Daily News

December 22, 2005

Enrolment numbers, a new underground parking structure, a three-year financial plan and an update on the McMaster Innovation Park were some of the highlights from recent Senate and the Board of Governors meetings. The following are some of the topics addressed at these meetings:

December 22, 2005

Brain size matters for intellectual ability and bigger is better, McMaster University researchers have found. The study, led by neuroscientist Sandra Witelson, a professor in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, and published in the December issue of the journal Brain, has provided some of the clearest evidence on the underlying basis of differences in intelligence.

December 22, 2005

McMaster has hired Wilfrid Laurier offensive co-ordinator Stefan Ptaszek to be the head coach of the Marauder football team. Ptaszek takes over one of the country's most successful university football programs and will guide the Marauders in its quest for continued excellence on the field, in the classroom and in community service.

December 21, 2005

Astronomers have found "light echoes" from three ancient supernovae by detecting their faint, centuries-old light reflected in the clouds of interstellar dust. The finding, to be published this week in Nature, means astronomers will, for the first time, be able to study these important but rare events that appeared hundreds to thousands of years ago.

December 20, 2005

Behind on your Christmas shopping? Still looking for that perfect gift? Not enough time to wander the malls? Titles Bookstore, located in the basement of Gilmour Hall, is a popular place for last-minute McMaster shoppers. "We're going to be busy right up to Christmas," says Barry Petrie, interim director of the bookstore. And it's no wonder, considering its convenient location at the heart of the McMaster campus and wide selection of merchandise. "We still have plenty of items in stock," says Petrie. "Shoppers can still find everything they'll need to finish their Christmas shopping."

December 19, 2005

Marc Colangelo, a medical sciences graduate student in the Faculty of Health Sciences, was the lead author on the article chosen for the Best Paper Award at the 18th International Conference on Computer Applications in Industry and Engineering (CAINE). Colangelo received the best paper award during the conference sponsored by the International Society for Computers and their Applications, held in Honolulu recently. It was chosen from among 108 submissions from 28 countries, some authored by established researchers and industry experts.

December 19, 2005

A McMaster University geneticist, in collaboration with genome researchers from Penn State University and the American Museum of Natural History has made history by mapping a portion of the woolly mammoth's genome. The discovery, which has astounded the scientific world, surpasses a study released today by Nature that also concerns the woolly mammoth. Hendrik Poinar, a molecular evolutionary geneticist in the department of anthropology and pathology at McMaster University, says his study involves the vital nuclear DNA within a mammoth rather than the lesser mitochondria, on which the Nature study is based.

December 16, 2005

A team of McMaster researchers have discovered that fat tissue surrounding thoracic arteries may be beneficial in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. A study led by Yu-Jing Gao, of the Department of Anesthesia, found that fat surrounding internal thoracic arteries produces a factor that can relax the artery. That finding could lead to an answer to one of the challenges that cardiac surgeons face during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

December 15, 2005

Nicholas Kates, a professor in McMaster's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, was the recipient of one of 19 psychiatric awards at the Canadian Psychiatric Association's (CPA) Annual Conference held recently in Vancouver.

December 15, 2005

This morning, the Commonwealth Games Bid Review Committee announced that Halifax will represent Canada in the international bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Hamilton was in the running against Halifax, Ottawa and York Region in the domestic phase of the competition. "I'd like to extend my appreciation to those from McMaster and the community who provided such strong leadership, commitment and support to this phase of the competition," says McMaster President Peter George. "Hamilton's bid was outstanding and the whole team deserves our thanks and admiration."

December 15, 2005

The McMaster Engineering Society (MES) held its annual "Santa Hog" campaign on Friday, Dec. 2 in support of the Interval House of Hamilton. Every year before exams, a group of engineering students, led by the "Redsuits" - the engineering spirit leaders - visit classes and offices spreading end-of-term holiday cheer, singing carols, and collecting donations. This year the engineering students also were able to help spread awareness of the services offered by Interval House of Hamilton by distributing pamphlets provided by the centre.

