Daily News

June 6, 2005

McMaster celebrated the academic accomplishments of its student-athletes Sunday at the ninth annual Marauder Scholar Brunch held as a part of McMaster Alumni Weekend. In 2004/2005, McMaster established a new benchmark with 299 student-athletes (38 per cent) achieving a minimal sessional average of 9.5 (out of 12) - or 80 per cent.

June 6, 2005

For the first time, McMaster will honour four graduating students for obtaining the highest cumulative grade point average of their class. Alaina Benoit, honours linguistics; Christian Kurtz, honours business commerce; Jonathan Little, honours kinesiology; and Matthew Schmidt, honours French-A and linguistics, are recipients of the 2005 Governor General's Silver Academic Medal for each receiving a grade point average of 11.9. The students will receive the honour at their respective convocation ceremony this week.

June 4, 2005

This Spring, McMaster University is conferring honorary degrees on David Brown, Jean Chretien, Cathy Crowe, Hugh Fraser, Ben Heppner, Eric Hoskins, David Hubel, Linda Hutcheon, Mike Lazaridis, Samantha Nutt, Ivan Reitman, Haddon Robinson, and J. Michael Rowe. We don't normally defend our choice of honorary degree candidates, but in the case of Jean Chretien, there is an aspect of his contribution to the country that deserves mentioning, and of which many are not aware.

June 3, 2005

Team members of the McMaster Solar Car Project unveiled one of Canada's entries into the first-ever North American Solar Car Challenge today. Named Phoenix, the solar car features a redesigned aerodynamic shell, a three-wheel chassis system for reduced road resistance, a more efficient solar array with 479 solar cells, and new suspension, steering and braking systems for improved performance and handling.

June 3, 2005

McMaster multimedia students and faculty were recognized recently for their work on Virtual Cities, a collaborative project with the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Virtual Cities was the online companion site to the AGH exhibit titled Future Cities. The Merchant Capital Group Design Award was awarded to multimedia graduates Audrey Carr '05, Andrew Paulin '05, Katrina Jennifer Bedford '04, to multimedia professors Geoffrey Rockwell and Liss Platt, and to AGH director of programming Shirley Madill.

June 3, 2005

While McMaster President Peter George flipped flapjacks, Commuter Heroes were recognized for helping the environment through sustainable transportation. Commuter Heroes are individuals nominated by their fellow employees and students for their ongoing commitment to sustainable and active transportation.

June 3, 2005

Canada's Research University of the Year has been awarded another $2.5 million in research grants. The new funds for McMaster come from the Social Sciences and Humanties Research Council (SSHRC) and will support the work of 32 research projects. Researchers will use the money to look at a number of projects - from exploring the experience and meaning of inheritance within families to restructuring in the nonprofit social services to the role of media coverage in capital markets to classical commentaries of the 15th century.

June 3, 2005

McMaster alumni will return to their alma mater this weekend for the 2005 Alumni Weekend, featuring tours of campus, garden parties, an annual general meeting, class reunions and an awards ceremony. "We're looking forward to a wonderful Alumni Weekend," says Rod Morrison, director of the McMaster Alumni Association. "It's always a special pleasure to welcome McMaster graduates back to campus, to celebrate the accomplishments of the newest members of the Alumni Gallery, and to thank all of the volunteers who work on behalf of the McMaster Alumni Association throughout the year. It promises to be a great occasion."

June 2, 2005

Music makes us move to the rhythm. But just how are music and movement related? McMaster University researchers have found that how we move also shapes what we hear, even in babies. "The simultaneous experience of listening and moving to a rhythm wires the brain so that different senses work together," says Laurel Trainor, a psychology professor at McMaster. "Our interpretation of sound is affected not only by our auditory system but by input from our other senses as well."

June 2, 2005

Ever wonder what exactly is in the air that we breathe in and out each day? McMaster's own Brian McCarry can tell us this and more. He can tell us what pollutants are in the air, how they will affect us, and most important what we can do to help prevent further pollution. McCarry, chair of McMaster's Department of Chemistry, was recognized last night (Wednesday) for his work with a Hamilton Environmentalist of the Year Award. He was named the 26th recipient of the Dr. Victor Cecilioni Award at a banquet at the Hillcrest Restaurant.

June 1, 2005

She's an advocate, teacher and mentor, who has spoken on topics ranging from citizenship to the role of women in history and Canadian children and adolescents. And for helping change the lives of McMaster students and employees, McMaster's Geraldine Voros was among seven women selected for a Hamilton Annual Women of the Year Award. Voros, a doctoral candidate at McMaster and sessional lecturer for the Faculty of Social Sciences, was nominated in the category of "Mentoring and Education".

June 1, 2005

A new design and a new name are just two of the highlights to be announced when the McMaster Solar Car Project unveils its much anticipated, third-generation, solar-powered vehicle on Friday, June 3, 2005. "After eight months of hard work on this car we are really excited about unveiling it," said Karleen Dudeck, business manager of the McMaster Solar Car Project. "It will represent the sum of a lot of blood, sweat and tears."

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

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.