Ron Giere not only was my dissertation advisor, but also played a pivotal role in my becoming a philosopher of science (for better or worse). I was pursuing a PhD degree in mathematics at IU in the Fall of 1980. He was at the time the director of graduate studies. I introduced myself and told him that I wanted to study philosophy of science but that I had no formal training in philosophy. He allowed me to audit his seminar, and the next semester I was officially a PhD student in HPS. Moreover, the topic on which I wrote my term paper for his seminar became my dissertation topic. It was a unique learning experience to observe his switch from philosophy of probability and statistics to the study of science-in-practice and the reactions of his colleagues. He was always open-minded, enthusiastic, friendly and encouraging. On several occasions I witnessed first-hand his unusually high academic ethics and honesty. His death is a great loss to us all.
 
Gürol Irzik (PhD in HPS, 1986)
Professor of Philosophy
Sabanci University, Istanbul