Ebola, a hitchhiking robot and one massive telescope
McMaster’s Office of Public Relations highlights McMaster’s experts making local, national and international headlines.
Research:
CNN, The Toronto Star (twice), The National Post (twice), Global National News, CTV News, National Public Radio (U.S.) The Toronto Sun, ABC News in Indianapolis, The National (United Arab Emirates), CBC Halifax, CITY-TV in Toronto and The Hamilton Spectator were among the outlets providing continuing coverage of hitchBOT, the hitchhiking robot that went on the road July 27 in a joint McMaster-Ryerson project, under the co-leadership of David Harris Smith (Communication Studies and Multimedia), and with the participation of Engineering students Colin Gagich and Dominik Kaukinen.
The Globe and Mail, CTV News Channel and 570 News (Kitchener) interviewed Christine Wilson (Physics and Astronomy), who is president of the Canadian Astronomical Society, about the prospects for Canada investing further in a 30-metre telescope about to be built in Hawaii, which would dwarf all telescopes now in use.
The Hamilton Spectator, CHML-AM, and CHCH TV reported on a national three-year child-obesity study under way under the leadership of a team that includes Katherine Morrison (Pediatrics).
A Postmedia News story discussed Bruce Cockburn’s upcoming autobiography, including research he was doing by reviewing his own archives at McMaster University. The songwriter and activist had donated his archives to the university library in 2013.
First World War Centenary:
CBC’s The National focused on a collection of 100 letters recently received by the university library’s William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections. The letters were written by Gordon Parkinson, a Canadian soldier who was shot shortly after writing that while his comrades believed luck would determine their fate, he believed in destiny. The report featured archives and research librarian Rick Stapleton talking about and reading from the letters.
CHCH TV broadcast a feature about McMaster’s trench map collection, interviewing the library’s maps specialist Gord Beck.
Expert opinion:
Global National News (see link at 10:40) and CTV News Channel interviewed Brian Lichty (Institute for Infectious Disease Research) about Ebola virus and concerns that it is spreading beyond the range of a recent outbreak in West Africa.
CBC Toronto interviewed Samir Chidiac (Engineering) about the issues raised by damage to the Burlington Skyway bridge.
CKMI TV News in Montreal interviewed Gerry Wright (Institute for Infectious Disease Research) about so-called “suberbugs” and the fight to break down their resistance to antibiotics.
Community engagement:
The popular US-based news website Vox posted an op-ed co-authored by Steven Hoffman, (Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics) outlining how the current Ebola outbreak was a predictable outcome of neglecting diseases that do not generally threaten wealthier nations. BBC News later summarized the story and listed it among its “must-reads”.
Teaching, learning and student success:
The Hamilton Spectator profiled student Joseline Nicholas, who came to McMaster by way of Rwanda and Malawi.
In the news:
The Hamilton Spectator published a story about ongoing issues in trying to reach a contract between McMaster and the Building Union of Canada, representing maintenance and cleaning staff. The paper published a follow-up about some faculty and staff members signing a letter in support of the workers, with university comment indicating that the terms of the offer are not accurately represented by the letter.
The Hamilton Spectator, CHCH TV and 900 CHML were among the outlets reporting on The Hamilton Tiger-Cats planning to play their Aug. 16 game at Ron Joyce Stadium. The Spectator report included university comments making it clear that McMaster cannot accommodate the Labour Day game.
