Daily News

August 5, 2008

Canada has a record number of educated young workers. In 2005, a record 172,700 students received their undergraduate degrees from Canadian universities. In the 2005-06 academic year, enrolment in Canadian universities hit a record high for the fifth consecutive year as an estimated 1,047,700 students registered for classes. Despite this highly educated workforce, many young Canadians struggle to find work in their chosen field.

August 1, 2008

Sports fans tuning in to the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing on Aug. 8 may recognize a familiar face. McMaster graduate Adam van Koeverden will be carrying the Canadian flag, leading his teammates into the stadium. "What an incredible honour to be selected to carry our great country's flag at the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing," writes van Koeverden on his website, www.vankayak.com. "With so many awesome Canadian athletes up for consideration, it was amazing just to be nominated alongside them."

July 31, 2008

Alan Chen, associate professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, is the 2008 recipient of the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award.

July 31, 2008

McMaster employees enthusiastically "counted themselves in" during the recent University Equity Questionnaire. On May 27, eligible employees were asked to complete a four-question, one-minute questionnaire, the first step as McMaster begins the process of gaining a deeper understanding of equity in the workplace.

July 31, 2008

Densely populated cities and increased air travel can be factors which create and spread pandemic disease. But a Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine researcher is working with isolated Hutterite communities to understand the transmission of pandemic diseases like influenza. Dr. Mark Loeb and his research team have received $1.6 million in funding to carry out the research from the Rx&D Health Research Foundation (HRF), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

July 31, 2008

McMaster University and the Brant Community Healthcare System are expanding the number of medical students and residents learning and working in Brant Community Healthcare System hospitals. The Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, through its McMaster Community and Rural Education program, known as Mac-CARE, will be increasing the number of students on four to six week rotations to 80 a year, starting this fall.

July 29, 2008

George Wesolowsky, professor emeritus of operations management at the DeGroote School of Business, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement in Location Analysis award at the 11th International Symposium on Location Decisions in Santa Barbara, California, on July 1. The award was made on behalf of the Section on Location Analysis (SOLA), which is part of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences. The award is traditionally given at the triennial Symposium and there have been only five previous winners since the award was inaugurated in 1996.

July 28, 2008

Future McMaster University student Olivia Wlusek is on campus this week getting valuable insight into what life is like as a Commerce student at the DeGroote School of Business. The 16-year-old was in her marketing class at Cathedral High School in Hamilton when she heard about the Synergy summer business program offered at DeGroote. The program, which runs week-long sessions throughout the summer, introduces teens to the exciting world of commerce.

July 25, 2008

Researchers from McMaster-based AllerGen NCE Inc., the Allergy, Genes and Environment Network, in partnership with Health Canada, have launched a national study to determine how prevalent food allergies are among the Canadian population and how effective allergen warnings are on food labels. Results from the study will help Canadian policy makers ensure that sufficient health and education resources are allocated to help prevent, diagnose and manage allergic diseases, as well as help companies develop clear and safe labeling on food products.

July 24, 2008

There is a plethora of opportunities for science students to expand their academic experience through co-ops, internships, practicums, volunteer work and other special programs that can be life changing. One example is an internship that any student with a sense of adventure would embark upon with great anticipation.

July 24, 2008

The Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR) has announced three major national mental health initiatives, all involving McMaster University researchers. Alison Niccols, an associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, is a principal investigator who will use a new $1.5 million grant from the CIHR to improve services for women with substance use issues and their children.

July 23, 2008

Ben Chae (M.Eng Civ. '84) truly enjoys his job. As senior project superintendent for Bird Construction Company, Chae is responsible for the job site at McMaster's new engineering building currently under construction. He's enjoyed being back on campus and visiting with former professors, lecturers and members of the McMaster community. "I graduated here and it is great knowing I'm contributing to McMaster in this small way. It makes me very proud," says Chae.

July 22, 2008

Students come to McMaster University's Centre for Continuing Education for many reasons. Some are changing careers. Others are just beginning their working lives. Some are seeking professional credentials like a CMA designation. Some choose to pursue a certificate or diploma as the first step on a path towards degree studies. Others just love to learn. Whatever the reason, McMaster has committed to providing each and every student with the best professional educational experience possible.

July 21, 2008

The new Niagara campus of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine is being launched with an enthusiastic welcome from the Niagara region health community. Dr. Karl Stobbe, family doctor and regional assistant dean for the medical school's new Niagara campus, said he has had tremendous response in his search for area physicians to teach part-time at the school, which launches with 15 first-year students in September.

July 21, 2008

The world's largest cardiac surgery clinical trial, expected to involve 4,700 patients, will be undertaken by researchers at the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences. The trial will investigate the differences in outcomes of using on-pump versus off-pump techniques during coronary artery bypass surgery to document and compare short- and long-tem benefits of both.

July 18, 2008

Canadian literature has always been a hallmark of our cultural identity. With authors such as Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood, Farley Mowat or McMaster's own writer-in-residence Lawrence Hill achieving international popularity and critical acclaim, Canadian stories are shared all over the world. But what about the stories behind the stories? Behind many great Canadian books lies an equally interesting, but usually untold publishing story. The William Ready Division of Research and Archives is hoping to make these stories more readily accessible.

July 17, 2008

Mission to Mac is coming to a city near you. On July 12, the McMaster Alumni Association kicked off its 2008 Mission to Mac tour in Hong Kong. Mission to Mac is an annual series of orientation events designed to help incoming first-year students with the transition from high school to university.

July 16, 2008

Few high school students embrace the opportunity to pursue knowledge during their time off in the summer. However, the Shad Valley program attracts an elite kind of student. Through participation in this international program, exceptional students in Grades 10 to 12 will spend a month living in residence at a Canadian host university and will engage in a summer enrichment program that focuses on the sciences, engineering and entrepreneurship.

July 15, 2008

The 21st century has been a roller coaster ride of technologies and inventions that have quickly become a part of our everyday lives. We don't think twice about turning on our computers or cell phones to connect locally or globally. We're living longer because of advancements in health care, breakthroughs in disease research and constant monitoring of our environment to ensure that we're supplied with clean water, fresh air and safe food supplies.

July 14, 2008

One of Canada's leading innovators has been elected chair of the board of directors of Canadian Light Source Inc. (CLSI), Canada's national synchrotron research facility. Rafik Loutfy, director of McMaster University's Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation, assumed his duties on June 24, 2008. "I am very honoured to accept this leadership role for Canada's synchrotron," says Loutfy. "The Canadian Light Source is a key driver in the continued development of science and innovation in this country."