Rate My Professor Stephen George-Williams

Dr. Stephen George-Williams serves as Senior Lecturer (Chemistry, Education Focused) in the School of Chemistry within the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney. He earned a Bachelor of Advanced Science in Chemistry with First Class Honours and a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sydney, followed by a PhD in Chemical Education from Monash University between 2016 and 2019. His professional journey began as a laboratory demonstrator, supervisor, and tutor in the School of Chemistry at UNSW Sydney from 2009 to 2016. He joined the University of Sydney in 2019 as Lecturer in the School of Chemistry, advancing to Senior Lecturer in 2022. Throughout his career, George-Williams has focused on advancing chemistry education through innovative teaching practices and research.

George-Williams' research specializations encompass chemistry education, particularly supporting learning in teaching laboratories, student and staff perceptions of practical chemistry courses, inquiry-based and industry-inspired laboratory activities, the impact of empathy on student learning experiences, incorporation of virtual reality and digital simulations in chemistry instruction, and adaptations to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. His scholarly contributions include highly cited publications such as 'Ionic Liquids: Just Molten Salts After All?' (Molecules, 2009, 60 citations), '‘What do you think the aims of doing a practical chemistry course are?’ A comparison of the views of students and teaching staff across three universities' (Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 2018, 57 citations), 'Towards Solvent-Controlled Reactivity in Ionic Liquids' (Pure and Applied Chemistry, 2013, 46 citations), 'Chemistry in the Time of COVID-19: Reflections on a Very Unusual Semester' (Journal of Chemical Education, 2020, 30 citations), and 'Prelaboratory Technique-Based Simulations: Exploring Student Perceptions of Their Impact on In-Class Ability, Preparedness, and Emotional State' (Journal of Chemical Education, 2022, 15 citations). With over 440 citations on Google Scholar, his work has significantly influenced pedagogy in higher education chemistry. George-Williams has been honored with the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in 2025 and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute Chemical Education Division Medal in 2024. He has also contributed to committee roles, including as Early Career Representative for the RACI Chemical Education Division, and delivered keynotes such as at CLEAR20.