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Bulletin

Obituary: Tim Metham

Dr Tim Metham, who was well known as Director of the Arts-Science Scheme to generations of students across the Science Area, died on 22 August 2015 at the age of 67.

Dr Tim Metham at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.Dr Tim Metham at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research.

In the 1960s, when Sussex was founded, there was much talk about ‘two cultures’, Arts and Science, and the lack of interaction between them. The Academic Advisory Committee, which set up the University structure, stipulated that all science students should, in their second year, take some Arts courses that would be examined and form part of their degree classification.

A wide range of topics was available: languages, history, philosophy, music, creative writing, psychology and management, so the Director had to liaise with and manage tutors from many different backgrounds and subject groups.

Feedback from students suggested that most genuinely welcomed the opportunities that the scheme presented, positively enjoyed working in the Arts area, and found their experience a bonus when they came to seek employment. The arrangement lasted for 40 years.

Tim first came to Sussex in 1974 to work with Professor Colin Eaborn FRS and Dr Alan Pidcock in an innovative postgraduate programme leading to the award of both a DPhil and a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). After graduation he taught chemistry and history of science at the City of London Boys School and at Farlington School, Horsham. For a while he held a fellowship at Merton College Oxford. During this period he met his future wife, Patricia, who later became Head of Roedean School in Brighton.

Tim returned to Sussex after 15 years as a school teacher to succeed Michael Brown as Director of the Arts-Science Scheme. His post was funded partly by the School of Chemistry and Molecular Science, where he taught in a number of undergraduate courses and laboratory classes.

He also taught PGCE students and worked hard on science courses for arts students on topics such as ‘Colour’ or Sound’, but these were not as extensive as  arts courses for scientists.

His charm and enthusiasm and eagle eye for new sources of support to promote innovations in science or cross- discipline teaching led to a series of initiatives. With Janet France he organised higher education summer schools for bright but disadvantaged young people. These have run under various names and with various funding models for 16 years. In the current year there are seven week-long schools arranged by the Widening Participation team.

Tim had a knack of finding ways to devise courses for students whose educational needs were not wholly met by conventional degree programmes. For example, he organised conversion courses for teachers with qualifications in art subjects who wished to transfer to teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics. He put together a BSc in Natural Sciences for people who wished to understand scientific thinking without becoming specialists.

He also devised courses for undergraduates with an autistic spectrum condition. He assisted with the Salters Chemistry Camps and with the summer schools for American exchange students organised by Dr Penny Chaloner. He visited local schools to introduce science to primary school children and organised a group of courses called the Sussex Experience to present science to people outside the University.

Tim was a genuine polymath, with a passionate interest in how science and society have interacted over centuries and how scientific concepts have developed. That made him passionate about education at all levels. He influenced thousands of students and in many cases gave them opportunities they would never have dreamed were possible. As he said: “I strayed into chemistry, history of science and astronomy during my career and ended up having such a wonderful time that I’d like to show other students how fascinating science can be.”

Tim took study leave in 2002 to travel to Thailand to work with Patricia in the Regent’s School in Pattaya and Bangkok, Thailand. He left the full-time academic staff at Sussex in 2008 but continued to contribute lectures to the conversion courses until 2011. Patricia survives him.

Dr David Smith (Chemistry) and Janet France (Summer School Office)