While taking advanced engineering courses, it is easy to lose track of the big picture and get lost in the intricate details. So, I make it a point to emphasize the big picture by stressing the need behind every slide I teach. I feel satisfied when I am able to convey to my students why they are learning a subject even more so than what they are learning.
Lecturer
I am a Graduate Faculty Lecturer in the School of Environmental, Civil, Agricultural, and Mechanical Engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Georgia. I teach Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures and Civil Engineering Materials to Civil Engineering undergrads.
My research lies at the intersection of infrastructure materials, resiliency, and sustainability. My expertise lies in identifying, investigating, and implementing pathways that the cement and concrete industries can use to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
As an educator, I want my students to make the connection between what they are learning and why it is relevant to their engineering careers. While taking advanced engineering courses, it is easy to lose track of the big picture and get lost in the intricate details. So, I make it a point to emphasize the big picture by stressing the need behind every slide I teach. I feel satisfied with the work when I am able to convey to my students why they are learning a subject even more so than what they are learning.
I use teaching techniques that empower students and encourage them to be inquisitive about the course material. I believe that stating the objectives clearly and implementing them through well-planned lectures sets up the best learning experience for students. I include lectures and real world applications/projects in my courses to ensure that students get a comprehensive experience and walk out of the classroom with skills they can use at their jobsite.
Next-gen civil engineers need to be aware of the paradigm shifts in engineering, carbon neutrality, and climate change, which is the defining issue of our times. This generation will either be known as the generation that saved humanity from climate change related disasters or condemned the planet to it. Among other solutions, we need low-carbon, novel, infrastructure materials and techniques in order to achieve carbon neutrality. Playing a tiny part in mitigating climate change is what excites me the most about my research.
Learn more about Gokul Dev Vasudevan.