Contact
Biography
I am the University Digital Learning Coordinator, and Professor of Chemistry and Digital Learning. I am both a National Teaching Fellow (2021) and Senior Fellow (2021) of Advance HE, and a Chartered Chemist and Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. I have received three University of Nottingham Lord Dearing Awards for excellence in teaching and learning (two team awards and one individual award).
I am a computational chemist and an educator, where I use my scientific discipline to guide and develop my teaching and learning practice. For example, from the start of my teaching career, I have incorporated digital learning and computer generated images into my practice and gathered quantitative data from students about their experiences. I have used the power of the visual image to enhance my students understanding of chemistry, an approach that I have taken to schoolchildren and the public, by creating exhibitions and short films. I use evidence as a key tool in my professional practice, to understand both my students' experiences of my teaching and their experiences of their learning.
I am a Chemist by training and obtained both my BSc and PhD from the University of London. My postgraduate research was in the area of electroorganic synthesis, after which I moved into structural organic chemistry, utilizing primarily computational approaches, supported as required by experimental data. I have a wide range of experience in structural chemistry, involving systems varying from small organic molecules, including studies of nitrogen geometry in anilines, to micelle structure in drug delivery systems, stationary phases in separation science and protein/ligand interactions.
I have worked as a consultant in visual science communication, with a variety of organizations including the BBC, Nesta, EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) and the RSC (Royal Society of Chemistry). I have been involved in exhibition design and development (prior to fit-out) at the interactive science centre Explore in Bristol, I chaired the Royal Society of Chemistry Committee for Promoting Chemistry to the Public and I was awarded the Science Communicator Award from the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council).
Major pieces of work that I have completed, include:
Small Matters, a series of short films highlighting the role of molecules in enjoyment and pleasure, which have been broadcast on BBC television, and exhibited in venues across the UK;
Lighting-up the Invisible, a collection of interior lighting products exploring molecular shape and architectures, which has been exhibited at the Royal College of Art, London and at 100% Design Earls Court, London;
Sense-ational, an exhibition of photographs showing the role of molecules in everyday life, which has been exhibited at venues across the UK, including the Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, London.
Research Summary
My current educational research interests are in the following areas:
Transnational education - the digital experience of students and staff, university lead on the Jisc research project Global education and technology (part 1 of 2): digital challenges associated with the effective delivery of transnational education. This is a study in collaboration with Dr Sandra Leigh (School of Education, University of Nottingham), and colleagues in the University of Nottingham School of Pharmacy (in the UK and Malaysia), School of Education (UK) and School of Education and English (Ningbo China).
Using general purpose AI productivity tools to foster an evidence-informed approach to develop assessment pedagogy, collaboration with Prof Cecilia Goria, Director of the Language Centre, University of Nottingham; and Dr Rob Shipman, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham.
Developing a new blended learning framework, collaboration with Dr Stephanie McDonald (project lead), Faculty of Science Digital Learning Director, University of Nottingham; Prof Cecilia Goria, Director of the Language Centre, University of Nottingham; Dr Denise Sweeney, Course Lead PGCert Higher Education Global; and Prof Richard Windle, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Deputy Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (ESE). This forms part of the University "Beyond Blended" pilot with Jisc.
Exploring the teaching practice of University of Nottingham teaching staff in classroom settings, including the use of audience response tools and interactive activities
Students' experience of research and the HEFCE-funded "Come on in to our research labs", collaboration with Prof Snow Stolnik, Director of EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Transformative Pharmaceutical Technologies, University of Nottingham, Dr Beppe Mantovani, University of Nottingham
Recent Publications
CHETTY, S., ARMSTRONG, T, DREWE, W.C., DREWE, W.C., DE MATTEIS, C.I., EVANGELOPOULOS, D., BHAKTA, S. and THOMAS, N.R., 2021. New InhA Inhibitors Based on Expanded Triclosan and Di-Triclosan Analogues to Develop a New Treatment for Tuberculosis Pharmaceuticals. 14(4), 361 S MCDONALD, C DE MATTEIS, E NEWALL, F MCCULLOUGH, L MOTT, B VILLA MARCOS, V SOLANKI, N REA, R WRIGHT, S BAGLEY, S BAMFORD, Q WANG and A LAU, 2021. Exploring and supporting undergraduate students’ digital learning transition from school to university In: Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference, Open University.
C DE MATTEIS, N MOUNT, N HUGHES, C GORIA, R WINDLE, S SPEIGHT and G LAWSON, 2019. Bridging the cultural divides in digitally enhanced teaching and learning; the Digital Learning Director initiative at the University of Nottingham In: Advance HE Annual Conference, Newcastle.