Daily News

June 1, 2005

Just six minutes of intense exercise a week could be as effective as an hour of daily moderate activity suggests new findings from researchers at McMaster University. "Short bouts of very intense exercise improved muscle health and performance comparable to several weeks of traditional endurance training," says Martin Gibala, an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology of McMaster.

May 31, 2005

Chris Marriott shrugs his shoulders and claims that "most people can do it". But to his co-workers in Nuclear Medicine, Marriott's average day's commute by bike - which amounts to between 25 and 30 kilometres - is a heroic feat. In fact, his commitment to two-wheeled transport earned him 12 separate Commuter Hero nominations last year. "He's the only person I know that rides his bike to work every day. Winter, summer, spring, rain, snow. I wish I had that much energy," admits Scott McNaughton, one of Marriott's nominators.

May 31, 2005

Beginning June 6, 2005, through to early August, the construction that is now taking place at the Main Street entrance to McMaster University and McMaster University Medical Centre will expand to affect an extensive area on the campus. The next stage of work will require the closure of the University's front access road from the point where vehicles entering from Main Street West turn left past the parking kiosk. This closure continues along that access road past building T13 and the Information Technology Building, and up University Avenue to the intersection at College Crescent. The intersection at College and University will remain open.

May 30, 2005

Upper-year students looking for unique leadership opportunities this summer, may be interested in welcoming more than 2,500 first-year students to McMaster this fall, through IRIS, the First Year Experience drama production. IRIS (Inspiration, Reflection, Integrity and Success), is the First Year Experience drama production that aims to welcome new students in to their first year at McMaster University by offering a glimpse of the opportunities and challenges they or their classmates, and roommates might encounter during their first year.

May 30, 2005

This past year saw the creation of another partnership between McMaster University and The Hamilton Spectator. A unique learning opportunity, developed by the Faculty of Social Sciences Experiential Education office, gave social sciences students the opportunity to participate in a seven-week job shadow placement.

May 30, 2005

Students can test their investment prowess against that of their professors in the Disnat DeGroote School of Business Stock Market Challenge. DeGroote staff and alumni are also participating. They will be challenged by special guest investor, Felix the Cat, who will make random stock investments.

May 27, 2005

McMaster students, faculty, staff and alumni will run, walk, roll and wheel a 15-kilometer course in support of the MacWheeler program. On Sunday, June 12, two McMaster teams will participate in The Rick Hansen Wheels in Motion event, committed to improving the 'quality of life' of people living with spinal cord injury. This year, proceeds from the event will support the MacWheeler program, a community-based program offering individualized exercise training for people with spinal cord injury, located in the Ivor Wynne building in the Center for Health Promotion and Rehabilitation.

May 27, 2005

One-hundred and fifty Grade 6-8 students from Hamilton-Wentworth took part in an All Science Challenge today at McMaster. The All-Science Challenge is a competition that quizzes students on their knowledge of fun science facts. Contestants learned about all areas of science from a guidebook provided by McMaster, then they came to McMaster today for an afternoon to compete for the title of "All Science Challenge Champion".

May 27, 2005

An exhibit by Naomi Jackson Groves, niece of celebrated artist A.Y. Jackson, is on display at the McMaster Museum of Art from May 31 to August 21, 2005. Entitled "Naomi Jackson Groves: Northern Soul", the exhibit is curated by Teresa Gregorio, a fourth-year art history student at the School of the Arts at McMaster University. A curator's talk is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1 at 12:30 p.m.

May 27, 2005

The Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) has once again recognized that McMaster's University Advancement and student recruitment operations are among the best in Canada. In the Prix d'Excellence competition, the prestigious annual awards program of CCAE, McMaster was awarded one gold, three silvers and two bronzes.

May 26, 2005

The Council of Ontario Universities today announced the members of the Selection Panel that will oversee the process for the creation of Ontario Research Chairs at universities across the province. The Panel will be chaired by David Strangway, former president and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation and past president and vice-chancellor of the University of British Columbia.

May 26, 2005

The Henry Chaim Witelson Memorial Prize in Ophthalmology is celebrating its sixth anniversary of giving unique learning opportunities to McMaster University medical students to learn about ophthalmology and participate in preserving or restoring eyesight. The sixth anniversary of the prize is especially notable since each recipient has fulfilled the goal of the prize, which is to encourage more students to enter the field of ophthalmology and contribute to the exciting new developments in clinical care and research in a rapidly changing medical/surgical specialty.

May 26, 2005

Close to 700 economists from around the world will gather at McMaster this week for the 39th annual Canadian Economics Association meeting. Hosted by McMaster's Department of Economics, the meeting will begin Thursday, May 26 with the conference of the Canadian Public Economics Group as well as the Canadian Employment Research Forum, where papers on the labour markets for physicians, nurses and other health professionals will be presented.

May 25, 2005

Their efforts have transformed McMaster. Their service has been outstanding. On Wednesday, May 18, President Peter George recognized 134 employees for contributing to McMaster's commitment to creativity, innovation and excellence. "Each of your individual efforts," he said, "whatever the scope of your role may be, continues to affect change at McMaster University. Your continuing efforts bring us ever closer to the desired result of making McMaster the best it can be and ensure that our possibilities are endless."

May 25, 2005

On Thursday, May 26, McMaster Human Rights and Equity Services, in partnership with OPIRG and MSU Diversity Services, will screen Continuous Journey, an award-winning film by noted film-maker Ali Kazimi. This complex film uses archival images and documents to tell the story of the ill-fated ship, the Komagata Maru, and its 376 passengers who arrived in Canada in 1914 expecting to be welcomed as British subjects from the eastern edges of the British Empire. However, they were greeted with wide spread racist hysteria and calls for a "White Canada forever".

May 25, 2005

It has been known for some time that smoking can affect a woman's fertility, but a study published in the medical journal Human Reproduction by a research team at McMaster University, suggests that exposure to side-stream smoking - smoke given off by a smouldering cigarette - is just as damaging. In a study of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) researchers examined the quality of embryos and the implantation and pregnancy rates of 225 women who were grouped according to whether they were non-smokers, smokers or side-stream smokers (women who lived with a partner who regularly smoked).

May 24, 2005

An inviting and calming gathering space is set to replace the concrete jungle of the Arts Quadrangle. The area, located between the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC), Michael G. DeGroote School of Business (MGD), Kenneth Taylor Hall (KTH), Chester New Hall (CNH) and Togo Salmon Hall (TSH), will undergo four phases of construction over the next four years. Phase 1 involves the area between MGD and KTH. This area has had leaks to the basement areas below the deck over the last few years and as a result had been identified as a priority for remediation. The first phase of the project is scheduled to begin June 6, 2005.

May 24, 2005

Martin Gibala, associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology and co-director of the Exercise Metabolism Research Laboratory at McMaster University, has been awarded a research award from SIRC Sport Research.

May 24, 2005

Researchers will tackle some of the most important questions in science this week at McMaster. How did life originate on Earth? What are the important steps in evolution? How do stars and planets form? Is there life elsewhere? Scientists from around the globe will attempt to answer these questions during a major international conference called Astrobiology and the Origins of Life.

May 20, 2005

McMaster University Senate last met on Monday, May 16 in the Council Chambers of Gilmour Hall. The following are some of the items addressed at this meeting.