O'Brien, Steve

Steve O'Brien is a retired PhD chemist who spent much of his career in the chemical industry, rising from scientist to chemical plant manager. A highlight of his work was co-developing a fuel additive that extended oil life and improved fuel efficiency—before the era of electric vehicles. Now an advocate for clean energy, he drives an electric car powered by solar panels. Alongside his industry career, Steve taught chemistry part-time and later transitioned to full-time teaching in math, chemistry, and environmental science. At Westfield State University, he embraced online education, offering recorded lectures, slides, and responsive support to enhance student learning.