Daily News

April 18, 2008

Dave Williams, a physician and astronaut who has logged a Canadian record of almost 18 hours performing space walks, is landing in the city as a physician scientist for McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. As the director for the new McMaster Centre for Medical Robotics at St. Joseph's, he will lead a team dedicated to developing innovative technologies that will change the future of surgery in local and remote patient care.

April 18, 2008

Victoria Alstein doesn't mean to bash technology -- she understands its convenience and importance -- but she feels that in adhering too closely to technology, people are losing their ability to appreciate the skill and passion behind artistic expression. And so, the fourth-year student in McMaster's fine arts program along with two fellow students will head to Wakulla Springs State Park in central Florida. Using mixed media -- pencil and ink, carving, paint, charcoal, woodcarving and papermaking -- Alstein along with Becky Katz and Jana Simms will record the physical and emotional side of an archeological dig, the old-fashioned way.

April 18, 2008

An Oscar-nominated Canadian director, a noted CBC science journalist, and the doctor who helped steer a frightened public through the SARS outbreak five years ago are among the distinguished list of those being awarded honorary degrees at McMaster University's spring convocation. Approximately 4,000 students will graduate in May and June this year. Honorary degree recipients are recognized for their contributions in such areas as public service, education and scholarship, creative and performing arts, and for their work within the McMaster community.

April 18, 2008

McMaster University Library has expanded their services to include hosting blogs and wikis for interested faculty and staff. The library has installed the popular blog software Wordpress to host blogs locally and PmWiki to host wikis locally. "We've noticed a trend that more and more faculty are using emerging tools like blogs and wikis to extend in-class discussions, promote group-work, and provide a platform for collaboration and distributed research," says librarian Amanda Etches-Johnson, who is spearheading the project.

April 17, 2008

It is a $1-million ray of hope for a business venture being pursued through the Xerox Centre for Engineering Entrepreneurship and Innovation at McMaster University. Liquid Fiber Display took first at the annual TiEQuest 2008 Business Venture Competition last weekend in Toronto. In addition to winning $50,000 in cash and in-kind services as well as the Ontario Entrepreneurship Trophy, they have the opportunity to receive a $1-million investment from sponsoring funds.

April 17, 2008

Leading policy experts will gather to address the energy needs of the Great Lakes basin and the environmental, economic and societal implications at Energy2100: Making the Lakes Great from April 22 to 23.

April 16, 2008

Almost 4,000 men, women and children stayed at Hamilton emergency shelters in 2006. For every person who stays at a shelter, it is estimated that between one and three people are homeless with nowhere to go. A group of researchers at McMaster University are working on a one-year pilot project with the City of Hamilton to provide mobile counseling and mental health assessment services for 45 homeless adults and those who have recently been released from prison.

April 16, 2008

Jamal Deen, professor of electrical and computer engineering at McMaster, has been awarded a prestigious Humboldt Research Award for his work in electrical, electronic and communications engineering. The Humboldt Research Award sponsors top-flight, foreign scientists and scholars to travel to Germany to spend extended periods of time working with German colleagues. The award is administered by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, a non-profit organization established by the Federal Republic of Germany for the promotion of international research cooperation.

April 16, 2008

The 30th Board of Directors for the McMaster Association of Part-Time Students (MAPS) has elected Allan Wong as president for 2008-2009.

April 15, 2008

McMaster's new Associate Vice-President (Academic) brings 30 years of experience on campus as a Professor, Associate Dean and Acting Dean to his new role. This week, Senate and the Board of Governors Executive approved the appointment of Peter Smith to the position. He succeeds Fred A. Hall, who last year agreed to serve a one-year extension to his second term while a search for his replacement was completed, and is now retiring.

April 14, 2008

For the past four years, Humanities students have been given the opportunity of a lifetime to intern with non-governmental organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.

April 11, 2008

McMaster University students are asking the public to ponder their experiences in and their relationship with Hamilton. YOU ARE HERE: Mapping Hamilton is an exhibit hosted by McMaster's Cultural Studies & Critical Theory students that explores the urban experience.

April 11, 2008

McMaster University will receive $13.5 million from the Ontario Government, it was announced today. The money is part of a $200-million fund set aside for Ontario's universities in the last provincial budget. "Our investment in McMaster ensures the ongoing strength and vibrancy of this great institution. Our students deserve the very best, and we are dedicated to ensuring that they will always find that in Hamilton," said Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP for Hamilton Mountain.

April 11, 2008

Terry Fallis, McMaster alumnus (B. Eng. '83), public affairs professional and author has been listed as a finalist for the annual Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour for his 2007 novel The Best Laid Plans. Awarded annually by the Leacock Association, the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal recognizes the most humorous book published in Canada, by a Canadian, in the previous year. It carries a cash prize of $10,000, sponsored by TD Bank Financial Group.

April 10, 2008

Students in a multimedia digital games course have created a virtual sculpture garden featuring videogame characters in Second Life. The Gaming Garden is located on the McMaster University Library Second Life island, Steel City.

April 10, 2008

A topping off ceremony was held today to celebrate the structural completion of the new engineering building now under construction at McMaster University. Construction and trades people were joined by representatives from Bird Construction, McMaster's Facility Services, Vermeulen/Hind Architects, the Faculty of Engineering and University officials to celebrate the traditional construction milestone.

April 10, 2008

Art and engineering may seem like an unlikely combination, but when students from both disciplines joined forces, the artwork they created took on a life of its own. An innovative pilot project was launched last fall, partnering mechanical engineering students with students from the Studio Art Program in the School of the Arts.

April 8, 2008

Every year, the graduating class of the Science Society, which represents all undergraduate students in the Faculty of Science, presents a legacy gift to the Faculty.

April 8, 2008

An Ontario couple's strong interest in quality of life for seniors has prompted a donation of $3 million to McMaster University. Alex and Vera Wilson worked with the University for more than a year to develop the Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging, and an endowed chair, the Gilbrea Chair in Aging and Mental Health. In addition to mental health, the Centre will pursue other key issues such as economic security, independence, mobility, and end-of-life care.

April 8, 2008

A dedicated group of community members, including people from McMaster University, the AIDS Network, other community groups and people with HIV/AIDS (called the Hamilton Community HIV Advisory Research Working Group or HCHARG) has included one of the top global authorities on HIV and AIDS on its itinerary at the HIV/AIDS Education, Research, and Knowledge Transfer conference on April 9 and 10.