Engineering Excellence in Teaching

Dr Claire Davis, from the University of Birmingham’s Department of Metallurgy and Materials, has won an ExxonMobil Excellence in Teaching Award. 

Dr Davis has been a member of staff in the University’s School of Engineering for eleven years and is an expert in materials used in structural applications such as rails, aerospace and construction.  She is particularly interested in developing resources for use in teaching, and as part of the National Teaching Fellowship project that she was awarded in 2001 she developed good practice guides for case study teaching.

The award is given to those who show a strong and continuing commitment to teaching, professional activities, and who promote engineering as a rewarding and creative career, as well as establishing industrial-academic links.

Claire says, ‘I was recently awarded a University of Birmingham Teaching Fellowship which I have used to employ a research associate to work with me on developing resources to enhance our departmental teaching.  This ExxonMobil award is excellent as it will allow me to extend the scope of this project.’

She continues, ‘It is fantastic that excellence in teaching in engineering is being recognised and rewarded.  I am delighted to have been selected for an award, and look forward to benefiting from it over the next year.’

Dr Davis will receive £10,000 as well as opportunities to create links with ExxonMobil and to continue her work in developing new teaching resources and good practice guides.

Ends

Notes to Editors

The ExxonMobil Excellence in Teaching Award was presented to Dr Davis on Thursday 6th December by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

For further information

Kate Chapple, Press Officer, University of Birmingham, tel 0121 414 2772 or 07789 921164.