Daily News

July 15, 2004

McMaster employees will soon have career planning advice at work with the introduction of a new career services initiative to be offered by the Career Planning & Employment Centre (CPEC). A one-year pilot project will offer a variety of career services to McMaster employees, including sessions on career decision making, planning for professional development/training and employment applications. "Offering career services to employees is an emerging trend in the field of human resources development," says Lisa Boniface, director of CPEC. "By offering this service, it will further enhance our ability to be an employer of choice."

July 15, 2004

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Bontis.jpg” caption=”Nick Bontis”]Business professor Nick Bontis has won the Emerald Literati Awards' 2004 Outstanding Paper accolade for best article published in The Leadership . . .

July 14, 2004

McMaster researchers have received a two-year $130,000 grant (USD) from the American Tinnitus Association to try to better understand tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears." "This funding will support research on the development of new procedures to ameliorate tinnitus, a medical condition that causes millions of people to hear disturbing noise when no external source is present," says Larry Roberts, McMaster psychology professor. "The research will also help us to understand how tinnitus is generated by the brain." Roberts will oversee the two projects related to this study. The first study will establish a procedure for measuring "residual inhibition", which is a temporary suppression of tinnitus produced by masking sounds. The sounds will be customized for each subject in order to maximize residual inhibition and assess clinical benefits. Researchers will also assess whether sounds that induce residual inhibition span regions of hearing loss, as predicted by some brain models of tinnitus. Lawrence Ward of the University of British Columbia will collaborate with the McMaster group on this study.

July 14, 2004

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/hair_shaving.jpg” caption=”Jeannette Jackson”]Staff members in the Department of Biology had a 'hair-raising' challenge last week. One member of the department shaved her head . . .

July 13, 2004

Paul K. Bates, McMaster's new dean of business, was welcomed to the University and Hamilton community at a wine and cheese reception last week, hosted by the DeGroote School of Business. Mayor Larry Di Ianni welcomed Bates to Hamilton, while John Dolbec and Rebecca Wissenz brought best wishes on behalf of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. Former business dean David Conrath and his wife Diane also stopped by to offer their congratulations. McMaster President Peter George and provost Ken Norrie again welcomed Bates to McMaster and affirmed their confidence in his ability to bring DeGroote to the forefront of Canadian business schools.

July 12, 2004

For many of the McMaster students you see working on and around campus, this summer will build the foundation of a work history that will impact the rest of their lives. Students such as Cara Sweeny have been fortunate enough to find great jobs through the University's Work-Study Program and McWork Program during the school year and through the summer. Sweeny found her ideal job as science career assistant in Science Career Services. The faculty-specific career centre serves 3,000 undergraduate science students. Sweeny's job was provided through the University's Work-Study Program where she worked up to 10 hours a week while attending classes, and then full-time through the summer through the McWork Program.

July 9, 2004

A little girl loves the older boy who lives across the street because he has "train tracks" on his teeth. She believes there's a train in there somewhere, and she is determined to ride it. When it finally appears, it escapes from James' mouth and takes her on an exciting journey  right through the centre of the earth. . .to China. This imaginative story is the brainchild of McMaster creative writing student Amy Dennis, whose children's book James Parsons and His Magnificent Mouth of Adventure was just released by Potlatch Publications. "This is a story about celebrating people who are 'different'," says Dennis, 27, who will graduate this fall with a certificate in creative writing from McMaster. She says the story comes from a personal experience which she uses to develop the theme of how children view differences in others. "I wanted to explore some of the things kids are typically embarrassed about and turn them into positives," says Dennis. "The narrator accepts James' dental braces and sees them in a different light."

July 8, 2004

By donating its $2,000 President's Award for Outstanding Service to a student scholarship, the Student On-Line Academic Registration (SOLAR) team epitomizes what the award is about, feels Gary Warner, director of McMaster's Arts & Science Program. SOLAR donated its award at a small reception this week for an in-course scholarship named in memory of Charon McCain, who died of cancer on March 22 after a five-year fight with this disease. McCain worked in Financial Services for five years, in Student Financial Aid for 13 years and finally as the administrator in Arts and Science for almost two years. The donation has brought the endowment close to its goal of $10,000, which will be used to fund a scholarship annually for a student in the Arts & Science Program. Details about the scholarship are still being finalized.

July 8, 2004

To a by-stander, it may seem like playing in the sand. However, to the 52 high school students who have come to Hamilton from all parts of Canada, it is an enlightening lesson about the challenges that are faced by a modern city. The event is Shad City, and it will be taking place Friday, July 9 and Saturday, July 10 at Kelso Conservation Area. The students are participants in an elite summer science, technology, mathematics, and entrepreneurship program called Shad Valley. During Shad City, 52 of Canada's brightest students will be challenged to produce a plan for building a city, while considering social, economic, and environmental issues. The participants will be divided into four groups, each responsible for a particular section of the city.

July 7, 2004

McMaster University has hired Ken Fitzpatrick, the former captain of the Canadian men's swim team (1984, Los Angeles Olympics) as head coach of the McMaster swim team. Fitzpatrick comes to McMaster with 12 years of coaching knowledge and 19 years of marketing experience. He was the assistant swim coach and marketing manager at the Cascade Swim Club (240 members) in Calgary from 2000-2004 where he coached multiple individual and team relay provincial record setters while securing over $50,000 in sponsorship and grants.

