By Vanessa Parks
Internal Communications and Engagement Specialist
David Hawthorn is stepping into the role of Chair for the Physics and Astronomy Department, and he’s ready to hit the ground running. He was officially appointed July 1, taking over from Robert Hill, who served as Interim Chair after Brian McNamara completed his second four-year term at the end of 2024.
Hawthorn sees a bright future for Physics at Waterloo. Learn more about the new Chair in his own words.
What made you want to take on the role of Chair in Physics and Astronomy?
Most academics are drawn by aspirations to teach and focus on their research, and don’t dream of becoming a department chair. But as you work to be a good citizen in your field and over time contribute in small ways, some of us find the work fulfilling and are given the opportunity to take on larger responsibilities, like the Associate Chair of Graduate Studies. When I was asked if I was interested in the Chair role, I saw it as an opportunity to continue to give back, and now here I am.
Tell me about your time as Associate Chair, Graduate Studies. What did you like about the role, and what challenges did you have to overcome?
We have one of the largest physics graduate programs in the country, so just dealing with the sheer numbers of students presented challenges. How do you treat everyone as individuals but also effectively manage things and not get overwhelmed? That requires attention to the details of how we distribute money, set up policy, how we communicate, and how we manage things.
I took on the role at a turbulent time. We had to contend with COVID and a number of key staff retirements, and we managed to successfully navigate these changes. After three years, I looked back and could see positive change. This experience gave me confidence to move into the Chair role.
What has drawn you to academic service?
I think it’s important that people step up and do these jobs. The university operates on a model where faculty are primarily responsible for teaching and research, but we’re also part of this engine that keeps the whole place functioning. It’s critical that people who are actively engaged in research and teaching are also involved in decision-making and figuring out ways to improve how we operate.
What are your priorities as Chair of Physics and Astronomy?
First, I want to think about our approach to hiring new faculty. Hiring needs to be strategic. We need to focus on specific research areas and find ways to continue to attract the best possible faculty here at Waterloo.
I also hope to expand on our existing successes. Our undergraduate cohort in Physics and Astronomy has grown to be in the top six in North America in terms of size, and the reputation of the department has steadily risen to the top as well, placing first in Canada in the 2024 Academic Ranking of World Universities. We want to build on this momentum and ensure we continue to attract the best students. Additionally, I want to further leverage our already productive relationships with partners like the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) and the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.
And last but not least, I want to work on enhancing the on-campus experiences of students, staff, and faculty, particularly post-COVID. There have been gains, but there’s more that can be done. We have to be deliberate about facilitating this rather than assuming it will happen naturally. I think this involves low-cost updates to our physical spaces as well as a focus on events that can provide students with impactful experiences as a complement to their studies.