Professor Neil Williams
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry
- Penrhyn Road
Professor of Higher Education Pedagogy
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I am a professor of Chemistry Higher Education Pedagogy and was Associate Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Health, Science, Social Care and Education (2022-2025). Previously, I was interim Associate Dean (Education) (2021-22) and Director of Undergraduate Studies (2016-2021) in the Faculty of Science Engineering and Computing. I have a long-standing commitment to supporting the widening participation, retention and attainment of students from under-represented backgrounds in the chemical sciences and, more broadly, across STEM. A key recent focus has been on developing socially just and inclusive curricula, including decolonisation of the science curriculum. Key achievements have been the following:
- Improved student outcomes by adopting student-centred teaching methods like project-based learning and flipped classrooms.
- Supporting STEM academics across the UK in adopting inclusive and socially just curricula.
- Establishing with other UK colleagues the National Horizons in STEM Higher Education conference programme to promote SoTL in STEM and help enhance the student experience.
- Developing two major student-staff research partnership schemes: a Faculty Summer Undergraduate Research Internship scheme to enhance STEM research skills and a Student Academic Development Research Associate Scheme (SADRAS) focused on pedagogic research.
This work has been recognised by the National Teaching Fellowship (2023), KU Inclusive Curriculum Bursary (2021), Learning Science Teaching Innovation award (2020), Advanced HE Good Practice Grant (2020) and Principal Fellowship of the Education Academy (2018).
I obtained my PhD in surface organometallic chemistry under the supervision of Professor John Evans from the University of Southampton in 1992. Subsequently, I did post-doctoral research in inorganic chemistry and surface chemistry at the National Institute for Materials and Chemical Research, Japan, the University of Sussex, and the University of East Anglia. After a period at the University of Central Lancashire, I joined Kingston University in 1999.
Qualifications
- 2018 Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- 2001 Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Kingston University
- 1993 PhD An In Situ Spectroscopic Investigation of Titania-Supported Rhodium and Ruthenium Organometallics, University of Southampton
- 1989 BSc (Hons) Chemistry, First Class, University of Southampton
Domains
Much of my teaching and work with colleagues focus on improving the retention, progression, and attainment of students from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. I have instigated a range of schemes to support this aim, such as our Support for Academic Progression Programme, Summer Undergraduate Research Internships, and the Student Academic Development Research Associate Scheme. Integral to a range of my initiatives has been an evaluation of the impact of the projects on awarding gaps and graduate outcomes.
My teaching philosophy and practice are based on a constructivist theoretical framework focused on developing and using Active Learning methods. These approaches align closely with my focus on addressing award gaps; research has shown that they favour all students, but students from under-represented backgrounds benefit the most. In 2005, I was an early adopter of a blended learning/Flipped classroom approach to teaching inorganic chemistry. The positive impact and student satisfaction and outcomes have been published. This approach is still used in the Chemistry degree programme, and I have supported other staff across the faculty to implement such an approach, most recently in the revalidation of engineering degree programmes in 2018.
More recently, informed by the university's inclusive curriculum framework, I replaced a lecture series in a first-year chemistry module with a Project-Based Learning approach, where students are encouraged to co-create the curriculum. In addition, I provided a range of online resources to support students' laboratory practical skills and developed smart worksheets to help students in their laboratory assessments. This improved average module marks and helped close a module awarding gap. The work was recognised by a Learning Science Teaching Innovation Award in 2020.
A current learning and teaching interest is promoting discussions on "decolonising the science curriculum" across the UK through the work of the Creative Curriculum Collective based in Bristol. Since 2020, I have helped facilitate discussions and share some of my work on the topic at the Universities of Leeds, Keele, Bristol, Edinburgh Napier, Warwick, Aberdeen, King's College London, St Andrews and Exeter, as well as an Advance HE LTHE chat. In addition, since 2020, I have given seminars at Universities of Central Lancashire, Liverpool, York, Edinburgh, Dundee, Sussex, Newcastle and UCL on inclusive curricula for Chemistry. I successfully gained an Advance HE Good Practice Grant to develop materials to support this CPD, available on the AdvanceHE website.
I have taken a learning-teaching pathway in my career, and I aim to do as much as I can to develop pedagogic practices in other STEM staff both within my institution and beyond. I have achieved this by supporting them to experiment with their teaching and assessment based on evidence-informed practice.