July 6, 2004

When it comes to online shopping, consumer experiences vary greatly according to the product they're seeking, according to a McMaster study. In a study involving 227 online shoppers, McMaster business professors Khaled Hassanein and Milena Head uncovered critical factors that impact consumer trust, which they say is necessary in establishing a successful relationship with online vendors. The survey included a mix of employees at a large Canadian utility company and MBA students, both male and female, who averaged more than 10 hours of online shopping a week, for both tangible products (such as books and clothing) and intangible products (such as concert and airline tickets). "Trust has been lacking in the online environment and is stifling the growth of online sales," says Hassanein. "People are used to face-to-face dealings, they like to hold products in their hands and feel them before making a purchase."

July 6, 2004

Lorne Finkelstein, a McMaster clinical professor in cardiology, has been awarded a distinguished service award from the Hamilton Academy of Medicine, for contributing to the . . .

July 5, 2004

After two years of collaboration, McMaster's Mark Loeb, Marek Smieja and Fiona Smaill are celebrating the fruit of their labour with the launch of their textbook, Evidence-based Infectious Diseases, published recently through BMJ Books. Though standard textbooks on this topic are abundant, this book is considered the first of its kind through its use of evidence-based medicine. "McMaster is considered the home of evidence-based medicine," said Smieja. "We thought it very fitting that our textbook would reflect this approach." All three editors are members of the Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, having trained in medical microbiology, infectious diseases, and health research methodology.

July 5, 2004

The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ)  the new job evaluation tool for positions in the MUSA bargaining unit  is now available online. The Joint . . .

July 2, 2004

A McMaster University graduate has been awarded a prestigious Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation doctoral scholarship, the premier award in Canada for studies in the social sciences and humanities. Alenia Kysela, who graduated from McMaster University's arts and science program in 1994 and from McMaster's doctor of medicine program in 1997, is among 14 scholars selected for the award. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in anthropology at the University of Toronto and works in the field of international health, in particular HIV primary health care in under-resourced settings. Each year, up to 15 doctoral students are chosen through a highly rigorous selection process. All scholars are doctoral candidates in the social sciences and humanities and are pursuing research touching upon one or more of the four themes of the foundation: human rights and social justice; responsible citizenship; Canada and the world; and humans and their natural environment.

June 30, 2004

McMaster University is celebrating Canada Day with the creation of a Canadian history professorship at the University naming a leading Canadian historian and author to the post. H. V. (Viv) Vivian Nelles will join McMaster University as the L.R. Wilson Professor in Canadian History this Canada Day. Nelles has authored several books and has a new one out this summer. The 268-page book titled, A Little History of Canada, is addressed to several audiences, according to his introduction. "The first are Canadians in search of a brief introduction to the history of their country.

June 30, 2004

Researchers at McMaster University will discover new ways of treating cancer and respiratory illnesses and gain a greater understanding of how people learn and how the body responds to exercise, thanks to a $420,081 investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation's (CFI) New Opportunities Fund. "Our researchers continue to have great success in a highly competitive process," said Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president research & international affairs. "The research we're doing at McMaster is leading edge and CFI support is an integral part of our research enterprise." "These CFI investments will provide world-class facilities and cutting edge tools for Canadian researchers examining complex issues that are of critical importance to the province of Ontario and the rest of Canada," said Carmen Charette, interim president and CEO of the CFI. "It will also enable outstanding researchers to provide the training and mentoring required by the next generation."

June 29, 2004

A McMaster child psychiatrist, who has mentored medical students regarding issues releted to international health and written books for Afghan children dealing with war, has received an award for her extensive accomplishments and commitment to health care education. Joanna Santa Barbara, a member of the psychiatry and behavioural neurosciences department, is the recipient of this year's John C. Sibley Award for part-time faculty from the Faculty of Health Sciences. "Recipients are selected based on activities that reflect initiative and sustained commitment and have a lasting impact on teaching and learning in the Faculty," said Susan Denburg, associate dean, academic. The Sibley Award was named for John C. Sibley, one of the founders of McMaster Medical School. He was known for his interdisciplinary approach to community health both locally and internationally. "I've learned a lot about teaching from wonderful colleagues," said Santa Barbara. "It always feels like a privilege to participate in learning situations."

June 28, 2004

It turns out sustainable transportation is not a challenge for McMaster. Twelve per cent of the McMaster population -- or 618 participants  took part in this year's Commuter Challenge, leading the way among similarly sized companies and organizations across the country. "We are just blown away by the results," says Jennifer Dawson, Alternative Commuting & Transportation (ACT) Office co-ordinator. "With the help of a committed campus steering committee, enthusiastic and dedicated co-ordinators from 50 departments and the lure of free food we well exceeded our goal of 400 participants. Last year we only had 79 people take the challenge. We're just thrilled with this year's response." The Commuter Challenge, an event to encourage citizens and employees across Canada to walk, cycle, take transit and rideshare to work, took place May 30 to June 5, 2004. McMaster celebrated the week with an Active Transportation Fair, free pancake breakfast (served by President Peter George and Ward One councillor Brian McHattie), and a Walk n' Roll Party, which took up part of Zone 2 parking lot.

June 27, 2004

In the 2000 federal election, 25 per cent of young adults and 61 per cent of all Canadians exercised their right to vote. Today, different . . .