Daily News

May 17, 2005

Kenneth Taylor Hall's employee lounge has been given a facelift. "This lounge looks absolutely wonderful," said Susan Elliott, dean of social sciences, at the grand opening of the lounge this week. "This is a great place for employees to hang out."

May 17, 2005

Forty-three degrees and diplomas will be conferred on graduands of Divinity College at its annual Spring Convocation ceremony today (Tuesday, May 17). The ceremony will be held at 8 p.m. in Convocation Hall. Degrees to be conferred are: Doctor of Ministry, Master of Theology, Master of Divinity, Master of Religious Education, Master of Theological Studies and Master of Arts -- Christian Studies. Certificates to be awarded are: Diploma in Ministry, Certificate of Christian Studies and Certificate in Parish Nurse Ministry.

May 16, 2005

The fire that damaged the third floor of Gilmour Hall yesterday has been ruled accidental. The exact cause is still to be determined. The Research Services office suffered the most damage. Human Resources Services, the School of Graduate Studies and Career and Employment Services suffered from smoke and water damage. Clean up crews are working to re-open areas as quickly as possible. In the meantime, temporary arrangements are being made to accommodate staff.

May 16, 2005

More than $1 million in new research funding from the Canadian Cancer Society has been awarded to two McMaster researchers. Andrew Rainbow and Marko Simunovic were awarded funding to support their leading-edge research into the prevention and treatment of human cancers.

May 16, 2005

Second-year McMaster wrestler Stefanie Howorun qualified for the 2005 Summer World University Games winning the 67 weight class at the Canadian FISU wrestling trials held in Renfrew ON this past weekend. The trials were held in conjunction with the 2005 Wresting Canada Canadian Senior National Championships. Howorun placed third in the 67 kg weight class in the National Championship competition held on Saturday.

May 16, 2005

More than 230 delegates from across Canada are expected to visit McMaster this week for the 23rd annual meeting of the Microscopical Society of Canada. Participates will discover the latest developments in microscopy methods, including x-ray, electron microscopy, acoustic, light and scanning probe microscopy methods.

May 15, 2005

The third floor of Gilmour Hall has been closed after a fire Sunday evening. The blaze started in the Research Services area and the smoke also caused some damage to Human Resources Services offices. No one was injured and the cause remains under investigation. The amount and extent of damage was still being assessed Sunday night. All employees in Gilmour Hall are to report to work as usual on Monday.

May 13, 2005

The Faculty of Science is hosting its third annual Accelerated Students Workshop today on campus. Grade 11 students from secondary schools in Hamilton-Wentworth, Halton, and Niagara districts have chosen activities offered by departments in Science. Approximately 120 participants are attending activities this morning in: computer science, psychology, medical physics, biology, chemistry, physics and astronomy, mathematics and statistics, and geology and geography.

May 13, 2005

McMaster is hosting a two-day meeting of the brains and minds behind The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR's) Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction (INMHA). Researchers are gathering for CIHR's Institute Advisory Board meeting today and tomorrow at McMaster. The board meets several times a year, either in person or via conference call. McMaster decided to host the event to highlight research at the University and other Ontario universities related to INMHA's mandate. The event is also intended to bring together board members from across Canada to discuss new and potential collaborations.

May 13, 2005

Mike Lukas, a second-year mathematics and statistics student at McMaster, is off to the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology this fall thanks to a Killam Fellowship Award. The $10,000 US award provides exceptional students from select universities in Canada and the US the opportunity to attend university in the other country for one semester or one year of their undergraduate career.

May 13, 2005

An exhibit featuring linoleum prints illustrating scenes from the Exodus and the Passover Seder is on display in the Togo Salmon Gallery of the McMaster Museum of Art. Created by New York-based Jewish artist Ben Simon, the exhibit, entitled "Haggadah", runs May 10 to 29.

May 11, 2005

McMaster University's Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine will be increasing its medical school enrolment to assist in solving the physician shortage, as a result of the provincial budget announced by Ontario's finance minister Greg Sorbara. The exact number of additional students is not yet determined, however, they will join the current class of 138 first-year medical students.

May 11, 2005

In his budget, delivered to the Ontario Legislature, Greg Sorbara, the minister of finance, singled out McMaster's Innovation Park, announcing that the province would contribute $10-million to accelerate the development of the site.

May 11, 2005

"The province has sent a clear signal that higher education is the cornerstone of Ontario's future growth and prosperity," said Peter George, president of McMaster University following Wednesday's budget speech. The budget included a 35 per cent increase in annual operating grants for postsecondary education beginning with a $683-million increase in 2005/06, and reaching $1.2-billion by 2009/10. In addition, there is a doubling of funding for student assistance, and additional graduate student support, and funding for capital improvement.

May 11, 2005

Roger Trull has been reappointed vice-president university advancement, effective July 1, 2005. "Mr. Trull has worked tirelessly in his commitment to advancement and alumni development, and to McMaster University," said President Peter George. "He has become an innovative leader in his profession, a strong liaison with the community and an important member of the senior management team at the University."

May 11, 2005

Human Rights and Equity Services, in partnership with OPIRG and MSU- Diversity Services, is showing two remarkable films in May (Asian Heritage Month) to draw . . .

May 11, 2005

McMaster is providing the building blocks to a healthy environment through a new Sustainable Building Policy. "We want to ensure McMaster is on the leading edge of sustainable building development," says Tony Cupido, director of physical plant. "We've developed a policy that will provide a sustainable framework so that when we're designing and operating our buildings we're keeping the future and the environment in mind."

May 10, 2005

For a change, Tommy Piribauer stands in front of the camera, not behind it. He displays a broad grin as he leans against a sign in front of the McMaster University Student Centre. After all, he just finished talking about his new role as president of the McMaster Students Union (MSU). His smile disappears momentarily, while reminiscing about his days as a photographer. Leading a student body of 17,691 will not leave much time for his favourite hobby.

May 9, 2005

Over the past few years, Pungi Dorasamy has expanded his view of end-of-life care to include a more holistic approach. An internal medicine and respirology specialist at McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences and attending physician at Hamilton Health Sciences, Dorasamy says that it has become obvious that physicians are being trained in curative medicine, and their view of palliative or end-of-life care is centred on the physical aspects of patients' well-being.

May 9, 2005

H-2-0 - or dihydrogen-monoxide - is really one of the more fascinating little molecules on our planet. It's the foundation of life, a mode of travel, a healing force, the reason Earth is called the Blue Planet. So, what's up with water? Why is it so cool (literally and figuratively)? Why do fish hang out at the bottom of lakes? Why do we look to bacteria to help clean up dirty water? Why is the search for life on other planets always about the search for water?