DrStephen George-Williams

I completed my first PhD in 2014, driven by a long‑standing love of chemistry and focused on Physical Organic Chemistry. During this time, I realised that while I enjoyed research, my true vocation lay in teaching and mentoring students rather than bench‑based work.

Motivated by this insight, I undertook a second PhD in Chemical Education in 2016. This has given me a distinctive dual perspective: strong disciplinary expertise in chemistry, alongside a deep understanding of how chemistry is best taught and how teaching practices can be rigorously researched.

In my current role at the University of Sydney, my research investigates what leads students to struggle or fail in science units, with the aim of improving student experience, engagement, and success. I am also particularly interested in the role of empathy in teaching and learning, and how it is understood and enacted by different stakeholders, including students and academics.