At 6 feet 4 inches, Richard Watt towers above his CHEM 101 students and patiently answers question after question to bolster their confidence for the upcoming midterm. As Watt brings chemistry alive, his love for chemistry and his students is apparent. In no small part, this is the reason Undergraduate Education at Brigham Young University awarded the 2021 General Education Professorship to Richard K. Watt.
“Being nominated and receiving the General Education Professorship means a lot to me,” said Richard K. Watt, professor in the Department of Chemistry. “I see my colleagues in chemistry, and they are amazing teachers. To be nominated from the college and to receive the professorship is special. I know BYU has hundreds of other professors qualified to receive this award. I was and still am surprised to receive it with how many great faculty members are across campus.”
Watt represents the true essence of a BYU educator. Everything he does is hundred percent focused on his students and their growth. His caring, attentive personality is illuminated as Watt teaches, guides and talks about his students both in and outside the classroom. Watt exemplifies all aspects of the title professor. He allows his students to be involved in research discoveries, receives them in his office to answer questions, and mentors those interested in becoming educators.
“Dr. Watt is passionate about his subject matter and cares deeply about what students take from his courses,” said Christopher Oscarson, Undergraduate Education associate dean. “It is striking that in large section courses, students comment on how they feel Professor Watts cares about them individually and their learning. He is uniquely gifted in his ability to lift and mentor students. Even those who sometimes find themselves in his classes reluctantly are changed and inspired by the experience.”
Watt teaches many different courses, from introductory to graduate level. In the past four years, Watt instructed over 1,300 students in sections of Introduction to General Chemistry (CHEM 101), with at least 250 students per class. CHEM 101 is a beginning chemistry class that introduces the basics of chemistry in one semester and partially fulfills the physical science general education requirement.
Many students who enroll in CHEM 101 are in their first year of college and do not plan to major in chemistry but are studying dietetics, nursing or biology. These first-year students are adjusting to college and how to be on their own, away from their support system.
“In CHEM 101, watching new students struggle and then at the end of the semester they earn a good grade is rewarding,” Watt said. “Especially if the student said they didn’t want to take chemistry but ended up liking the class. Another aspect I enjoy about teaching is being able to help students feel adjusted to college and give them a pep talk and watch them overcome their challenge to be successful.”
For the past four years, Watt permits students interested in teaching chemistry to be assistant instructors in CHEM 101. This experience gives students the opportunity to understand if teaching is something they want to pursue. Watt provides his students with tips and tools to help them learn and become excellent teachers.
A true scientist, Watt takes a similar approach in his research as he does with teaching. He constantly looks for new learning resources and experiments with new teaching techniques. Watt’s teaching style continually evolves, driven by discoveries on the best way to connect with students and make difficult content applicable.
“My teaching philosophy is based on the fact that students have many learning styles,” Watt said. “Understanding students may not learn the same way the teacher learns is critical. I try to include as many different teaching methods as possible to touch on each student’s learning style. During office hours, I ask students what they know and what they are confused by and then try a series of explanations until the student understands. These successful examples can be incorporated into lectures and future office hours. I also meet weekly with teaching assistants and ask what material the students are struggling with. This gives great feedback for what worked and what didn’t work. The reality is my teaching philosophy is always evolving. My teaching philosophy has become a learning philosophy to understand how students learn.”
Teaching chemistry at BYU runs in the Watt family. Watt began teaching in 2006. About the time Watt joined the chemistry department his father, Gerald D. Watt, retired. Watt filled his father’s role in the department and inherited his lab space and research equipment. Since retirement, Watt’s father continues to conduct research in the lab.
“One aspect I love about working at BYU is when my dad retired, I was able to take over his lab space and equipment,” Watt said. “He was an amazing professor and even received the Maeser Research/Creative Arts Award in 2000. I knew the path I wanted to take because I could see his career and the joy he received from it. Our connection over science was an important part of my development.”
Watt’s research interests include working with the Navy to create a less toxic shoulder rocket for soldiers and collaboration with John Colton in the Department of Physics to develop an artificial photosynthesis system. His main research project is studying how the body carries iron and is working on a treatment for anemia. Currently, his anemia treatment is nearing clinical trials. Recently, Watt created a COVID test equivalent to the antigen test.
Watt received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from BYU, his doctorate in biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and did postdoctoral research at Princeton University. Before teaching at BYU, Watt was an assistant professor at the University of New Mexico.
Each year, one professor is awarded the General Education Professorship, formerly known as the Karl G. Maeser General Education Professorship. Candidates are nominated by their colleges each spring. The recipient is announced every fall at the University Conference. The professorship is for three years and includes a salary stipend of $4,000 with an additional $4,000 for annual research.
“I feel blessed to be here,” Watt said. “When I was in Albuquerque, I taught seminary, and one lesson was on the creation. Later in my chemistry class, I talked about the big bang theory. I forgot which class I was teaching, and I said, ‘Suppose we are in the preexistence, and we are watching the Universe being created.’ I looked out and realized I was in the wrong class with all the blank faces. I remember thinking, 'It would be so cool to work at BYU where I wouldn’t have to separate religion from chemistry.' I was lucky enough to come and do that. Also, I get to teach the faces Abraham saw in his vision. I get to see the noble and great ones every day. This knowledge is powerful for me. I hope I can help students understand who they are. This is my goal as a teacher.”