May 21, 2004

A prestigious Killam Fellowship is helping pave the way for McMaster honours arts & science student Theresa Enright. Enright was awarded $5,000 to study at the American University in Washington D.C. in the 2004/05 winter semester, an opportunity she says will help her towards a career in international diplomacy or law. "I am really honoured to be chosen for this scholarship and think that it's a fantastic opportunity for personal and academic growth," she says of the cross-border undergraduate scholarship and exchange program. "One of the goals of the award is to foster relations between Canada and the United States, and I am hoping that through the exchange, I will gain a greater understanding of the relationships that exist between these countries. As I will be living in Washington D.C., I will be able to witness the Canadian-American dynamic on a political level, but on a social and cultural level as well. I am considering a career in international law or diplomacy, and I hope that this exchange will help me on that path."

May 21, 2004

The Joint Job Evaluation Steering Committee (JJESC), established by McMaster University and the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA), has completed development of the new job . . .

May 21, 2004

Want an excuse to get fit, help the environment, and have fun? The Commuter Challenge is the answer. McMaster University is once again joining the City of Hamilton's efforts in the Commuter Challenge, an Environment Week event that encourages Canadians from St. John's to Victoria to try more active, sustainable forms of transportation. It all takes place May 30 to June 5, 2004. On Wednesday, May 26, ACT will host an Active Transportation Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) marketplace. The fair will feature informative speakers, a "Foot First Fashion Show", vendors and other activities.

May 21, 2004

On Tuesday, May 25, the McMaster cross country program will host the Marauder Invitational 5,000 meter track race as part of the 2004 Hamilton Summer . . .

May 21, 2004

It's 5:30 a.m. and Lou Ariano leaves his Bloor Street home in downtown Toronto. At about 6:15 a.m. he arrives on McMaster's campus and heads for the Pulse, where he works out for an hour before getting changed into his "registrar's" suit. By 8 a.m. he's ready to help recruit the best and brightest students to McMaster. It's a routine he's grown accustomed to since starting his job as university registrar Feb. 1. He came to McMaster from York University where he worked as registrar for the past three years. Promoting McMaster is an easy job for him. It helps that he's so impressed by the University. "McMaster has always had a very high profile and a great reputation in Ontario and among Canadian universities. I've been involved with universities in Canada since 1981 and I've always known about McMaster," he says. In fact, it was McMaster's reputation that drew him here.

May 20, 2004

Ontario's current home care policy has led to deteriorating working conditions for home support workers, a decreased number of qualified workers in the Hamilton area, . . .

May 19, 2004

McMaster's consultation process is completed and the University has submitted its report to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on the transformation of the granting council to a knowledge council. The report recommends a variety of new programs and structures and emphasizes McMaster's values and goals. "Not surprisingly, our researchers and graduate students were very involved in this process and provided substantial ideas and suggestions on both the SSHRC proposals and how McMaster can prepare for this transformation. We are very pleased with the participation, and the result is a document which we believe will place McMaster among the leaders when it comes to the development and implementation of the new SSHRC programs and structures," says Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president of research and international affairs. "Dr. Rockwell has done an excellent job of leading these consultations and in developing recommendations that will benefit our research and graduate student communities. This report reflects the voices of our humanists, social scientists and business scholars and it will be important to the institution as we go forward with Refining Directions, our revised strategic vision."

May 19, 2004

McMaster announced the early football recruiting class based on first round offers made by the University. McMaster has picked up nine players including receiver Mike . . .

May 18, 2004

The biotechnology and biosciences sector in the Golden Horseshoe region continues to grow and mature, with wide-ranging activity in industry and on research campuses throughout the area. On Wednesday, May 19, McMaster University will be the site of the Golden Horseshoe region's second Biosciences Innovation Summit, an excellent networking opportunity for the biosciences research and business communities. The idea of holding a BioSummit for the Golden Horseshoe region comes as a result of the province's Biotechnology Cluster Innovation Program (BCIP), whose goal is to "accelerate the development of Ontario's biotechnology clusters by supporting commercialization infrastructure projects such as research parks and other initiatives that promote entrepreneurship and innovation."

May 18, 2004

McMaster University men's rugby player Dan Pletch was named to the Rugby Canada Senior National team. Pletch joins teammate Aaron Carpenter on the Canadian squad . . .

May 17, 2004

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/bontis.gif” caption=”Nick Bontis”]McMaster business professor Nick Bontis provided the keynote address at today's (May 17) Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) National Informatics Conference. . . .

