Daily News

December 22, 2008

A pair of sophisticated pieces of technology and two book-loving campus partners have joined forces to bring you your very own copy of 162-year-old edition of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Previously, library users would visit the archives, located in Mills Library, in order to view the 1846 first edition (11th impression) of this Christmas classic, printed by Bradbury and Evans, London. The opportunity to enjoy the volume's celebrated illustrations by John Leech would make the trip well worthwhile.

December 22, 2008

McMaster has a new Chief Information Officer (CIO). John Kearney joins the University in February from Wilfrid Laurier University where he is currently the Director, Information Technology Services.

December 19, 2008

McMaster University is establishing an institute dedicated to Chinese culture, language and business. Developed in partnership with Beijing Language and Culture University, the programs offered through the Institute will be open to students and communities throughout the Golden Horseshoe.

December 19, 2008

McMaster University is closed Friday, December 19, 2008 due to inclement weather. The closure includes the cancellation of exams scheduled for Friday evening at the Centre for Continuing Education. Exams scheduled for Saturday December 20, 2008 have not been cancelled.

December 18, 2008

Dr. Holger Schunemann, a leader in evidence-based clinical practice and guideline development, has been appointed chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He is currently a part-time professor in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CE&B) and an associate professor of medicine at the University at Buffalo.

December 18, 2008

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep the McMaster community informed about the financial situation of the University I wanted to let you know about a new advisory committee to address the impact of the current economic condition on McMaster. It is being created to help us deal as effectively as possible in these uncertain financial times.

December 18, 2008

Every September, 10 recent graduates from across Canada are given the opportunity to learn about the provincial Parliament from within, thanks to the Canadian Political Science Association's Ontario Legislature Internship Program.

December 17, 2008

In just four years, the MBA student-run consulting business at the DeGroote School of Business has crossed the six-figure mark in annual revenue. In fact, crossed is an understatement. Focus Business Consulting (FBC) earned a grand total of more than $201,000 in 2008. Timothy Fung, director of business development, credits the relationships FBC has built with clients over the years for the success. FBC expanded its services last year to include human resources and focused on its target market of small to medium-sized enterprises. As well, by contracting with other MBA students and DeGroote professors, the team was able to take on larger projects.

December 16, 2008

The family doctor who spearheaded the introduction of physician assistants (PAs) to the Ontario health-care system returned to his alma mater yesterday to address the first class of McMaster University students to train for this new role.

December 16, 2008

The Book of Genesis tells the story of a coat of many colours that Jacob gave to his son Joseph in recognition of Joseph's family leadership. In popular culture the Biblical story has received modern treatment in the musical entitled Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. McMaster University Library has recently acquired an important coat, although admittedly, it has no Biblical import. Donated by the McClelland family, the coat belonged to the publisher Jack McClelland (1922-2004).

December 15, 2008

Navigating the path to medical school can be a bit of mystery for aspiring doctors. Everyone knows a successful application requires more than good grades, but what else does it take? McMaster alumna Dr. Anne Berndl is hoping to shed light on the process of becoming a physician in Canada with her first book, So You Want to be a Doctor, Eh? The career guide is aimed at preparing would-be doctors for the journey through medical school and beyond.

December 12, 2008

This time next year, 60 students will be writing exams for their classes within McMaster's new and unique Honours Integrated Science Program (iSci). The iSci program emphasizes the relationships between different areas of science and directly involves students in interdisciplinary scientific research from their first year of study to graduation.

December 11, 2008

Did you know that a Madagascar hissing cockroach hisses to protect itself from hungry mice? Were you aware that a tarantula will squash like a tomato if it is dropped? Or that praying mantis' legs have spikes to capture prey and hold it in place? These are just some of the interesting facts learned from a visit with Marvin "The Bug Man" Gunderman during the recent Doors Open McMaster event series.

December 10, 2008

Enrollment in nuclear engineering education is surging and so is student involvement in nuclear associations. The American Nuclear Society and the Faculty of Engineering at McMaster University formally recognized the formation of the first-ever ANS student chapter in the Province of Ontario, and the first in Canada in almost 10 years.

December 10, 2008

Dr. Peter Fitzgerald, a professor of pediatric surgery and McMaster medical alumnus, has been appointed President of McMaster Children's Hospital (MCH). Fitzgerald has been on staff at MCH for 16 years, and is currently the hospital's medical director as well as chief of pediatric surgery. He will assume his new role in January, succeeding Dr. Peter Steer who is leaving Hamilton to become CEO of a new children's hospital in Brisbane, Australia.

December 10, 2008

It may sound odd, but it's true. You can go shopping at Amazon.ca or Amazon.com and help add new books to the McMaster University Library's collection. The magic begins with special hyperlinks, like those below, containing the Library's unique identification code. Clicking on one of these links leads to the Amazon site of your choice. You can search, browse, compare, and select among various products just as always.

December 9, 2008

Each year, McMaster's Anti-Violence Network hosts a service to commemorate the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Parliament established this Day of Remembrance in 1991 to mark the anniversary of the murders of 14 women at L'Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal.

December 9, 2008

Stuck on ideas for inexpensive stocking stuffers? How about a copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol? Or a piece of original Canadian fiction? Titles Bookstores is using its hot new press to reproduce classics (such as the first edition of the Dickens' favourite) under the Classic Titles imprint. A Christmas Carol is the first in a series of low-priced versions the bookstore will start unveiling in the New Year, and it sells for $2.50.

December 8, 2008

Imagine coming down with the flu or needing surgery while in a remote environment. Space, Exploration and Remote Care Medicine- a new seminar series at McMaster University, is exploring the history and challenges of providing medical care in various extreme conditions.

December 8, 2008

The label used to identify a disease - whether it is common language or medical terminology - can influence how serious people think the condition is, according to new research from McMaster University, the second part of a larger study on how people understand and interpret disease.