Efforts to Obtain Permanent Employment

In May 1996 the P.I. applied for a faculty position in the Institute of Space and Atmospheric Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. The terms of reference for the position strongly favoured candidates who were Professional Engineers, or who could achieve that qualification relatively quickly. In support of his application for the position, and as suggested during the annual review last year, the P.I. applied to the Association of Professional Engineers of Saskatchewan (A.P.E.S.) for assessment of his academic credentials, preparatory to seeking certification as a Professional Engineer. This involved submitting curriculum descriptions of all relevant science and mathematics courses, and a description of the engineering work involved in all positions held by the P.I. since receiving his B.Sc. in 1982. The P.I. was not selected for the position, and was informed that the two main disqualifications were (1) that he would have to do a great deal of preparatory work to qualify as a Professional Engineer, and (2) that he was perceived by the selection committee for the position as being unwilling to teach. The first is indisputable; the A.P.E.S. Academic Assessment committee determined that the P.I. would have to pass eight examinations in various areas of engineering practice to become an Engineer in Training, and would then have to spend a considerable further time in training before being eligible for certification as a Professional Engineer. The perception behind the second reason is inaccurate, in the view of the P.I.

The previous annual report contains a discussion of the circumstances under which the P.I. taught EP 324.3 during the Winter 1996 term. The P.I. threw himself into teaching, expending major effort to acquire a knowledge of the subject sufficient to offer a course that would meet the needs of the students. In May 1996 he approached the Head of Physics and Engineering Physics to discuss the change in circumstances occasioned by the requirement to restrict time spent teaching to 5% or less of my total working time. He expressed concern about how well he could teach the course in 8 hours per week, saying that he judged significant additional time would be required to prepare lectures that met the required standard for a second offering of the course. The P.I. at no time indicated an unwillingness to teach, saying only that he found himself unwilling to absent himself from his family for the routine 12-hour working days that would enable him to spend 12 hours per week on the course while staying within the 5% ceiling. The Head gave his opinion that the 5% number indicated the order of magnitude allowed, and it was agreed to maintain the status quo, namely that the P.I. would teach EP 324.3 in Winter 1997. After Dr. G. Hussey was appointed to the faculty position, he was given responsibility for the course, so the P.I. has had no formal teaching responsibilities during this year of the contract.

The P.I. has also appplied for the faculty position in experimental space science at the University of Calgary, but has had no communication beyond an acknowledgement of his application.

Given that any future positions in the University of Saskatchewan Department of Physics and Engineering Physics will go to Professional Engineers, it seems unlikely that the P.I. will obtain a faculty position at the University of Saskatchewan. He has therefore taken steps to pursue a career in industry.