May 14, 2004

The Joint Job Evaluation Steering Committee (JJESC), established by McMaster University and the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA), has been working on the development of a new job evaluation tool for positions in the MUSA bargaining unit. The implementation of the new system is scheduled for June 16, 2005. "We are pleased to announce that we have reached a significant milestone in this joint initiative," says a JJESC bulletin released today. "The development of the new system and pilot test phase are now complete. MUSA and the University have agreed and signed off on several components including: the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), the JCQ Instruction Manual and Sample Responses, the Job Evaluation Plan, the Factor Weightings, and the Rating Notes format." The JJESC has put a great deal of effort into developing the system, the bulletin says, adding several employees and supervisors have also contributed a significant amount of time into testing the new system.

May 14, 2004

Particles in the air we breathe may pose genetic risks to humans and wildlife, according to new findings by researchers at McMaster University. In December 2002, associate professor of biology James Quinn and PhD student Chris Somers made headlines when they announced findings that suggested some component of industrial air pollution had the potential to cause genetic damage. Now, joined by chemistry professor Brian McCarry, Quinn and Somers have been able to conclude that fine airborne particulate is the culprit. "Air pollution has the potential to affect millions of humans worldwide, and has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and genetic damage in other tissues," says Quinn, who was the principal investigator on the study. "These findings implicate exposure to airborne particulate matter as a principal factor contributing to elevated mutation rates in sentinel mice, and add to accumulating evidence that air pollution may pose genetic risks to humans and wildlife."

May 14, 2004

A desire to study the effects of salt consumption in causing gastric cancer with some of the best researchers in Canada is sending a Grade 9 student of St. Thomas More Catholic secondary school to a national science fair. Natalie Raso is headed to St. John's, Nfld. on May 15. She qualified when she came in second at the Bay Area Science and Engineering Fair (BASEF) in March with her research project on Helicobacter pylori in the development of gastric cancer. She completed her research at McMaster under the guidance of Richard Hunt, and his research associate Rene Padol, Ph.D, of the Intestinal Disease Research Program. "My aim was to investigate the relationship between the bug (H.pylori) and a high salt diet, to see if it increased cell proliferation, which may develop into stomach cancer," said Raso.

May 13, 2004

Four Industrial Research Chairs totaling $5.6 million were announced last night at an Applause and Accolades gala, celebrating the numerous successes of the Faculty of Engineering in 2003. Industry Canada announced that the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will contribute $2.8 million for the chairs, with matched funding from industry partners and the University. "This investment from government and private industry is invaluable to the Faculty of Engineering," said engineering dean Mo Elbestawi. "This funding helps with our efforts to recruit and retain the most talented researchers. It has given us an edge to compete at the global level, thereby increasing our research capacity substantially."

May 13, 2004

Renowned, admired, innovative. These are some of the words that describe the recipients of this year's President's teaching awards. For outstanding contributions to educational excellence at McMaster, professors Douglas Boreham, Deborah Cook and Miroslav Lovric, were selected as this year's recipients of the awards for Excellence in Instruction, Excellence in Educational Leadership and Excellence in Course or Resources Design. Established in 1993, the awards provide the opportunity for McMaster to 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. "I am delighted to extend my congratulations to you for this well-deserved honour," says Peter George, President and Vice-Chancellor. "McMaster has been well served by your continuing efforts on behalf of teaching and learning, and our University is very fortunate to number you among our most celebrated colleagues."

May 12, 2004

McMaster University will confer honorary degrees on the Ruler of Sharjah and a former dean of McMaster University's Faculty of Health Sciences during its health sciences convocation on Friday, May 14. Four hundred and nine health sciences students, including doctors, nurses, midwives and health specialists, will graduate at the 2:30 p.m. Hamilton Place ceremony. His Highness Shaikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al-Qassimi, member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Sharjah will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree and speak to the graduates. His Highness is known as a scholar, humanitarian, and humanist who has enhanced the culture and health of his country and region. He holds an engineering degree and doctorates in history and political geography, and is president of both the University of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah. In partnership with McMaster, His Highness has developed a College of Health Sciences at the University of Sharjah. Jack Laidlaw, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences from 1981 to 1985, will receive an honorary Doctor of Science Degree. A leading scientist in the field of endocrinology, his concern for patients led him to focus on patient-centred care, communications with patients and between health professionals, supportive care for cancer patients and the education of future health care providers. He is now consultant emeritus to Cancer Care Ontario and a consultant to Cancer Care International.

May 12, 2004

McMaster's University Senate met Monday, May 10. Below are highlights from this meeting. Origins Institute Questions such as “how and why did the universe begin” . . .

May 12, 2004

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Economics,-Tyler-Chalk.jpg” caption=”Tyler Chalk”]Fourth-year economics student Tyler Chalk is helping send Canadian veterans to the 60th anniversary ceremonies of D-Day in Normandy on June . . .

May 11, 2004

McMaster University researchers will be investigating ways of preventing cancer cells from spreading thanks to awards totalling $718,500 from the Canadian Cancer Society. Andre Bedard, . . .