Ian was awarded the prize for his many innovative contributions to the physics and engineering of high-power proton accelerators and beams — and in particular for his development of RF systems for spallation neutron sources, for his leadership in design, delivery and operation of successful solutions for NIMROD, ISIS, ESS and other projects, and for his significant contributions to steering the development of major national and international accelerator facilities.

The official award will take place at the 2013 annual conference, which will be held at Daresbury Laboratory on April 10th.

Ian Gardner joined RAL in the mid-1960s, and pioneered many innovative developments on the UK's own high-energy physics 7 GeV proton synchrotron Nimrod. In the late 1970s Ian's internationally acknowledged accelerator physics and engineering expertise was put to excellent use in designing, building and commissioning the new 800 MeV proton synchrotron for ISIS. For many years ISIS was the world's highest power pulsed spallation neutron source, and as such was officially celebrated in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ian Gardner (right) receives acknowledgement for the publishing of ISIS in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's highest power pulsed spallation neutron source
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In the 1990s and early 2000s Ian also played an absolutely key role in promoting the European Spallation Neutron Source (ESS). Ian became ISIS Accelerator Division Head in March 1987, and remained so until his retirement in 2003. Since then Ian has worked on RF systems for synchrotrons both in the UK and abroad.