[Photo of Dr. Robert Gilbert]

Dr. Robert Gilbert

Professor Emeritus

Department of Geography and Planning

In Memoriam

People Directory Affiliation Category

To the Geographic Community,

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of Dr. Robert Gilbert, Professor Emeritus, Queen’s University. Dr. Gilbert passed away on April 27 after a brave battle with cancer. We have lost an extraordinary geographer and friend.

Professor Gilbert was a highly productive, dedicated and creative scientist. He joined the Geography Department at Queen’s University in Kingston in 1975 from the University of Alberta where he was a Postdoctoral Fellow. He received his B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of British Columbia in 1968, 1970 and 1972 respectively. At Queen’s, his research focused on the processes that occur in lakes and the sea, especially on how sediments are delivered to, distributed through, and deposited in water bodies in the Great Lakes region, western Canada, the Canadian Arctic, Greenland, Antarctica, Nepal and the southern United States. Professor Gilbert led by example through his passion for research and a deep commitment to teaching at all levels. Professor Gilbert taught undergraduate courses in Earth System Science, physical limnology and arctic and periglacial environments. At the graduate level he taught and supervised students in lacustrine and marine systems. Throughout his distinguished career, he has been a champion for the discipline. He has inspired many over the years and will be truly missed by his friends and colleagues.

- Dr. Paul Treitz