PhD from UCD. 7 years teaching experience in Python and R, data analysis. Expert in Leaving Cert.

Find out more about Dr Divyanshu

• Can you tell us about your first experience using a computer?

  Hi, I’m Dr Divyanshu Sood. I teach Python, economics, maths, and statistics to students at different levels, including senior school, Leaving Cert, undergraduate, and postgraduate students.
  
  My first experience with a computer started when I was around 7 years old. At that age, I was not doing anything serious or advanced. I was just curious. I remember clicking around, playing basic games, typing, and trying to understand what a computer could actually do. That curiosity stayed with me.

• What is the technological evolution that has marked you most and what will be, in your eyes, a turning point in this field?

  Over time, I started seeing computers very differently. They were not just for games, typing, or browsing. They became a way to solve problems. Later, when I started using Python, statistics, and modelling in my studies and research, I realised how powerful these tools can be. They can help us understand data, explain economic patterns, analyse energy use, and break complex problems into simple steps.
  
  The technological change that has influenced me the most is the growth of data analysis and artificial intelligence. When I was younger, most people used computers mainly through ready-made software. Now, students can use Python, Excel, statistical tools, and AI to analyse information and build their own solutions. But I always tell students one thing: AI is useful, but it is not magic. You still need to understand the basics, ask good questions, and check whether the answer makes sense.

• Explain your expertise, your interest in it and, more broadly, its importance in the computer world.

  My expertise is in teaching analytical subjects in a clear and practical way. I teach Python, economics, maths, and statistics. These subjects may look different, but they are strongly connected. Maths gives you the foundation. Statistics helps you understand data. Economics helps you understand decisions, markets, and behaviour. Python helps you apply these ideas in a practical way.

• Do so-called 'visionaries', such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg inspire you or do you have other role models?

  People like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg are inspiring because they changed how people use technology. But personally, I am also inspired by good teachers and problem-solvers. I respect people who can take a difficult topic and explain it so clearly that the student finally says, “Now I get it.” That is the kind of teacher I try to be.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your subject or your days at school.

  One thing I have learned from my own student life is that struggling with a subject does not mean you are not capable. Most of the time, it means one basic step was missed earlier. I have experienced that myself, and I have seen it with many students. In maths, statistics, economics, or coding, one missing concept can make the whole topic feel impossible. But once that gap is fixed, things start to make sense.

• What would you say to an uncomfortable person in front of a screen who says that "IT is too complicated"?

  For students who feel uncomfortable with computers or say, “IT is too complicated,” my advice is simple: do not try to learn everything at once. That is how people get overwhelmed. Start small. Learn one idea properly. Practise it. Then move to the next one.
  
  I am a mechanical engineer by background, so I did not start as a computer scientist. I started enjoying coding when I learned it from the basics and saw how useful it was for solving real problems. That is also how I teach Python. I do not expect beginners to jump straight into machine learning or advanced projects. We start with variables, calculations, loops, data, and simple examples. Confidence comes from practice, not from memorising commands.

• What are your other passions, related or non-related to computers?

  Outside teaching, I am interested in research, energy systems, data analysis, and real-world problem-solving. I enjoy working on topics where maths, economics, statistics, and programming come together because that is where learning becomes useful, not just theoretical.

• What makes you a Superprof in IT?

  What makes me a Superprof is that I adapt my teaching to the student in front of me. A Leaving Cert student does not need the same explanation as a postgraduate student. A beginner in Python does not need the same pace as someone working on thesis data analysis. My approach is simple: understand the student’s current level, find the gaps, explain the concept clearly, practise questions, and build confidence step by step.
  
  So, whether you need help with Python, economics, maths, statistics, exam preparation, assignments, or research-related analysis, I would be happy to help you learn in a clear, practical, and structured way.