Meet the ATL faculty spotlight for September 2025, Andrew Davies, Professor of Biological Sciences, joint appointment with GSO at the University of Rhode Island. Read his interview below.
What course(s) do you teach, or have you taught, at URI?
I teach mostly marine science, but I really value skills- and research-based teaching and have taught data visualization, data analysis and advanced geographical information systems. I find stacking skills with knowledge really helps students develop a strong understanding of the subject matter and develop a comfort to tackle new problems.
What are the 3 qualities that you think make for a great teacher?
A willingness to learn and listen to your students, having confidence to fail and approachability. Teaching is not just a one way street, I find myself learning with my students and being willing to fail means that I am constantly trying to improve.
What do you hope students look back on in ten years and say about your class(es)?
“I really love data!” Whether that came from me or not, I don’t mind.
What is a difficult moment that you learned from in the classroom? What did you learn?
One of my instructors, way back when I was a second year undergrad, told me that I was one of the worst students he’d ever taught. He wasn’t wrong, I was lazy, a little arrogant and just coasting along. But I think he saw something in me. That hard truth set me on a trajectory where I applied myself, worked hard and moved into an academic career, maybe in part to prove him wrong. To this very day I carry that lesson; sometimes the truth hurts, whether it is external or from self-reflection, but it’s a vital lesson.
How have you seen teaching evolve over your career? And/or where do you see teaching going?
I recall in my final semester of undergrad Wikipedia was released and my instructors had concerns how it would impact our study skills. The same was said during the PDF revolution when scientific journals went online whilst I was studying for my PhD, “What about the library?!” one of my mentors decried (don’t worry it is still there at my alma mater). Back then I was a student, but now we’re facing another turning point in HE. It is an exciting time, at least for me, with the exponential rise of AI tools. I feel that there are exceptional opportunities for us to build these into our daily lives, our teaching practice and train our students to maximize their potential. Finding the balance and keeping up with the technology is where I am at right now.
Share your favorite place to go in Rhode Island? Why is this your favorite place?
Well, it was Shaidzon in West Kingston on a Friday afternoon after work in the summer, always fun when the trains went past, but sadly that closed down a while back. Now I’m partial to visiting Mews when they have the beer garden open, there’s something relaxing about the spot.
What do you like to do for fun?
I’m an avid machinist, welder, wood worker and general maker and fixer of all things, yes I have practically every tool one could own (but I still need more…). So, I enjoy heading into my workshop to build things and problem solve. My current projects range from building robots, fixing up broken stuff and random DIY projects. I also like riding my lawn mower around the yard, but with the recent heatwave there’s not that much to mow.
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