Qualifications
- Active learning
- Inclusive curricula and decolonising the science curriculum
- Student staff partnership schemes
Courses taught
In the last decade, my research has been focused on surface chemistry, particularly the use of silicon-based chemistry to introduce chemical functionality onto inorganic and polymer surfaces as part of a number of successful PhD completions such as:
- Immobilisation of palladium carbene complexes on silica surfaces and their application in heterogeneous catalysis (Dr Leon Whiteman)
- Fluorination of medical-grade polymethylmethacrylate for use in intraocular lenses (Dr Navid Shokri)
- Modification of polyurethane with graphene and hydrophobic silica-based solution for the development of wind turbine surface coatings (Arash Dashtkar)
Previous research focused on ligand synthesis (e.g. N-heterocyclic carbenes) and application to homogeneous and asymmetric catalysis.
In addition, I have a long-standing interest in evaluation and pedagogic research in the STEM area. Recent work has focused on practices that close BME awarding gaps.
Specialisms
- Closing BME attainment gaps
- Surface Chemistry
- Organometallic Chemistry
Professional and scholarly affiliations
- Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry Education Division Council
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
- Principal Fellow of Higher Education Academy
University responsibilities
- Chairing internal subject reviews and validation panels
- Chairing University Kingston Academic Practice Scheme (KAPS) and Introduction to Learning and Teaching (ILT) panels
- Town House Strategy Workstream lead for Diversification and Growth
- Future Skills international research
Public and Civic roles
- Chair of Governors for Coombe Federation of Schools, New Malden, Kingston upon Thames
Publications
Calculation of interphase elastic properties of esterified cellulose nanocrystal/epoxy bio-nanocomposites using analytical and finite element methods
Grant, Ché L., Hadavinia, Homayoun, Williams, Neil A. and Koutsonas, Spyridon, 2025, Science Progress (108), 1, Published
From the scholarship of teaching and learning to the scholarly institution: a STEM perspective
Collins, Trevor, Butler, Diane, Gretton, Sarah and Williams, Neil, 2025, Teaching and Learning Inquiry (13), Published
Performance of polyurethane and polyurethane nanocomposites modified by graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fumed silica in dry and wet environments
Zweiri, Feras, Williams, Neil A. and Hadavinia, Homayoun, 2024, Polymers and Polymer Composites (32), Published
Graphene/sol-gel modified polyurethane coating for wind turbine blade leading edge protection: properties and performance
Dashtkar, Arash, Johansen, Nicolai Frost Jensen, Mishnaevsky, Leon, Williams, Neil A., Hasan, Shadi W., Wadi, Vijay S., Silvello, Alessio and Hadavinia, Homayoun, 2022, Polymers and Polymer Composites (30), Published
Using an inclusive curriculum framework to address an awarding gap in a first-year chemistry module
Williams, Neil A., 2022, Journal of Chemical Education (99), 1pp 171-176, Published
An investigation of students' views on decolonising the science curriculum
Williams, Neil Anthony and Benjamin, Audrey, 2022, Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching (15), 1, Published
Nanoengineered graphene-reinforced coating for leading edge protection of wind turbine blades
Johansen, Nicolai Frost Jensen, Mishnaevsky, Leon, Dashtkar, Arash, Williams, Neil A., Fæster, Søren, Silvello, Alessio, Cano, Irene Garcia and Hadavinia, Homayoun, 2021, Coatings (11), 9, Published
Quantifying damping coefficient and attenuation at different frequencies for graphene modified polyurethane by drop ball test
Dashtkar, Arash, Hadavinia, Homayoun, Barros-Rodriguez, Jose, Williams, Neil A., Turner, Matthew and Vahid, Samireh, 2021, Polymer Testing (100), Published
Rain erosion-resistant coatings for wind turbine blades: a review
Dashtkar, Arash, Hadavinia, Homayoun, Sahinkaya, M. Necip, Williams, Neil A., Vahid, Samireh, Ismail, Fanya and Turner, Matthew, 2019, Polymers and Polymer Composites (27), 8pp 443-475, Published
An evaluation of a STEM summer undergraduate research internship scheme: student-perceived learning gains
Williams, Neil, Hussain, Humma, Manojkumar, Pinali and Thapa, Asim, 2016, New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Sciences (11), 1, Published
The synthesis and characterisation of immobilised palladium carbene complexes and their application to heterogeneous catalysis
Tyrrell, Elizabeth, Whiteman, Leon and Williams, Neil, 2011, Journal of Organometallic Chemistry (696), 22pp 3465-3472, Published
Synthesis of Silver (I) Complexes of Iminoalkyl Functionalised N-Heterocyclic Carbenes
Williams, Neil, Merzouk, Mahboub and Hitchcock, Peter B, 2010, International Journal of Inorganic Chemistry (2010)pp 1-5, Published
