Peanuts, the plague and poverty
McMaster is known for making a positive impact on the local, national and international stages. Public Relations highlights some of the many McMaster stories making news in the past week.
Teaching, learning and student success:
The Globe and Mail published a story about student safety on campuses in Canada, which highlighted McMaster as an example of universities that are leading the way. The story featured an interview with Sean Van Koughnett (AVP, Students and Learning). The story was part of the Globe’s Canadian University Report, which also featured a comparison of Canadian universities showing McMaster ranking high in student satisfaction, ahead of University of Toronto, and a compilation of comments from students on how they chose their universities, including McMaster.
Expert opinion:
The New York Times (with staff and AP stories, here and here), The Washington Post, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, Kansas City Star, US News and World Report, The Seattle Times, ABC News, NBC News, Fox News , The Toronto Star, The Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Ottawa Citizen, Calgary Herald, Vancouver Province, Edmonton Journal, were among more than 100 Canadian and international outlets to use a piece from the Associated Press featuring analysis by Hendrik Poinar (Anthropology, Ancient DNA Centre) on the finding that the bubonic plague had affected people at least as far back as 5,000 years ago.
The Globe and Mail, The Canadian Press interviewed Peter Graefe about the NDP’s fall from Official Opposition to third-party status. Among the outlets to pick up the CP story were Maclean’s, The Huffington Post and The Hamilton Spectator. Graefe also wrote an op-ed piece on the topic for CBC online. The Hamilton Spectator also interviewed Graefe about voter turnout. In other post-election coverage, The Hamilton Spectator interviewed Henry Jacek (Political Science) about Hamilton’s cabinet hopefuls.
CBC’s The National interviewed Marvin Ryder (DeGroote School of Business) about the Bank of Canada’s decision to hold its lending rate.
Global National News, CTV News Channel and CHCH News interviewed Michael Egan (History), who teaches a course called the History of the Future, on “Back to the Future Day”.
The National Post and The Windsor Star published a story about the bleeding death of an infant following circumcision, featuring commentary by Jorge DeMaria (Urology).
The Canadian Press interviewed Susan Waserman (Clinical Immunology and Allergy) about introducing babies to potentially allergenic foods such as peanuts, for a story that appeared in outlets including The Globe and Mail and The Toronto Sun.
The National Post interviewed Khaled Hassanein, (Director, McMaster eBusiness Research Centre) for a story about Trust Science, an app that offers third-party assessment of the trustworthiness of potential clients and other business contacts.
CHML Radio interviewed Michael Veall (Economics) about the outcome of the federal election.
The Hamilton Spectator interviewed Richard Harris (Geography) for a feature about the effects of gentrification on affordable housing in Hamilton.
The Hamilton Spectator interviewed Wayne Lewchuk (Labour Studies) on the challenge of accurately defining the local poverty picture.
Research:
The Hamilton Spectator reported on The Heart and Stroke Foundation funding research by John Eikelboom (Population Health Research Institute) into ways to reduce the side effects of blood-thinners.
CBC Hamilton reported on musician Ian Thornley, best-known from his group Big Wreck, choosing to launch a solo album with a performance at McMaster’s LiveLab performance laboratory, where researchers will analyze audience reaction to his new songs.
The Windsor Star reported on a report co-authored by David Price (Family Medicine) recommending a reorganization of how primary medical care is delivered.
Community engagement:
The Hamilton Spectator covered the Leadership Summit for Women, presented by McMaster University, the McMaster Students Union and the Hamilton YWCA, publishing a story focusing on students Salwa Farooqi, Nadia Ahmed and Fatemah Shamkhi, who led a workshop on Western perceptions of Muslim women.
The Globe and Mail published a letter to the editor from Susan Jack (School of Nursing) outlining why former Rob Ford aide Mark Twohey should have called 911 when he overheard the former Toronto mayor threatening to shoot his wife.
The Hamilton Spectator published a story previewing a free public lecture by evolutionary geneticist Hendrik Poinar (Anthropology).
In the news:
CBC News Channel, CBC Radio, The Hamilton Spectator, CHCH News and reported on Sociology student Godfrey Cuotto receiving $1,000 from the Amalgamated Transit Union in recognition of his warm treatment of a stranger with cerebral palsy who reached out to hold his hand while they were riding the bus – an action that was recorded by another passenger and widely shared online.
