Daily News

August 19, 2003

Turning off lights, fans and photocopiers went a long way yesterday in efforts to reduce the University's power usage. The provincial state of emergency prompted McMaster to make every effort to reduce the amount of hydro currently used. Thanks to everyone's dedicated efforts, the University succeeded in operating at 30 per cent less hydro yesterday than an average business day. "I would like to thank everyone who has helped the University reduce power consumption since the blackout last Thursday," says Karen Belaire, vice-president, administration. "Your co-operation during these extreme circumstances is greatly appreciated. I understand that employees and students are patiently tolerating warmer offices and adjusting work outputs to avoid using equipment that is considered non-essential. You've done a great job of responding to an immediate need and I ask for your continued support." It will be important to continue to conserve energy wherever possible over the warm days ahead. Provincially, hydro availability is not yet back to full operating levels and the state of emergency issued by Premier Eves remains in effect. The risk of further blackouts remains a high possibility. McMaster, along with all businesses and residents, is asked to continue power reductions.

August 19, 2003

Imagine during your lunch hour popping into a technology playroom to test out new learning technologies, such as an electronic patient case to work through. That's one initiative being investigated by Ruta Valaitis, the new director of learning technologies for the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). "My goal is to co-ordinate and provide direction for the approach to learning technology applications in the FHS," said Valaitis. "I'm looking for input from a variety of groups." She will work with students, faculty and staff across FHS's medical, nursing, midwifery, rehabilitation, bachelor of health sciences (Honours) and graduate programs, as well as colleagues in the University's Learning Technologies Resource Centre (LRTC).

August 19, 2003

The three-time Yates Cup champion McMaster Marauders will sport a new look when their Ontario University Athletics season opens Labour Day. The new Spandex and . . .

August 18, 2003

McMaster is open and operating at reduced power levels today to meet the directions from the Province of Ontario during the continued state of emergency. "In order to help meet the power reductions required, all McMaster employees are asked to conserve power wherever possible," says Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. "Please turn off lights and computers that are not needed as well as fans, photocopiers or appliances. These efforts will help avoid further blackouts." "Where possible, staff and faculty are asked to please limit their research initiatives to assist with energy conservation efforts," says associate vice-president academic Fred A. Hall. "It is essential that we all make every effort to reduce our power consumption. One of the University's top priorities is to ensure that the McMaster site of Hamilton Health Sciences has sufficient power to provide essential services."

August 17, 2003

McMaster University is open today, Monday, Aug. 18, but is operating at reduced power. University faculty, staff and students are asked to conserve power where possible. All managers are invited to an information meeting hosted by Karen Belaire, vice-president administration, today at 11 a.m. in the Council Chambers, Gilmour Hall, Rm. 111. The University was closed Friday and over the weekend because of a massive blackout on Thursday, Aug. 14 that affected most of Ontario and large portions of the American northeast. (end of story)

August 15, 2003

Hamilton Hydro has requested that McMaster University reduce its power consumption by 25 per cent effective immediately. Because of an ongoing possibility of local blackouts or brownouts in the Hamilton area, McMaster is accommodating this request in an effort to restore power as quickly as possible to all areas of Hamilton and Ontario. Primary power will be cut immediately, leaving only emergency power in the following buildings: Chester New Hall; Togo Salmon Hall; Kenneth Taylor Hall; Michael G. DeGroote School of Business; Institute for Applied Health Sciences; Wentworth House; Communications Research Lab; Thode Library; Burke Sciences Building; General Sciences Building; and Information Technology Building. It will remain an emergency power source only until the University reopens on Monday morning. The contact for any enquiries is McMaster Security at ext. 24281 (this is a 24-hour number). (end of story)