A comparative evaluation of fluoridated and non-fluoridated mouthrinses using a 5-day cycling enamel erosion model
Venasakulchai, Anan, Williams, Neil A., Gracia, Louise H. and Rees, Gareth D., 2010, Journal of Dentistry (38), Suppleme, Published
Sonogashira Cross-Coupling Reactions and Construction of the Indole Ring System Using a Robust, Silica-Supported Palladium Catalyst
Tyrrell, Elizabeth, Whiteman, Leon and Williams, Neil, 2009, Synthesis (2009), 5pp 829-835, Published
Synthesis of amidoalkyl imidazol-2-ylidene ligands and their application to enantioselective copper-catalysed conjugate addition
Moore, Theo, Merzouk, Mahboub and Williams, Neil, 2008, Synlett (2008), 1pp 21-24, Published
Improving student achievement and satisfaction by adopting a blended learning approach to inorganic chemistry
Williams, Neil A., Bland, Will and Christie, Gillian, 2008, Chemistry Education Research and Practice (9), 1pp 43-50, Published
A study into asymmetric Nicholas cyclisation reactions
Tyrrell, Elizabeth, Millet, Julien, Tesfa, Kibur Hunie, Williams, Neil, Mann, Alastair, Tillett, Caroline and Muller, Christophe, 2007, Tetrahedron (63), 51pp 12769-12778, Published
Synthesis of chiral iminoalkyl functionalised N-heterocyclic carbenes and their use in asymmetric catalysis
Merzouk, Mahboub, Moore, Theo and Williams, Neil A., 2007, Tetrahedron Letters (48), 50pp 8914-8917, Published
Palladium or platinum complex catalysed reactions of carbonyl and imine compounds with disilanes
Williams, Neil A., Uchimaru, Yuko and Tanaka, Masato, 2003, Dalton Transactions (24), 2pp 236-243, Published
A reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) investigation of the low-temperature heterogenous hydrolysis of bromine nitrate
Gane, Matt P., Williams, Neil A. and Sodeau, John R., 2001, Journal of Physical Chemistry A (105), 16pp 4002-4009, Published
An ab initio and experimental study of bromine on low-temperature water clusters and ice surfaces
Ramondo, Fabio, Sodeau, John R., Roddis, Tristan B. and Williams, Neil A., 2000, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (2), 10pp 2309-2318, Published
Mechanism of the heterogenous reaction of hydrogen chloride with chlorine nitrate and hypochlorous acid on water ice
Horn, Andrew B., Sodeau, John R., Roddis, Tristan B. and Williams, Neil A., 1998, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part A : Molecules, Spectroscopy, Kinetics, Environment and General Theory (102), 30pp 6107-6120, Published
Low temperature reaction of chlorine nitrate with water ice: Formation of molecular nitric acid
Horn, Andrew B., Sodeau, John R., Roddis, Tristan B. and Williams, Neil A., 1998, Journal of the Chemical Society - Faraday Transactions (94), 12pp 1721-1724, Published
Reflection-absorption IR spectroscopic investigation of the photolysis of thin films of dichlorine monoxide and chlorine dioxide
Gane, Matt P., Williams, Neil A. and Sodeau, John R., 1997, Journal of the Chemical Society - Faraday Transactions (93), 16pp 2747-2754, Published
Platinum catalysed regioselective ortho-silylation of benzylideneamines via intramolecular C-H activation
Williams, Neil, Tanaka, Masato and Uchimaru, Yuko, 1995, Journal of the Chemical Society D: Chemical Communications (11)pp 1129-1130, Published
Optimizing nanobiochar-bioepoxy composites using machine learning
Grant, Che L., Williams, Neil A., Koutsonas, Spyridon and Hadavinia, Homayoun (2026). [Published]
Engaging students in a research internship scheme and its impact on the graduate outcomes of BME interns
Williams, Neil and Jones, Lucy (2018). In: Atherton, Graeme, Kendall, Steve, Naughton, Michael, Webster, Martin, (eds.), Cambridge, U.K.:pp 149-169 [Published]
Enhancing the impact of chemistry outreach by use of selected, repeated interventions and collaborative university provision
Williams, Neil (2012). In: Grove, Michael, (eds.), Birmingham, U.K.:pp 31-33 [Published]
Compounds containing a Spiro Phosphorus Atom
Williams, N. A. (2008). In: Katritzky, A.R., Ramsden, C.R., Scriven, E.F.V., Taylor, R.J.K., (eds.), london:pp 1065-1126 [Published]
Doubly bonded metalloid functions (Si, Ge, B)
Williams, N.A. (2005). In: Katritsky, Alan R, Taylor, Richar J K, (eds.), Oxford:pp 543-549 [Published]
Doubly bonded metal functions
Williams, N.A. (2005). In: Katritzky, Alan R, Taylor, Richard J K, (eds.), Oxford, U.K.:pp 551-571 [Published]
Effect of the interphase properties and elastic modulus of acetyl grafted cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/epoxy on bio-composite performance
Grant, Che, Williams, Neil, Koutsonas, Spyridon, Turner, Matthew and Hadavinia, Homayoun(2025). [Published]
Embedding future skills in STEM undergraduate programmes
Page, Nigel and Williams, Neil(2024). [Published]
It's good to talk: how are we collaboratively designing a new school wide curriculum?