December 14, 2005

As part of Refining Directions, the University's strategic plan, McMaster is committed to "building an inclusive community with a shared purpose." This means McMaster wants to ensure it provides a culture where all faculty, staff and students feel welcome and safe, where all voices are heard and all contributions to the mission of the University are recognised and valued. "The inclusive community initiative is very important to help achieve our commitment to creating an inclusive community that respects the diversity of McMaster University," says McMaster President Peter George. "I welcome the opportunity to identify how we can further enhance the University's environment, through consulting with members of our community to identify and remove barriers to inclusion."

December 14, 2005

McMaster wrestler Stefanie Howorun has won a silver medal in the 70 kg judo competition at the 2005 Francophone Games being held in Niger, Africa. Howorun bounced back from a disappointing first round elimination at the 1000 Euro Judo Competition held in Boras Sweden held in late October, to advance to the Francophone games event final. After defeating her semifinal opponent from the Condo, Howorun advanced to face Myl

December 13, 2005

Debra Charlesworth, a Faculty of Health Sciences student and mother of four, has been honoured with a 2005 Grey Power Caregiver Award. Charlesworth, a student in the clinical behavioural sciences program, was selected for her selfless devotion to her three adult children with special needs. The award, sponsored by Grey Power Insurance Brokers, recognizes non-professional caregivers who go above and beyond to provide ongoing care and support to loved ones with an illness or disability.

December 12, 2005

Wondering where you're going to find the money to pay for presents this season, never mind rent, food, or tuition? Worried about paying off your student loans when you graduate? An innovative new course at the DeGroote School of Business can help plump up your piggy bank. The Finance and Business Economics area at DeGroote is offering a course on personal finance (Commerce 4FP3) beginning in January.

December 12, 2005

Funeral services were held today for Oded Bar-Or, professor emeritus of pediatrics, who passed away on Thursday, Dec. 8 due to cancer. Bar-Or made significant contributions in the field of sports medicine for nearly four decades. He was a graduate of Hadassah medical school in Jerusalem, with postgraduate work at Penn State University in the U.S. before joining McMaster in 1981. He was the founder and director of the Children's Exercise and Nutrition Centre located at Chedoke Hospital from its inception in 1983 to its current status as an international training centre for researchers.

December 9, 2005

It doesn't take much to make a man feel satisfied with his body: a look in the mirror and a sense of well-being seem sufficient. For women, however, changes in body image need to be supported by hard, physical evidence. The findings surprised the study's author, Kathleen Martin Ginis, associate professor of kinesiology at McMaster University.

December 9, 2005

Federal industry minister David Emerson visited the McMaster Innovation Park Thursday -- where Ottawa is relocating its special materials technology laboratory -- to hear more about the Longwood Road South facility from McMaster University officials. More than 100 of the best materials scientists in Canada are relocating from Ottawa to the park by 2008. They are set to be installed in a $40-million state-of-the-art building with $20 million worth of new equipment paid for by the federal government.

December 8, 2005

The year 1980 marked the birth of the "me decade", of the modern electronic consumer world, and of a more conservative approach to clothing, music and hairstyles. That same year also was the onset of remarkable changes for the 73 individuals who joined McMaster and last night were inducted into the University's Quarter Century Club.

December 8, 2005

Students, faculty and staff of DeGroote School of Business got a demonstration of how technology can be used to enhance education on Tuesday when they celebrated a gift from dean Paul Bates and his wife Sally. The Bates' gift allowed for digital enhancements to a classroom in the School of Business. Upgrades include a customized "smart" podium which allows faculty and students to utilize web-based technologies to learn, touch screen technology, DVD/VHS recorder, built in audio, a document camera, a 360-degree ceiling mounted camera to facilitate broadcast of lectures and classroom activities on the Internet, dual ceiling mounted LCD displays, and other upgrades.