Daily News

March 18, 2005

Reproductive choice and new genetic reproductive technologies will be the topic of McMaster University's 2005 Enkin lecture to be given by Martin Richards, a professor of family research of the University of Cambridge, UK, on Wednesday, March 23. Richards is a world-renowned researcher on genetic counseling and testing for inherited conditions, especially cancer and gene-based learning disorders.

March 18, 2005

McMaster's Dance Company was golden at two recent competitions  the American Colleges Dance Festival and Canadian University Challenge Cup. McMaster was the only Canadian university performing in the American College Dance Festival and were selected by adjudicators to show choreography in the Gala in which 10 dances were chosen from 40 entrants. The company, led by artistic director and kinesiology professor Dave Wilson, which has competed in the competition since 1989, entered both modern and urban choreography in the adjudications.

March 18, 2005

While searching for the comics in his local newspaper one day, Craig Kielburger came across the story of a young boy who had been sold into slavery as a carpet weaver, escaped, and was murdered when he tried to speak out against child labour. The story so shocked Kielburger, who was 12 at the time, that he relayed the story to his friends the next day at school, and began a campaign to advocate for the rights of children.

March 18, 2005

Two hundred million years ago, there was no north, south, east, or west. No borders, no countries, no continents; only Pangaea. Now in this space and time, students will celebrate what once was and can now be. More than 900 students are expected to attend the third annual Pangaea Multicultural Show at McMaster on Sunday, March 20. The event will bring together students in an attempt to unify the celebration of various cultures.

March 18, 2005

It's 11 a.m. on a weekday in March and you need to study for a mid-term. You head over to the library to find a quiet spot. You can't find a seat anywhere. Groups of students sit on the floor collaborating on projects. All the group study rooms are being used. In the reference area, students are lined up waiting to use the computers.

March 17, 2005

McMaster alumnus Wayne Gowan '77 was hired as the fourth baseball coach of the McMaster baseball program. Gowan, a native of Hamilton, has coached highschool, club and elite baseball at all levels including Mountain City Baseball, West Mountain Baseball, Hamilton District Baseball Association.

March 17, 2005

Primary health care providers, particularly family physicians, are the first line of contact for patients and families. They play a critical role in facilitating access to effective palliative care for dying patients in a community. Yet, most family physicians in Canada have received little or no training in palliative care and they have repeatedly identified difficulty in accessing interdisciplinary resources to address the complex issues faced by both patients and families at the end-of-life.

March 17, 2005

Health promotion and helping employees return to work are the focus of changes being made to McMaster's Employee Work-Life Support Services (EWLSS). "For the past few years, we've run a number of programs," says Wanda McKenna, manager, Employee Work-Life Support Services. "That's given us time to see what employees really want and a chance to refine the programs so that they have the most impact." The delivery of health programs for employees will now fall under the EWLSS.

March 17, 2005

For their ability to communicate and their approachability and enthusiasm, 11 McMaster professors have been selected by students as the University's top teachers. Students paid tribute to their favourite professors at last night's annual Teaching Awards Ceremony, hosted by the McMaster Students Union. The event took place in the CIBC Banquet Hall in the McMaster University Student Centre.

March 16, 2005

Twenty-five McMaster biology students presented a diverse range of research at the 18th annual Ontario Biology Day last weekend at Laurentian University. They were among 74 students from six Ontario universities to give oral and poster presentations on the senior thesis and project work they undertook this academic year through the following courses: BIOL 4C09; BIOL 4F06 and MOL BIOL 4R09.

March 16, 2005

Graduate achievements and contributions were acknowledged last night at the tenth annual Graduate Students Recognition Day. Hosted by the Graduate Students Association (GSA) and the School of Graduate Studies, the event recognized a range of activities, including innovation in research, teaching assistant excellence and off-campus endeavours.

March 16, 2005

West Hamilton features two of Hamilton's most distinctive and attractive areas: the McMaster University campus and the Ainslie Wood/Westdale commercial and residential neighbourhoods. These two areas form one community with common concerns, issues, challenges and opportunities. Community representatives came together last week at a Community Forum to inform local residents of the progress that has been made over the past year in addressing these common issues.

March 16, 2005

Work on a tan or build a robot? Or, maybe, design a car or an aircraft instead. These are two of the main activities Grade 11 and 12 students interested in science and engineering can undertake as part of a new summer engineering enrichment camp launched by McMaster's Faculty of Engineering. "We're seeing more students looking to pursue their interest in science and engineering rather than camping in the wilderness," said Peter Smith, associate dean of engineering.

March 15, 2005

After a devastating tsunami struck South East Asia in December, many McMaster students, faculty and staff were left struggling to find ways to help. McMaster University medical school graduate, Hanif Jamal was one of these people. As a first-year family medicine resident, Jamal knows most university students do not have an abundance of extra cash. Therefore, he wanted to find a way for himself and young people in general, to contribute to the cause.

March 15, 2005

Knowing where to place your knife and fork after a meal may not be something students need to know to earn their degree. But it appears they understand the importance of this knowledge when entering the workforce. This was made evident by McMaster's Alumni Association's most recent student/young alumni event, "Etiquette Dinner", which attracted nearly 200 participants.

March 15, 2005

Vitamin E does not work to prevent cardiovascular incidents in people who have diabetes or cardiovascular conditions, say McMaster researchers in a paper to be published in the March 16 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The study, an extended follow-up of the HOPE trial, which began in 1993 and looked at the role of ACE inhibition and vitamin E in cardiovascular prevention, explored the role of vitamin E supplements in preventing cancer, heart disease and stroke in a high-risk population.

March 15, 2005

McMaster psychologists Mel Rutherford and Sigal Balshine will ponder the evolution of sexuality, and muse about why we aren't all hermaphrodites at McMaster University's inaugural meeting of MACafi Scientifique. The Cafi Scientifique approach complements more traditional lecture series, such as Science in the City, providing a forum for discussion that gives non-academics a chance to weigh in on science-related topics. MACafi Scientifique will premiere at The Bean Bar in Westdale, on Wednesday, March 16.

March 15, 2005

McMaster President Peter George sees the decision out of the University of Toronto today to end mandatory retirement at age 65 for professors and librarians as an inevitable move given the growing imbalance of older and younger workers in the workforce.

March 14, 2005

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have announced a major partnership with McMaster's Department of Athletics and Recreation. Under terms of the two-year agreement, the Tiger-Cats will handle all corporate sales and ticket sales for the McMaster football program. Ticket requests for McMaster football events will now be handled directly by the Ticats' business operations while Ivor Wynne Stadium, home of the Ticats, will also host all Marauder home football games for the next two years.

March 14, 2005

It's a snowy morning in late February but Joan Garson doesn't bother to shovel the driveway or sweep off the car before she departs for work. She leaves the house, locks the door and steps carefully down her driveway, past her silver car which is resting lazily beneath its undisturbed white blanket of snow. Today it's co-worker Muriel Gervais' turn to drive. Joan slides into the passenger seat of Muriel's waiting car. The car is already warm. So is Muriel's "good-morning" smile.