Dr Benjamin E. Arenas

Physical Chemistry Lecturer in Education

Research summary

Chemistry education; enquiry-based learning; equality, diversity, and inclusion in education; evaluating approaches to education; astrochemistry; molecular spectroscopy

Research Overview

Following a PhD and postdoctoral research experience in using high-resolution rotational spectroscopy and electrical discharge experiments for applications in astrochemistry and molecular structure determination, I now focus on the design, delivery, and evaluation of (physical chemistry) learning activities in undergraduate and postgraduate taught chemistry curricula.

My chemistry education research portfolio includes topics such as enquiry-based learning in practical chemistry courses, characterising and optimising learning environments such as the undergraduate teaching laboratory (particularly through the lens of inclusivity), and evaluating the effectiveness of learning activities. My research is performed in collaboration with final-year project students and other education-focussed academics in the School of Chemistry, with links more widely in the College of Science and Engineering at the University of Edinburgh and other institutions throughout the UK.

A full list of publications can be found on ORCiD (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9471-778X). 

  1. H. Cramman, B. E. Arenas, R. Awais, C. Balaban, C. Cropper, F. M. Dennis, K. Finch, H. F. Gray, G. Kitchen, K. Norman, L. J. O’Driscoll, P. Petts, S. Petrie, J. M. Robson, A. Rosenburgh, L. Shields, G. P. Swift, and H. L.  Vaughan, “Post-16 students’ experience of practical science during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on students’ self-efficacy in practical work”, Enhancing Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 2, 36-69 (2024).  https://doi.org/10.62512/etlhe.14  
  2. G. Batra, L. Pille, B. E. Arenas, and M. Schnell, “Rotational spectroscopy of 2,4,6-cycloheptatriene-1-carbonitrile: Facilitating the search for complex cyclic molecules in the ISM”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 26, 20828-20836 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CP01899K  
  3. B. E. Arenas, M. Fatima, C. Pérez, S. Fischer, A. L. Steber, and M. Schnell, “Facilitating interstellar searches for simple amino alcohols with accurate rest frequencies into the millimeter-wave regime: Alaninol, valinol, and leucinol”, The Astrophysical Journal 912, 90 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abe94c 
  4. B. M. Giuliano, L. Bizzocchi, A. Pietropolli Charmet, B. E. Arenas, A. L. Steber, M. Schnell, P. Caselli, B. J. Harris, B. H. Pate, J.-C. Guillemin, and A. Belloche, “Rotational spectroscopy of imidazole: Improved rest frequencies for astrophysical searches”, Astronomy & Astrophysics 628, A53 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201935769  
  5. B. E. Arenas, S. Gruet, A. L. Steber, B. M. Giuliano, and M. Schnell, “Chirped-pulse Fourier transform millimeter-wave spectroscopy of ten vibrationally excited states of i-propyl cyanide: Exploring the far-infrared region”, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 19, 1751-1756 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1039/C6CP06297K 

  1. “Characterising a new undergraduate teaching laboratory through the lens of sensory overload”, Variety in Chemistry Education / Physics Higher Education Conference 2024, University of Surrey, England, UK.  
  2. “Enquiry-based learning in a third-year practical physical chemistry module: Tinkering your way to a good measurement”, Variety in Chemistry Education / Physics Higher Education Conference 2023, Durham University, England, UK.  
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