Dr. Francesco Fornetti

Biography

As a teaching-focused academic, my primary objective is to improve and modernize the delivery and content of courses, thereby enhancing the student learning experience. I currently serve as an Associate Professor in Radio Frequency Engineering at the University of Bristol. I view academic teaching as a process that stimulates curiosity and creates enthusiasm for the subject, empowering students to explore independently beyond the confines of the prescribed syllabus. One of my notable achievements is leveraging the AWR Design Environment, a powerful simulation package traditionally used for designing RF & Microwave circuits, as an educational tool. I have created bespoke video tutorials freely accessible on my YouTube channel, enabling students to transform the simulator into a virtual laboratory for inquiry-based, experiential learning. My materials have been utilized by prominent academic institutions including the University of Pennsylvania, Queen Mary University London, and Loughborough University. Additionally, I developed the Professors Partnership initiative and created home lab kits for students to conduct their own experiments at any time, promoting independent learning and accommodating a broad range of abilities among first-year undergraduates. I have also implemented pedagogical initiatives such as self-marking coursework and the flipped-classroom approach, supporting problem-based learning in my first-year courses.

Research Interests

Experience