Some Reminiscences of Keith Campbell

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.”—Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

I was a postgraduate student under tuition of Professor Keith Campbell and worked as a research fellow until 2010. I can remember for certain when I first and last met Keith because both days were the Summer Bank holiday in 2004 and 2012. As his other students, I felt he was very humorous and kind when I met him for the first time in his office; he spoke slowly and clearly for overseas students, considering their English proficiency, and introduced the Sutton-Bonington campus, University Park (main campus), and even city center of Nottingham, by himself.

The career of a scientist is easily marked by an important discovery. Supposedly many his friends who worked with Keith would narrate his scientific achievements and his enthusiasm. Here I would like to see him through the eyes of his student. Last summer, I rang him at Heathrow airport and was invited to his new house for lunch. I enjoyed a long chat with him about a wide range of issues including University, funds, research, scientific societies, and personal life. He talked again about THINKING—to be a good scientist and researcher, not to be a technician who does experiments that his or her boss orders. He hated the bureaucracy that limited creative scientific research.

He was also a caring and warm-hearted person; he was always concerned with his students' financial circumstances and their personal life and family. I remember that he tried to support his students as much as possible.

As a mentor, he was a really good; he was always supportive and kind personally. After leaving Nottingham, former students had a chance to talk about postgraduate student life. All of them agreed that we were happy with Keith, and proud of him not only because his academic performances but also his thoughtfulness.

OPEN IN VIEWER

FIG. 1.

Keith (far left) with his students and colleagues (Adel, Chen, Jie, Amar, Pat, Alex, and Inchul) in his lab, Sutton-Bonington, 2009.

I contacted his former students and colleagues after his death and received letters about him. Here are excerpts from our tributes to Keith:

“One of the most supportive and understanding persons I met in my life.” —Kwanta Thansa

“Working with him was a flash of inspiration.” —Kanya Jirajaroenrat

“People came into my life for a reason; Keith Campbell IS a very special for me.” —Yuhong Bian

“He was very nice to everyone and always encouraged me.” —Chen Wenchao.

“I am very proud because I knew and worked with a person like Keith. At the same time I am very sad because we miss a great person and great mentor.…He died, but he is living in our hearts.” —Adel Moawad

“Although he is most likely to be remembered for his scientific achievements, I would like to remember him as a nice man with whom it was great fun to go for a beer to our local pub. Keith, you will be greatly missed as a mentor, colleague and friend.” —Ramiro Alberio

He was genius as a great scientist. He loved his students and collaborators as a mentor. So his absence is, and will continue for a long time to be, severely felt.