Daily News

June 29, 2005

Since the dropping of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki there have been severe effects from high doses of radiation. With lasting images and memories, many see radiation as negative, which has led many to fear it. Yet, it is often overlooked that low doses of radiation can be beneficial, such as radiotherapy for cancer patients, diagnostic radiology and nuclear power.

June 28, 2005

The Right Honourable Ellen Louks Fairclough, a much-loved Hamilton politician who became the first woman to be named to a federal cabinet position, was honoured Monday with the unveiling of a postage stamp commemorating her achievements. "Ellen Fairclough was a trailblazer in the area of human rights," said Roger Trull, vice-president of University Advancement. "She pioneered the principle of equal pay for equal work, and worked hard to ensure this right was extended to all Canadians." Being honoured with a postage stamp, said Trull, was an apt tribute to Fairclough, who was Canada's first and only female postmaster general.

June 27, 2005

McMaster's Steve Hranilovic is working at the frontier of an ongoing trend of technological advancement. The assistant professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering studies data communications. Specifically, he studies how light waves can be used as a medium for wireless data communication - a field also known as wireless optical communications.

June 24, 2005

Three exceptional business graduates have made the School of Business' new "wall of acclaim". A recognition wall for the Allan J. Greve - St. Joseph's Healthcare Medal for Excellence in Health Services Management was unveiled Thursday in the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business.

June 24, 2005

Automotive research at McMaster received a boost with funding for three research initiatives in the Faculty of Engineering. The AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence announced the funding at a ceremony in Toronto this week. Mo Elbestawi, professor in mechanical engineering and dean of engineering, received funding for research in high-efficiency machining processes; David Wilkinson, professor in materials science and engineering, for research in chemically enhanced formability of automotive aluminum alloys; and Marek Niewczas, associate professor in materials science and engineering, for wrought magnesium for automobiles.

June 23, 2005

For outstanding contributions to the field of organic chemistry, McMaster chemistry professor emeritus Ian Spenser received the 2005 R.U. Lemieux Award from the Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC). "Spenser has made substantial contributions to organic chemistry through his rigorous and meticulous investigations of the biosynthesis of natural products," said Dalhousie University chemist Robert White, in introducing Spenser's Lemieux Lecture, Biosynthesis of Vitamins B6 and B1: Diversity and Convergence, presented at the CSC conference May 31 in Saskatoon.

June 22, 2005

The rich have been getting richer very quickly in Canada, especially over the last two decades, according to Michael Veall, chair, Department of Economics at McMaster University, and Emmanuel Saez, associate professor of economics at the University of California Berkeley. Their findings will be published in the American Economic Review's July issue.

June 21, 2005

McMaster's Board of Governors approved a $664 million budget for the 2005/06 year. The consolidated budget incorporates all sources and uses of income for the University. The Operating Budget provides new funding of $3.7 million to provide a stimulating learning environment; $5 million to build and inclusive community; $1.5 million for Refining Directions initiatives; and a $11.7 million investment in continuing operations. It is consistent with McMaster's conservative budgeting principles, providing for $2.1 million in contingency funding for departments and programs in transition and a $6-million bridge loan to the Faculty of Science.

June 21, 2005

McMaster University received top honours at the national conference for Canadian Association of Career Educators & Employers (CACEE), held in Ottawa, June 5-8, 2005. Representatives from McMaster's career services departments received the Educational Institution Recognition Award. This award is offered annually to an educational institution in Canada that has shown exemplary support and contribution to CACEE at a national level.

June 21, 2005

The following are highlights from McMaster's University Senate meeting on June 15 and Board of Governors meeting on June 16.

June 21, 2005

An annual report of the Campus Master Plan was presented to both Senate and the Board of Governors last week. McMaster's campus has been the focus of significant growth during the last year including: the addition of an atrium to the Michael G. DeGroote Centre for Learning & Discovery; the commencement of construction of the Athletics and Recreation Centre; a new front entrance to be finished by the end of August; the continued renovation of Burke Science Building; and numerous smaller renovation projects.

June 20, 2005

McMaster has joined a new multi-year collaborative marketing plan that aims to make Hamilton known as an "education city". Through the three-year plan, local institutions will work together, and in co-operation with a range of public and private sector partners, to promote Hamilton's learning system as an advantage for the City as it competes for new companies and business development.

June 20, 2005

The Joint Job Evaluation Steering Committee (JJESC) has received a number of questions from people who are either on leave, will be going on leave, or working as a replacement for someone on leave. They all want to know if and when a Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) needs to be submitted.

June 20, 2005

McMaster's Burlington Campus project has acquired new, focused leadership in the person of Bob McNutt. McNutt has been named as an advisor to the provost to oversee the project's co-ordination. His specific responsibilities include recommending the governance structure and co-ordinating the preparation of program proposals and a financial business plan.

June 16, 2005

Ron Joyce, the former police officer who turned Tim Horton's into an iconic international franchise, has donated $10-million toward the construction of McMaster University's new stadium. The stadium will be built next to the University's Athletics and Recreation Centre, which is currently undergoing a major expansion. The announcement, made today at McMaster University, is the largest private donation made to a Canadian university athletics facility.

June 16, 2005

The human body is a remarkable machine. Enormous amounts of information are stored in the DNA of every cell in the body. Maintaining the integrity of this information is absolutely essential to the health of an individual; however, DNA is at constant risk of damage and for this reason the body has elaborate and complex systems designed to fix damaged DNA.

June 15, 2005

At 6 a.m. McMaster is calm, the deer and beaver are out of hiding and the dew begins to dry. Amid the calm are McMaster's Mark Tarnopolsky, Mike Waddington and Simon Donato, who train on McMaster's grounds every morning, seven days a week throughout the year. For them, the morning is the perfect time to train, before the heat and smog arrives, and on top of that, McMaster's campus is breathtaking.

June 14, 2005

For outstanding contributions to educational excellence at McMaster, professors with the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program and professor Anna Moro were selected as this year's recipients of the awards for Excellence in Instruction, and Excellence in Course or Resources Design. Established in 1993, the awards recognize outstanding contributions to education. Each winner receives a citation and memento at Spring Convocation and a $5,000 honorarium. Their names and photographs will be included on McMaster's Wall of Recognition in Gilmour Hall.

June 14, 2005

Results of an all-Canadian study demonstrate that patients with type 2 diabetes can safely achieve target blood sugar (glycemic) levels faster and more frequently when insulin glargine (a basal, long-acting insulin) is added to therapy, versus using oral agents alone. In addition to achieving better glycemic control, patients using insulin glargine expressed increased satisfaction with their treatment and experienced improved quality of life.

June 13, 2005

Patricia Harvey, assistant clinical professor of surgery, was presented with a Meritorious Service Decoration by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on May 31. The award was given on behalf of all Canadians to recognize exceptional deeds or activities that bring special credit to Canada.