Dr. Robin Garner passed on May 9 and a memorial service will be held at the Highland Methodist Church on Saturday May 25 at 1 pm ET.
“Dr. Gardner was an inspiration to me…when I was faced with difficult times, he helped me find my way…always with a bit of sly wit and unshakable confidence. His guidance got me from the bottom to the top…ultimately leading to me to receipt of a national award from ANS for my PhD thesis work. Thank you, Robin!”
Gardner collaborated with several colleagues in the Department, across the university and with many former students in private industry and at national laboratories. His research interest spanned industrial and medical radiation and radioisotope measurement applications. The general approach taken was to develop detailed models (most often by Monte Carlo simulation), benchmark them with experimental data, and then use them for calibration or interpretation and optimum equipment design purposes. The areas of interest included the optimum design and use of short-lived radioisotope tracers for unit processes, nuclear gauges, nuclear analyzers, nuclear oil well logging devices and computed tomography devices. Stemming from this research there were undergraduate text publications, and the establishment of the Center for Engineering Applications of Radioisotopes.
Dr. Gardner completed his Bachelor of Science (1956) and Master of Science (1958), both in Chemical Engineering at NC State University. He went on to complete his PhD in Fuel Technology (1961) at Pennsylvania State University.