Daily News

December 7, 2005

A McMaster study on atherosclerosis is featured on the cover of the December issue of the high impact American Heart Association scientific journal, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Richard Austin, PhD, and a team of researchers, are studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms that accelerate the development and progression of atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of cardiovascular disease and stroke. These studies have provided important clues as to how changes in cell function contribute to this progressive and life-threatening disease.

December 7, 2005

McMaster's Student Community Support Network (SCSN) is helping students prepare for exams and strengthen ties with their neighbours. The McMaster Students Union group distributed free exam care packages today in the McMaster University Student Centre. The packages include information about the SCSN, living off-campus, the Student Walk Home Attendant Team, bus information from the Alternative Commuting and Transportation office and information about the Hamilton community. The package also includes a small box filled with exam stress busters, such as coffee, water, chocolate and Tylenol. The McMaster Alumni Association donated the boxes.

December 7, 2005

A Service of Remembrance for female victims of violence was held last night at McMaster in an auditorium filled with students, faculty and staff. The annual gathering was organized by the Anti-Violence Network at McMaster University. On the National Day of Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women, the service focused on the events of December 6, 1989 when 14 female engineering students were murdered in Montreal. These victims were honoured, as well as four murdered females who were members of the McMaster community and 500 Aboriginal women who have been murdered or went missing in Canada in the past 20 years.

December 6, 2005

On Dec. 6, 1989, at L'ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, 14 women were shot dead by a lone gunman because they were women and studying in the traditional male field of engineering. This tragic event is now remembered as the "Montreal Massacre." As a result of much lobbying and commitment on behalf of the victim's families, this date has become the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Every year, the Anti-Violence Network at McMaster University hosts a ceremony to remember the women whose lives were taken by violence in Montreal, as well as other victims of violence.

December 6, 2005

The McMaster cheerleading team successfully defended its Collegiate Small Co-ed Division National Championship title last Friday in Waterloo, dominating the field in its event. The Marauders had a strong opening round performance scoring 289.5 points, that gave them a convincing 58-point lead heading into the second round performance.

December 6, 2005

Three McMaster pathologists will receive nearly $1.9 million in research funding through the Ontario Cancer Research Network to support cancer research and increase the number of patients participating in clinical trials. Jonathan Bramson was awarded $612,504 to study gene-based cancer vaccines; Jack Gauldie will get $688,285 to test his vaccine to stimulate the immune system to attack leukemia; and Ranjan Sur will receive $589,680 to examine a light sensitive drug to treat advanced lung cancer.

December 6, 2005

It's been described as the theory of everything - a theory that might possibly be the ultimate, or final theory of matter at its most fundamental level. String theory states that absolutely everything in the universe - all of the particles that make up matter and forces - consist of unimaginably* tiny loops of vibrating string.

December 5, 2005

First-year McMaster swimmer Chelsey Gotell earned a spot on the Canadian National Team that will compete at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia in March. The native of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, swam to medal performances in both the 50 M & 100 M Freestyle events at the Canadian Commonwealth Trials held in Victoria, BC. A former Paralympic medallist, Gotell was one of 31 swimmers that were nominated to the National Team over the weekend. The 2006 Commonwealth Games will be held from March 15-26.

December 5, 2005

More than 500 high school geography students and teachers will get a special hands-on look at cutting edge geographic information system (GIS) technology at the seventh annual GIS Day Tuesday, Dec. 6, at McMaster. Hosted by the School of Geography & Earth Sciences and the Centre for Spatial Analysis, this event fulfills part of the Ontario geography curriculum for Grades 9, 11 and 12 students. Students and teachers from 17 high schools from Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville have registered for the daylong workshop.

December 2, 2005

McMaster's Oded Bar-Or, a professor emeritus in pediatrics and renowned expert in sport medicine and childhood obesity, was honored Thursday by the Jozef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland. A delegation from the Polish academy visited McMaster University this week to grant Bar-Or an honorary degree in recognition of his lifetime work in the area of children and exercise.

December 2, 2005

A campus-wide initiative to position McMaster as Canada's premier health university is moving forward. Collaborations for Health aims to capitalize on McMaster's unique culture of collaboration and experience in tackling complex health problems using the combined insights of many disciplines. It will leverage existing areas of strength and foster new strategic research and educational collaborations focused on health.

December 1, 2005

Robotic, simulated patients are allowing students in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine to practise clinical skills before they reach human patients. A simulator lab training centre set up by the anesthesia department allows students to experience the challenges of working in a hospital operating room in a setting that looks and functions as close as possible to the real thing. An official opening of the lab was held on Wednesday.

November 30, 2005

Popular science writer Jay Ingram is the special guest speaker at Wednesday's Science in the City public lecture. Ingram, who is also the producer and co-host of the Discovery Channel's award-winning Daily Planet and recipient of an honorary Doctor of Science degree from McMaster, will speak about the Theatre of the Mind: The Science of Consciousness.

November 29, 2005

They are all in the early stages of their research careers, acknowledged as some of the province's most innovative thinkers. Their research holds promise for Ontario's better health and economic welfare, and the newly created Early Research Award (ERA) program has recognized six McMaster researchers with $100,000 each to further their work and build their own research teams.

November 29, 2005

McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA) members have voted overwhelmingly in support of joining the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW). The transfer vote, conducted by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), took place Nov. 24 and 25. "It has been both an interesting and informative process since becoming a direct charter of the CLC, researching and investigating a number of other unions, affiliates of the CLC, and determining which would be the best 'fit' for MUSA," said MUSA president Mina Sarajcic.

November 29, 2005

A delegation from the Jozef Pilsudski Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw, Poland will visit McMaster University this week to honour Oded Bar-Or, a professor emeritus in pediatrics and renowned expert in sport medicine and childhood obesity. The academy is granting Bar-Or an honorary degree in recognition of his lifetime work in the area of children and exercise.

November 29, 2005

As one of six McMaster humanities students chosen to complete a paid internship last year at Franciscans International (FI), a UN-accredited Human Rights organization in Geneva, Switzerland, Jonathan McCallum is eager to share his knowledge and experience with others. McCallum and some of his fellow students turned international humanitarians will present information, photos, and even some samples of their work produced for FI at an information session on Wednesday, Nov. 30.

November 29, 2005

The Tandem Accelerator building will be closed today (Wednesday) after an incident Tuesday night. A small fire occurred during the decommissioning of a piece of equipment. An employee and a grad student along with three firefighters and two ambulance workers were taken to hospital as a precaution and released. Hamilton's Hazardous Materials team checked out the building for any contamination. Damage was minimal. Additional testing will be conducted on Wednesday morning in the area of the fire to ensure there is no contamination. The area will then be cleaned before people are allowed back inside.

November 29, 2005

It wasn't the large margin of victory that was expected but, the McMaster Marauders women's water polo team captured its third straight OUA Championship, and its fourth in five years with an 11-10 overtime defeat of the York Lions on Sunday.

November 28, 2005

Leading 8-2 at half time, the University of Toronto Varsity Blues men's water polo team survived a late McMaster attack and barely held on for their second straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship title. McMaster was able to dig deep following their sudden death overtime victory the evening before and make a stunning comeback that fell just short.