Rainer Dick wins College of Arts and Science Faculty Service Excellence Award

By Chris Putnam

Dr. Rainer Dick (PhD) is one of the busiest people in the University of Saskatchewan (USask) Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, but somehow, he never seems too busy to lend a hand.

Dick’s colleagues know they can always turn to him for wisdom, advice and help. The physics professor has been named the 2025–26 recipient of the College of Arts and Science Faculty Service Excellence Award.

The annual award recognizes extraordinary contributions by a faculty member to department, college and university committees, leadership and governance.

Dick’s participation in USask processes is driven by a sincere belief in the work of the university and the essential role of faculty within it.

“I very strongly believe that participation of full-time academics is extremely important to properly regulate academic programs and the operation of universities,” he said. “Prudent academic and operational governance requires the regular contact with, and advice from, the people on the ground—the faculty members who are delivering the classes, mentoring the graduate students and writing the grant proposals.”

Dick said he is “honoured and humbled” by the award.

The theoretical physicist has held countless roles on committees at all levels of USask. Within the College of Arts and Science, he has been part of the College Review Committee, the Academic Programs Committee, the Nominations Committee, the Engineering Awards Committee, and others. At the university level, he has been a member or chair of many academic appeal boards, the Planning and Priorities Committee of University Council, the Promotions Appeal Panel, the Research, Scholarly and Artistic Work Committee, and more.

Dick’s closest colleagues are also grateful for his contributions to his department, including his long service as undergraduate chair. In that position, he led the modernization of USask’s undergraduate physics programs and developed cornerstone courses in the “RE-ENGINEERED” first-year College of Engineering program.

Dick has balanced this work with a strong research output in particle physics, cosmology, materials physics and quantum theory, as well as an above-average teaching load.

Within the physics department, Dick frequently mentors junior faculty members on how academic governance works and why it matters.

He recommends faculty members get involved in college committees and University Council early in their careers, noting that it becomes easier to balance service commitments with research and teaching responsibilities as one gets familiar with the processes and develops routines.

Committees offer rewarding opportunities to interact with colleagues from other disciplines, Dick said, and a chance to make a tangible difference on the college or university.

“Sometimes you run into a stone wall, but sometimes you can have a real, positive impact on the university’s business, and that is extremely gratifying. And sometimes you thought you ran into a stone wall, and then it turns out you still moved things in the right direction.”

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