News

Tan Dinh, senior lab instructor in Physics and Astronomy, is retiring after 34 years at Waterloo. 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.

As 2025 comes to a close, faculty and staff in Earth and Environmental Sciences are looking back on a year of milestones. Four members are being recognized for their long-time service to the department, and six are also stepping into retirement.

Marianne Vandergriendt, a long-time staff member in Science, was recognized for her service to the University of Waterloo at fall convocation. She was named an Honorary Member of the University, acknowledging her 43 years in the Earth and Environmental Sciences department.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is saying goodbye to Jeff Gardiner, one of its longest serving members, who heads into retirement in October.

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. Learn more about the new Chair in his own words.

Mario Coniglio has retired before, but this time, it’s for real. Rather than transitioning into retirement as originally planned, he continued in the role of Chair for the Earth and Environmental Sciences department. He completed his term at the end of June, capping off a 39-year career marked most notably in its latter half by a passion for academic service in a variety of leadership roles.

Donna Strickland, professor in the Physics and Astronomy department and Nobel Prize Laureate, has been named University Professor by the University of Waterloo.

Professor Kostadinka Bizheva has recently been named a 2025 Optica Fellow for her exceptional contributions to optical imaging in ophthalmology.

Dr. Philippe Van Cappellen has recently received the King Charles III coronation medal, and he’s in good company. These medals have been awarded to 30,000 Canadians to acknowledge their significant contributions to Canada.

March 8 is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, calls for increased momentum and urgency in addressing the systemic barriers and biases that women face, in both their personal and professional lives. Meet some of the exceptional women in Science who are helping to #AccelerateAction for gender equality.