Daily News

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.

December 5, 2008

McMaster's Innovation Park will begin construction on the federal CANMET Materials Technology Laboratory (CANMET-MTL), which is relocating to Hamilton from Ottawa. Today, Lisa Raitt, Minister of Natural Resources, joined McMaster president Peter George and Member of Parliament David Sweet to break ground at the site. At the same time, renderings were unveiled for the LEED Platinum-designed research lab. The LEED designation refers to efficiencies in six categories: sustainable site; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; indoor environment; and innovation and design.

December 4, 2008

Philip DeCicca, an assistant professor in McMaster's Department of Economics, has been awarded a 2008 Polanyi Prize. DeCicca, who received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 2005, has has published extensively in the field of health economics, with particular attention to the economics of smoking. His current research focuses on the impact of early childhood education on sustainable academic achievement.

December 4, 2008

Grad school applications are looming, you need to round out your volunteer experience and you still haven't lined up a summer job. Is there anyone who can help? With the launch of their new student-written blog, McMaster's Career Services hopes to continue its mandate of helping students achieve their career and life goals.

December 3, 2008

McMaster's Nuclear Reactor turns 50 in 2009. In honour of that milestone, and in the true spirit of innovation for which McMaster is known, a campus competition is being held to create the best multi-media presentation page for the MNR's web site.

December 3, 2008

Two alumni with outstanding records of accomplishment in science and the arts are the recepients of McMaster's Distinguished Alumni Award. Thomas Mason was named in the category of science and John Mighton was chosen for the arts. The Distinguished Alumni Award is granted to two recipients each year. The award recognizes McMaster graduates who have attained a high level of distinction and achievement through scholarship, research, teaching, creative contributions to the arts or sciences and/ or service to society.

December 2, 2008

With analysis of Canada's constitution dominating recent headlines, the appointment of the newest Senator William McMaster Chair in Constitutional Studies is a timely reminder of the role the constitution plays in our daily lives. Wil Waluchow, a professor in the Department of Philosophy and a renowned research scholar in constitutional studies, is the new chairholder.

December 2, 2008

Have you ever wondered why we dance, nod our heads and tap our feet to sounds, but not lights? How the addition of music changes our perception and interpretation of film and television? What areas of the brain are involved in music performance, dance and synchronizing with others? And why children taking music lessons show improvement in language and other cognitive skills? These questions and more were addressed at the fourth annual all-day symposium sponsored by the McMaster Institute for Music and the Mind (MIMM).

December 1, 2008

The H.G Thode Library of Science & Engineering turns 30 this year and the McMaster community is invited to help celebrate. Please join the Library for a birthday celebration on Tuesday, December 2 at 11 a.m. on the first floor of Thode Library. The celebration will also highlight the completion of phase one of the Thode Renovation project.

December 1, 2008

Canada needs almost 2,000 Aboriginal doctors to care for the health of Aboriginal Peoples. Today, there are a mere 200. To reverse this trend, Canada's 17 medical schools have been working for more than three years to discover innovative ways that will increase the number of Aboriginal medical graduates in Canada and address Aboriginal health issues.

December 1, 2008

McMaster Update, the University's new monthly newsletter, is one more way the internal community can keep up with what's happening on campus. The print publication's goal is to build awareness of key initiatives, financial developments and new policies and procedures. The first issue is being delivered to all McMaster faculty and staff this week.

November 28, 2008

Two professors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Graeme Luke and Takashi Imai, have just been named Fellows of the American Physical Society (APS). The APS is the largest and most active professional society devoted to the promotion of research, education and other matters in the discipline of physics.

November 28, 2008

For any driver who has been frustrated with the layout of their car's dashboard or control console, or who just wants to stylize it to match the look of their vehicle, help is on the way. Tim Pryor, a Master of Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation student at McMaster University, has established Digital Dash, a company developing customizable dashboard technology for new model vehicles.

November 27, 2008

The McMaster Association of Part-Time Students (MAPS) has donated the largest gift to McMaster in its 30-year history. The $505,000 donation will establish 30 bursaries for part-time certificate and diploma students enrolled at McMaster's Centre for Continuing Education. The bursaries will be awarded annually starting next year.

November 26, 2008

Three faculty members in the School of Nursing have been named among the top 100 registered nurses in Canada. Alba DiCenso, Jennifer Skelly and Sue Matthews each received a Centennial Award from the Canadian Nurses Association for their contributions to the profession.