Wason, Hilary, Thatti, Baljit, Spendiff, Owen, Forster-Wilkins, Gary, Page, Nigel, Dorak, Mehmet, Williams, Neil, Reid, Tamara and Brasilero, Gabriela(2024). [Published]
Identifying good practice in the scholarship of teaching and learning within the HE workforce
Collins, Trevor, Butler, Diane, Gretton, Sarah and Williams, Neil(2022). [Published]
Suggestions for decolonising the science curriculum
Williams, Neil(2022). [Published]
The use of an Inclusive Curriculum Framework to close a BAME module award gap
Williams, Neil(2021). [Published]
Decolonising the science curriculum: potential actions and a case study
Williams, Neil(2021). [Published]
An investigation into science students' views on decolonising the curriculum
Williams, N.A. and Benjamin, A.(2020). [Published]
Exploring differential attainment by assessment type in mathematics, chemistry and life sciences
Denholm-Price, James, Page, Nigel, Williams, Neil and Dourado, Luis(2019). [Published]
The implementation and preliminary evaluation of project-based learning in a first year environmental chemistry module
Williams, Neil(2019). [Published]
Addressing the BME attainment gap: exploring differential attainment by assessment type in mathematics, chemistry and life sciences
Denholm-Price, James, Page, Nigel, Williams, Neil and Tojal Dourado, Luis(2018). [Published]
Changing student opinion of flipped learning
Williams, Neil(2018). [Published]
What do students think of active learning?
Williams, Neil(2018). [Published]
Widening access throughout the student lifecycle
Atherton, Graeme, Twigg-Flesner, Anke, Crockford, Julian, Williams, Neil and Rainford, John(2017). [Published]
Teaching and assessment of good laboratory technique: pre-lab activities and digital badging
Singer, Richard, Shearman, Gemma and Williams, Neil(2017). [Published]
Evaluation of a STEM summer undergraduate research internship scheme- variations between disciplines
Williams, Neil, Thapa, Asim, Hussain, Humma and Manojkumar, Pinali(2016). [Published]
The BME attainment gap in chemical sciences - does the use of assessment criteria contribute to the gap?
Williams, Neil(2015). [Published]
Staff and students working as partners in STEM and pedagogic research
Williams, Neil, Aziz, Faiz, Abedhin, Araphath, Khan, Anhar and Rahman, Aminur(2014). [Published]
Improving progression in STEM with an Academic Probation Programme
Williams, Neil, Morgan, Holly and Lambe, Simon(2014). [Published]
The student academic development research associate scheme - engaging stem students and academics as partners in pedagogic research
Williams, Neil, Hill, Mike, Jackson, Marcus T. and Elliott-Bowman, Joy(2013). [Published]
Replacing lectures with study packs: a method to improve student engagement and achievement
Williams, Neil(2013). [Published]
Developing the chemistry workforce of the future including industrial engagement initiatives - from the RSC
Onions, Rosalind, Evans, Marie, Pugh, Samantha and Williams, Neil(2012). [Published]
Addressing research informed teaching in and out of the curriculum
Williams, Neil and Lambe, Gillian(2012). [Published]
BME attainment and success: research and beyond
May, Steve, Webb, Marion and Williams, Neil(2012). [Published]
The Synthesis and Evaluation of Silica-Supported Palladium bis-N-Aryl Substituted imidazol-2-ylidene Complexes
Williams, Neil, Whiteman, Leon and TYRRELL, Elizabeth(2010). [Published]
Erosion protection by mouthrinses in a 5-day cycling model
Venasakulchai, Anan, Williams, Neil, Gracia, Lucy H and Rees, Gareth(2010). [Published]
Silica-supported bis-n-heterocyclic carbene complexes of palladium and their application in cross-coupling reactions
Tyrrell, Elizabeth, Whiteman, Leon and Williams, Neil(2009). [Published]
Novel Chiral N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands for Copper-Catalysed Conjugate Addition
Williams, Neil and Merzouk, Mahboub(2005). [Published]
Synthesis and evaluation of (imino-alkyl)imidazolylidene ligands in asymmetric catalysis
Williams, Neil and Merzouk, Mahboub(2004). [Published]
Gallery of work
-
Learning Science Ltd Teaching Innovation Award winner 2020
-
4th Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference 2019: Making Connections, Innovating and Sharing Pedagogy, chaired by Dr Neil Williams Kingston University
-
National Teaching Fellowship award ceremony 2023
Collecting my National teaching Fellowship award from AdvanceHE
