W. Stephen McNeil

Dr. W. Stephen McNeil is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus. His primary academic focus lies in Chemistry Education Research, where he investigates alternative conceptions in advanced chemical bonding models and develops innovative active/collaborative learning strategies.

• PhD in Chemistry from University of British Columbia (1995)
• BSc in Chemistry from University of British Columbia (1991)

His research addresses two core areas: (1) identifying student alternative conceptions in chemical bonding theories through qualitative interviews, and (2) assessing the effectiveness of flipped-classroom methods on affective learning outcomes. He has developed educational frameworks integrating Johnstone’s Triangle and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals into introductory chemistry curricula.

Dr. McNeil has received multiple teaching excellence awards including the 3M National Teaching Fellow (2025) and Chemical Institute of Canada Award for Chemistry Education (2019). He actively mentors students in discipline-based educational research, emphasizing research design, theoretical frameworks, and pedagogical dissemination.

Professional affiliations include serving as Past-Chair of the Chemistry Education Division at the Chemical Institute of Canada. His outreach work connects chemistry concepts to interdisciplinary contexts, including Indigenous knowledge systems and environmental sustainability.