Eulogy for William Byers
It is with great sadness that I received the news of Bill’s passing.
I feel truly privileged to have met him and to have shared many wonderful moments together.
I first met Bill in Palermo during an ECTN meeting in 2007, and he quickly took me under his wing. From then on, we shared many adventures through the ECTN, including the memorable conference in Montpellier when an Icelandic volcano erupted, sending ash into the sky and cancelling flights across Europe. Bill, in good spirits as always, simply spent a few extra days in France, albeit with a very limited supply of clothing!
In Budapest in 2022, I was honoured to award Bill Emeritus status in recognition of his many years of dedicated service to excellence in higher education in Chemistry and to the ECTN. It was a privilege to acknowledge his lifelong contributions in this way.
Bill was also an avid football fan, although he supported Manchester City! I remember watching many matches with him in dodgy bars around Europe. When he came to Madrid, we had to take a selfie outside the Bernabéu Stadium.
What stands out most to me, however, is Bill’s generosity and warmth. He was always the first to offer to buy the next round of drinks, and he always had something to say, something worth listening to, and something that invited a reply.
Bill was a true friend, a dedicated colleague, and a man full of life and good humour. He will be sorely missed, but his spirit and contributions will live on in all of us who had the good fortune to know him.
Sanjiv
The upcoming, already the 5th STEM-CPD Summer School, is an exceptional opportunity for university lecturers in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) who are committed to student-centered teaching and aim to promote continuous professional development (CPD) in teaching and learning to become CPD Ambassadors.
To support academic teachers and program directors in implementing active learning strategies or using digital technology in teaching and learning, the ECTN WG Eurolecturer Academy will organize 2.5-day Summer Schools on “Teaching and Learning in Higher Education STEM.” Each summer school explores a specific educational theme. The immersive program of these short summer schools, combined with vivid discussions within an international community of practitioners, will empower participants to enhance the quality of their teaching and curricula.