Daily News

February 16, 2005

Is it possible to improve memory? How does the brain control emotions? What percentage of our lives do we spend sleeping? High school students from Hamilton and the surrounding area will be answering these questions and more at the second annual McMaster Brain Bee. Similar to a spelling bee, Brain Bee competitors take turns answering questions about the brain and neuroscience. The questions relate to sleep, stress, memory, intelligence, neuroanatomy, movement, perception and emotions.

February 14, 2005

That sought-after trait in a mate -- "good sense of humour" -- is more complex than originally thought. In fact, men and women define it differently. Eric Bressler, a graduate student at McMaster University who is studying the role of humour in personal attraction, discovered in a survey of 150 students that to a woman, "sense of humour" means someone who makes her laugh; to a man, a sense of humour means someone who appreciates his jokes.

February 14, 2005

Forget a box of chocolates and a dozen roses. When it comes to attracting a mate, the male sagebrush cricket brings a special nuptial gift to his partner. During copulation, these insect Romeos offer their Juliets a peculiar food gift: females chew off the ends of the males' fleshy hind wings and ingest fluid that is seeping from the wounds they inflict.

February 14, 2005

Donna Haraway, a history professor from the University of California at Santa Cruz will deliver this week's Whidden Lectures at McMaster University. The first lecture, "We Have Never Been Human: Companion Species in Nature Cultures," takes place Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Ewart Angus Centre in Health Science Centre. It will examine how to think jointly through biology, poststructuralist philosophy and science studies. Haraway will flesh out what she means by "companion species in naturecultures" as a way to inhabit multi-species worlds without the pitched battles between modernist humanism and its posts.

February 11, 2005

The McMaster Museum of Art is presenting its latest exhibit "Leaving Their Mark" by Shelly Bahl, Yael Brotman and Libby Hague from Feb. 13 to May 15, 2005. A public reception will take place Sunday March 6, from 2 - 4 p.m. with a lunchtime talk by Alison McQueen on Thursday, March 17 at 12:30 p.m.

February 11, 2005

William Spaulding, MD William Spaulding was one of the pioneers who developed the innovative medical school launched at McMaster University. As the associate dean of . . .

February 11, 2005

A meticulous diary kept by a mother of twins has revealed indicators of autistic behaviour in children as young as six months of age. The findings are published today in Neurocase. Mel Rutherford, assistant professor of psychology at McMaster University, says the diary provides a rare and unprecedented opportunity to observe the early development of autism. She says the mother of fraternal twins recorded her observations almost daily for about five years, beginning before the twins' birth. She charted the children's development in speech, social interactions, growth, and sleep disturbances, unaware that one twin was autistic until a diagnosis was made at three years of age.

February 11, 2005

Four accomplished scholars met recently at McMaster Divinity College for a student organized conference to discuss the current dialogue or lack thereof between philosophy and theology in Canada and around the world.

February 11, 2005

Three pioneers of McMaster University's medical school, a nursing leader and the first health sciences librarian, were inducted today into the Faculty of Health Sciences Community of Distinction in a ceremony that celebrated the Faculty's roots and founders. The photographs and biographies of the five are displayed in a gallery on a second floor wall in McMaster's Health Sciences Centre.

February 11, 2005

It was a day of learning and discovery for Eliot Phillipson, president & CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Phillipson spent the day at McMaster talking with researchers and administrators and visiting a variety of laboratories to see first-hand how McMaster is putting the CFI's money to work.

February 10, 2005

Tommy Piribauer will be president of the McMaster Students Union for 2005-2006. Piribauer won the race on the six ballot of preferential voting with a total of 1,719 votes. Piribauer is the current vice-president administration with the McMaster Students Union. His involvement with the MSU has spanned his university career as he spent three years as executive editor of the Marmor prior to becoming vice-president administration.

February 9, 2005

When they graduate, McMaster's varsity athletes will leave behind two marks  one on the courts and one in the classroom. On Tuesday, McMaster President Peter George recognized the marks made by the approximately 100 student-athletes scheduled to graduate this year. "We're here today to honour a remarkable group of students who stand out as scholars and as athletes," said George at the reception in Alumni Memorial Hall. "For me, one of the best parts of my job as McMaster University President is the opportunity I have to see our student-athletes in action."

February 9, 2005

This story has all the makings of a gripping motion picture. Woven throughout are drama, excitement and mystery and at the core is a protagonist too small to be seen with the naked eye. It's the story of the atom, and internationally known theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss will tell it this Thursday.

February 8, 2005

Technology using the tiniest scientific elements will have some of the biggest impacts on the future, says Charles Lieber, a distinguished chemistry professor from Harvard University, who will present the 27th Alexander Graham Bell Lecture this Thursday. "Nanotechnology offers the promise of producing revolutionary advances in many areas, extending from biotechnology and medicine to electronics and computing, and thus may impact in a substantial way our future lives," he says in a lecture abstract.

February 8, 2005

They phish, spoof, skim, and shoulder surf. And while it sounds like fun and games, the stakes are high and it's the consumer who's at the losing end. The light-hearted terminology describes methods used to commit identity theft  all types of crime where someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data to engage in various fraud schemes.

February 7, 2005

Recommendations in the Rae Report in Postsecondary Education, released today, give the Ontario government a clear path forward to building stronger and sustainable universities and colleges, says Peter George, president of McMaster University. "Competition for scarce government resources is intense but if we are to realize our economic and social aspirations as a province, and as a country, then we have to have a postsecondary education system to match. Quality requires investment by all partners."

February 7, 2005

Seven members of McMaster University were honoured at the John C. Holland Gala Awards on Saturday night. The event, which marked the start of Black History Month in Hamilton, recognizes achievements by members of the black community and provides role models for young blacks.

February 7, 2005

Summer may be months away, but things will heat up in the student centre tomorrow for Career Services' annual Job Fair. "For students looking for summer positions, the fair will give them a head start on their job search without leaving campus," says Kate Toth, events & marketing co-ordinator for Career Services. "It's important to remember that each position a student holds helps them build valuable transferable skills, which will ultimately prepare them for success in the career of their choice."

February 4, 2005

Ten members of McMaster's Residence Life staff made history last weekend by being the only school to claim the top two awards presented at the annual Residence Life Conference. The 25th annual conference was held at the University of Guelph Jan. 28-30.

February 4, 2005

The nomination deadline for the 2004 President's Awards is six weeks away for the University's highest award for non-teaching employees. Since 1997, the President's Awards have recognized and celebrated the outstanding work of more than 430 exceptional employees and team members who have contributed to the mission and success of McMaster University.