Tan Dinh, senior lab instructor in Physics and Astronomy, is retiring after 34 years at Waterloo.
“I’ve been here more than half my life,” notes Dinh, flashing a charismatic smile. Whether he’s in the lab or just walking the halls, his smile has become familiar to students and colleagues alike. He loves what he does, and his enthusiasm is hard to miss.
Dinh came to Canada in 1980 as one of the Vietnamese Boat People and first set foot on campus in 1986 as a graduate student in physics. He accepted a position as a lab technician in 1992. While the field has changed significantly during his time here, Dinh remains rooted in the fundamentals.
“Innovation isn’t about new and shiny things,” says Dinh. “It comes from returning to the fundamentals and finding new ways to look at them.”
This approach informs Dinh’s innovative lab design, which he considers his most valuable contribution to the department. He’s a bit of a MacGyver when it comes to lab equipment, and over the years, he’s built labs across the department, including optic labs.
“Modifying equipment in the lab is often better than buying new,” he says. “We can make things that are unique to our purposes, repairable, and less expensive – and students learn in the process.”
He also encourages his students to focus on fundamental skills. With new technology, he’s noticed changes in how students take notes in class. He encourages them to go back to the basics here, too. Rather than just scrambling to take everything down, good notetaking focuses on areas of interest and challenging concepts.
“You don’t need to record what you already know,” he says. “Instead, focus on what’s new and interesting. If you cultivate knowledge and understanding in this way, the mark will follow.”
He’s been an important mentor to many, but he’s modest about it. He insists that the students willing to take advice and guidance are invested in their own success.
“I’ve always enjoyed helping students understand complex ideas,” he says. “That’s the part of my job I like the most: communicating with students, watching them learn, and engaging in conversation.”
Brenda Lee, Associate Professor in the teaching stream in Physics and Astronomy, can attest to this firsthand. She took lab courses with Dinh when she was a student in the department.
“He had a way of making everyone laugh and enjoy experiments while still encouraging us to think carefully about what we were doing and why,” says Lee. “My lab reports were filled with his comments, a testament to the time and care he put into giving meaningful feedback. That personal attention inspires how I approach my own students, particularly the care I put into providing feedback that helps them reflect, improve, and grow.”
Dinh has three pieces of advice for students at all levels. Prepare for classes, ask for help when you need it, and keep an open mind. “Nobody knows everything,” he says. “Be prepared to communicate and defend your ideas but also be prepared to listen.”
In retirement, Dinh looking forward to spending more time with his four sons, finally chipping away at his to do list, honing his woodworking skills, and getting out on the soccer field.
Dinh’s last day is August 31. Take a moment to stop by his office and wish him well!
Dinh holds a photo of himself as a graduate student at Waterloo. He first set foot on campus in 1986 to complete a master’s degree in physics.
Dinh accepted a position as a lab technician in 1992, and he’s retiring as a senior lab instructor after 34 years of helping guide students through their studies.
Dinh considers his innovative lab design to be his most significant contribution. He’s proud of the equipment he’s built to suit the unique needs of labs across the department.