A mathematician's love of precision was strongly reflected in the work and interests of Associate Professor Bruce Robson, of Lincoln University, who died in Christchurch on October 25.
As well as being a member of Lincoln University Council, he was an active committee person on the campus and in the community.
Beyond teaching and research in mathematics and the mathematical modelling of natural systems, Mr Robson applied his energy and capacity for exactness to vintage-car restoration, art, music, and the promotion of science and technology.
A University of Canterbury graduate with bachelor and master of science degrees in physics, he joined the Lincoln University staff and the Centre for Computing and Biometrics in 1982 as a lecturer in statistics, after having worked as an applied statistician and computer analyst-programmer.
At Lincoln University, he became president of the campus branch of the Association of University Staff. He also completed a doctorate there in 1992, and won election as academic staff representative on the university council last year.
About two months ago he married fellow staff member and Lincoln diploma holder Alyson Gardner in the campus' Memorial Hall.
His doctoral research was original work which won international attention. It concerned the modelling of magnesium metabolism in ruminants.
It was the first time anyone had tried to integrate basic physiology with whole-animal nutritional studies and clinical experience in the field.
"Although Bruce was a mathematician by training, he developed a strong interest in physiology, and became notable in being able to express physiological processes in a logical, mathematical form," Lincoln's Professor of Animal Science, Andrew Sykes, said.
He was working towards the development of a monitoring package for on- farm use, which would indicate the magnesium status of individual cows, allowing predictions to be made through a computer simulation model about magnesium insufficiency and the need for supplements.
Most recently he had worked on how the kidneys conserve and excrete magnesium, which had taken him into the sophisticated modelling of how the components of kidney function are integrated.
His doctoral research was original work which won international attention.
It was research with a strong human as well as farm-animal application.
In the promotion of science and technology, Mr Robson was a member of the National Science- Technology Roadshow Trust, immediate past chairman of the National Association of Science and Technology Centres, and a long- serving member of the board of trustees of Science Alive!
He had been on a specialist advisory committee for Science Alive! since its inception, and he gave "wonderful advice" on exhibits, exhibit designs , and contacts with sponsors, manager Brian Taylor said.
Mr Robson was a longstanding member of the Banks Peninsula branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, and was its immediate past president. He was a stalwart of vintage-car rallies, and owned a large garage where he restored cars.
His great passion was a pair of 1920s Vauxhalls, and such was his attention to detail that he recently did a computer spreadsheet for the spring system of one of them, and identified where improvements to the original design could be made.
He collapsed and died during a working session on his beloved cars.
"He was remarkable in the level of exactness he brought to everything he did," a fellow car-restoration enthusiast said.
Another of his interests was dog breeding, and he was a long-serving member of the inherited disorders committee of the New Zealand Kennel Club.
With passions for art and music, he contributed strongly to cultural life on the Lincoln campus through membership of the university's art committee and music society. In recent times he was active in helping to open the music society's concerts to wider, community audiences. Ian Collins
Alexander Bruce Robson, born Auckland, November 4, 1945, died Christchurch, October 25, 2000, survived by his wife, Alyson Gardner.