McMaster is known for making a positive impact on the local, national and international stages. Each week, The Office of Public Relations highlights a few of the many McMaster stories making the news.

Research:

The Hamilton Spectator and CBC Hamilton reported on the announcement of four prestigious Canada Research Chairs for McMaster faculty members – new chairs for Catherine Connelly (DeGroote School of Business), Maureen Markle-Reid (Nursing) and Nathan Magarvey (Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences), and a renewal for Natalia Nikolova (Engineering).

The CBC Radio program Ideas interviewed Paul Andrews (Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour) at length on his research into anti-depressants, which calls into question whether they are beneficial at all. His interview was part of a major three-part series called Rethinking Depression. Andrews’ episode is here, with his interview segments appearing between 30:30 and 32:15 and again from 40:30 to 45:30.

The Hamilton Spectator published a story and photo about the launch of a sophisticated new telescope, including the involvement of Chris Wilson (Physics and Astronomy) in the project and PhD student Maximilien Schirm, who will use the telescope, under Wilson’s supervision, to study molecular gas clouds in two merging galaxies.

CBC Hamilton,  900 CHML AM and The Hamilton Spectator reported on new parental guidelines for parents of children with concussions, created by McMaster-based CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research. CHML’s Bill Kelly talked to Carol DeMatteo (Rehabilitation Science).

Teaching, learning and student success:

The Globe and Mail interviewed MBA student Max Hammoudeh (DeGroote School of Business) about how his co-op terms will pay for most of his tuition, in a story about ways that business schools help students manage the costs of their education.

CHCH TV came to campus to report on the significance of Chris Hadfield taking over command of the international space station, by talking to space-medicine instructor Sheila Whelan (Bachelor of Health Sciences Program) and her students.

CBC Hamilton posted a story about a student team being shortlisted for national honours in the Health Council of Canada’s Health Innovation Challenge.

Community engagement:

The Toronto Star published an interview with social activist Angela Davis as a preview to her speaking March 27 for the launch of McMaster’s Centre for Scholarship in the Public Interest. The reporter interviewed centre director Henry Giroux (English & Cultural Studies) on the significance of Davis’s contributions.

Expert opinion:

CTV News Channel interviewed Laura Parker (Physics and Astronomy) from McMaster’s campus studio about the Pan-STARRS comet.

The Vancouver Province turned to precarious employment specialist Wayne Lewchuk (Labour Studies, Economics) for a feature on 20-somethings and their struggles to launch careers.

The Ottawa Citizen interviewed Lorraine York (English & Cultural Studies) about the success of Oprah Winfrey.

CBC News online asked Itay Yavin (Physics and Astronomy) about the importance of the Higgs boson.

CHCH TV invited Alex Sevigny (Communications Management) to its studios to discuss the changing style of Vatican communications to embrace new technologies and adopt a more open approach.

CTV News Channel and 900 CHML AM interviewed Peter Graefe (Political  Science) about Marc Garneau’s decision to pull out of the race for the federal Liberal leadership.

The Hamilton Spectator interviewed Richard Day (Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour) for a piece on the life-changing effects of winning a major lottery prize.

In other news:

The Hamilton Spectator published a lighthearted feature on a song called Einstein’s Brain, about McMaster being home to part of the great physicist’s brain. Sandra Witelson (Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences) told the paper the song was a good retelling of the story of how the brain portion ended up at McMaster.