The nuclear powerhouse

Died: Ardeshir Rustom Dastur, 78, nuclear reactor physicist and engineer emeritus with the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), in Toronto, Canada on January 17, 2014 following complications arising from stroke.

To him goes the credit of developing the computer code named CERBERUS the standard industry tool for kinetics calculations. Under his direction huge computer decks were prepared to run the first version of CERBERUS on the old mainframe computers. With the help of analysts in his department, he sought to prove how a trademark Uranium of AECL can be used to achieve greater burn up from used light water reactors (LWC). LWC is a type of thermal-neutron reactor that uses normal water, as opposed to heavy water fuel.

Twenty years ago he was honored with the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award by the Canadian Nuclear Society. There were many other awards conferred on him by the nuclear industry and engineering organizations as documented in innumerable journals. Turning down several opportunities to get into management, he steadfastly applied his faculties to technical issues. When analyzing the Chernobyl tragedy he came to the conclusion that the disaster was worsened by the shutoff rods which instead of arresting and controlling the damage, triggered positive reactivity during the accident. The explosion and fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine in 1986 that released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere is believed to be the worst nuclear power plant accident in terms of cost, loss of life and damage to health.

Besides Chernobyl, Dastur’s field of research had led him to travel to Japan, Korea, Russia and several European institutions and Universities. Born in Bombay, Dastur had graduated from the Bombay University before he proceeded to Toronto to pursue his Masters in Applied Science and commence his long association with AECL.

As recalled his associate of 50 years Edul Kanga, "When I arrived in Toronto in 1964 as a new immigrant, Adi who was at that time working at GE (General Electric) in Peterborough, Ontario, would drive into Toronto every Friday evening and spend the weekend with me and another Zoroastrian émigré taking us around in his car, showing us his beloved Toronto." Kanga further described him as "an unassuming soul, full of fun and jokes with a wide range of interests. He enjoyed music, and would frequent the theater, operas and museums with his wife Renate" who died two months after Adi.

After retirement in 1995 he joined the Royal Conservatory of Music for piano lessons and had even started building a harpsichord. He had finished the wooden case but before he could insert the strings attached to the keyboard, he suffered a stroke. His Bombay based cousin Amy Kharas recalled his laboring on this instrument when she visited him in Toronto. Although happy to nurture his family ties, the unpretentious scientist had never spoken of his accomplishments to his relatives in India who came to learn much later of his contributions to the nuclear field.

Being an excellent cook he had mastered the art of Parsi and international cuisine, as attested many friends. He was a "distinguished…member of the Zoroastrian Society of Ontario," stated ZSO secretary Fredoon Khory. His funeral service was well attended by the Toronto Parsi community and scientists from Sheridan Park, AECL.

The enthusiastic engineer is survived by his sister Nergez Mehta.