The Most Popular Teachers of the Joint School: Professor Dariusz Wanatowski
| Personal information: I am the Pro-Dean of the Joint School, a Chartered Engineer (CEng), a Chartered Scientist (CSci), A fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), and a Senior Fellow of the Advanced Higher Education (SFHEA). I teach soils mechanics in two Civil Engineering modules, XJCV1465 ‘Materials, Water and Soils’ and XJCV2470 ‘Water Engineering and Geotechnics’. My research is focused on advanced laboratory soil testing of geomaterials, ground improvement, and landslides. My achievements in research and education were recognized in 2023 by awarding me the title of ‘High-level Foreign Talen in Sichuan Province.
Motto: The best teachers are those who show you where to look but don’t tell you what to see. |
My Teaching Experience at the Joint School
Since joining SWJTU in 2016 as the Pro-Dean of SWJTU-Leeds Joint School, I have been teaching three civil engineering modules ‘Materials, Water and Soils’ in Year 2, ‘Water Engineering and Geotechnics in Year 3, and Railway Engineering in Year 4. I always aim to deliver my lectures so that students can enjoy them and learn at the same time. The most prominent feature of my lectures is the use of real-life engineering projects. For example, I use the case study of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, to illustrate mechanisms of settlement in soft clays. I pay special attention to class dynamics and student behaviour and try to keep students actively engaged in lectures by frequently asking intriguing questions and seeking students’ opinions. I also pay attention to the mood of the students, and schedule questions, breaks or jokes, accordingly.
In my opinion, students are in the heart of the university. I believe that the opportunity to impart knowledge through teaching is the most important responsibility of all teachers. A regular interaction with my students is the main reason why I love teaching and why my job is so exciting!
My Academic and Research Achievements
I am well-known in the international geotechnical community as an expert in advanced soil mechanics. My research contribution to understanding failure mechanisms of granular slopes has been internationally recognized by nomination to represent the United Kingdom on two prestigious Technical Committees of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. I have published more than 80 research papers and presented my work at more than 30 international conferences. My research achievements resulted in several invitations to present my work at prestigious universities around the world, including University of New South Wales in Australia, University of British Columbia in Canada and Stanford University in the United States. I have worked on several prestigious research projects with my colleagues from the School of Civil Engineering at SWJTU. Finally, I am the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the Geotechnical Research journal, published by the Institution of Civil Engineers in the United Kingdom.
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My Impression about the Joint School and My Life in Chengdu
SWJTU-Leeds Joint School is a vibrant, interesting, dynamic and unique place at SWJTU. All Joint School teachers, from both SWJTU and University of Leeds are committed to guiding and supporting our students throughout their journey towards Bachelor’s degrees. It’s my privilege to be a part of the Joint School community.
I have lived in Chengdu for more than 8 years and I love it! For someone like me, who loves sport and outdoor activities, Chengdu is the perfect place to live in. I am a passionate long-distance runner and jogging around Tianfu Greenway, Qinglong and Dong’an Lakes or Longquan Mountain makes me very happy. I also appreciate a very relaxed lifestyle in Chengdu and Sichuan Province and that is why my family, and I have become permanent residents of Chengdu.
My Message to Students: Learning is one of the most empowering and important human experiences. The ability and desire to learn are the key attributes that allow all of us to gain knowledge, wisdom and personal growth. I do hope that I help you develop your problem-solving ability, which is the most valuable skill of an engineer and that I contribute a little bit to your future successes at university and beyond! I am always here whenever you need me, even after your graduation!   |
Editor：TSO
Reviewer：Jiuwen JIANG, Tao HUANG, Yujia LU
