my career, and instrumental analytical chemistry, which I specialised in, was still in its infancy. On the other hand, issues such as clean energy production were relevant then and still are today.
What are some of the challenges facing the environmental chemistry community?
Almost all major improvement in the environment is long term – problem recognition, developing possible alleviation methods, necessary changes in legislation, and ensuring that, in the long term, these changes in legislation are not diminished or removed. Media and funding are often focussed on currently perceived problems. How often is the ozone hole mentioned nowadays, even though it is taking more than a lifetime to repair?
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career so far?
Everyone in education is carried through life by seeing their students develop and succeed, sometimes often way above their expectations. I set up an annual regional schools competition 28 years ago, enjoyed by all, which is still thriving to this day; I wrote an environmental analysis text book which, on publication, turned out to be very popular. I feel privileged to have had a career in an area which has been of so much interest to me.
If you weren’t a scientist what would you do?
My history teacher suggested I followed his subject, perhaps because of my wish always to understand and analyse information. I don’t think there would have been too much of a career for me in it. Later in life, I have realised the importance of communication but I only master this in subjects I am passionate about.
And what do you do when you are not working?
My environmental and analytical interests are no longer classable as ‘work’. I am involved in the Methodist church. Charity work particularly includes supporting overseas students to continue their education in the UK. I enjoy making home-brew beer, mustard and stained glass art-work. I like cycling, but only in fair weather!
