One of Physics and Astronomy’s longest serving members retires
By Vanessa Parks
Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist
The Department of Physics and Astronomy is saying goodbye to Jeff Gardiner, one of its longest serving members, who heads into retirement in October.
Jeff, an instructor in physics, has been with the department for his whole career, starting from when he was an undergraduate student. Originally enrolled in the general science program, he quickly discovered his passion for physics. Immediately following his graduation in 1987, he began working as an instructor and hasn’t looked back since.
“I was lucky,” he says. “I graduated in the late 80s when there was a recession, so I wasn’t sure about getting a job. My roommate brought home the instructor posting, and I applied right out of my undergraduate degree.”
Things have changed at Waterloo over his time here. “I’ve been able to watch the University grow up,” says Jeff. “It was a small rural university when I first started working here, and the city was small, too. Over the years, the city has become worldclass, and the campus has expanded in all directions.”
The way physics is taught has changed, too. The model now used in labs is more interactive, getting students to engage in a way they didn’t in the past. “It used to be that students would collect data and write reports,” says Jeff. “Now it’s more exploratory, to get them thinking about the experiment and all the variables that are possible, what would happen if those variables changed, and why.”
Jeff is leaving the department with the same enthusiasm as he entered it. “For so much of my time here, it hasn’t been work,” he says. “It’s always been interesting and fun. Students are enthusiastic to be here, so I am, too.”
Next up? “Spending time with my family, travelling around, hanging around, who knows?” says Jeff with a smile. “Not working for a while anyway.” He and his wife, Sandra, already have trips scheduled for October and November, and hope to plan more soon. They also have a house up north where they’ll spend summers with family and friends.
Please join us in wishing Jeff a wonderful retirement!