August 15, 2003

In keeping with the State of Emergency issued by Premier Ernie Eves, and in the interest of individual safety and security, please be advised that McMaster University will remain closed due to the power outage for the weekend of Aug. 16 and 17, 2003. There is an ongoing possibility of local blackouts or brownouts in the Hamilton area. McMaster wishes to assist all efforts to restore power as quickly as possible to all areas of Hamilton and Ontario. The Horizon's Conference scheduled for this weekend is cancelled. Participants will be informed regarding the rescheduling of the event. All buildings at the University will remain locked over the weekend. Employees/individuals who access offices or labs are asked to ensure that all doors remain locked and to minimize the use of lights, computers, water or any other resources. At present the University will aim to reopen for business on Monday, Aug. 18. The University's crisis management team will continue to monitor the situation over the weekend. Ongoing updates will be provided on the Daily News Web site and local area media. (end of story)

August 15, 2003

MCAT exams scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16 have been cancelled. Students do not need to report to the Burke Sciences Building to write their exams . . .

August 13, 2003

Communicating, developing people, leading, embracing change, optimizing service relationships, and employing university acumen are six core competencies President Peter George has asked all McMaster managers and leaders to learn to understand in order to focus the culture of managing at the University. The first training sessions exploring the knowledge, skills, and behaviours comprising the McMaster core competencies were held recently. These sessions covered the 'Communicating' and 'Developing People' competencies, and were delivered at the Centre for Continuing Education (CCE). Additional training involving the initial 30-plus participants is scheduled for Oct. 16-17 and 30-31, and will cover the core competency 'Optimizing Service Relationships'.

August 13, 2003

Building a better engineer is the theme of McMaster's Faculty of Engineering and the UROP students' summer accomplishments are proof that it works. McMaster will honour their achievements at the inaugural Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) Symposium on Friday, Aug. 15 in the McMaster University Information Technology Building from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. UROP is the only program of its kind in Canada and, with a price tag of a quarter million dollars, offers first- and second-year students the opportunity to compete for paid summer employment in the research field. UROP provides exposure to research environments generally only experienced by upper level and graduate students. "It's a really good program," said Kevin Solomon, a second-year student who is participating in UROP for the second time. "It's relevant to my future career goals. I can apply it to school and I get an actual taste of the future."

August 12, 2003

Improving patient care by solving a decades-old blood transfusion allergy mystery was one career highlight for Prof. Nancy Heddle. That work, along with her other research projects in blood transfusions and blood products, led to another career high early this year when the professor in the Department of Medicine and director of the Transfusion Research Program at McMaster received the 2002 Premier's Award of Excellence. Heddle was one of six recipients of this year's award presented by Ontario Premier Ernie Eves at a Toronto reception. The annual awards recognize career success and community contributions of college graduates. Her award was in the Health Sciences category. "It was absolutely wonderful," says Heddle, a 1969 graduate of the Medical Laboratory Technology Program at Mohawk College. She received a medal and certificate as well as a $5,000 bursary to be presented to the college. "I was excited, and honoured that I had been chosen."

August 11, 2003

Two teachers who take a personal approach to health education are the winners of this year's John C. Sibley Award for part-time members of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). The co-recipients are Harald Stolberg, of the Department of Radiology and Denise Marshall, of the Department of Family Medicine. The award is named for former associate dean John (Jack) C. Sibley, one of the founders of FHS who was known both locally and internationally for his interdisciplinary approach to community health. Established in 1986, it is given annually to those who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to innovative teaching, interdisciplinary education and research in improving patient care.

August 8, 2003

Even for a theoretical astrophysicist, it began with that simple but universal human impulse to look up, way up. "Almost everyone likes to look at stars and think, 'Wow, what are they? Where did they come from?' We like the idea that the vast universe out there is somehow important to us," says Alison Sills, professor of physics & astronomy. Her leisure-time pursuits while growing up in Toronto included reading science fiction novels and astronomy books and gazing at the stars. Today she spends less time looking at the night sky from her backyard and more time observing simulations of colliding stars on her desktop PC, using data fed from the Hubble Space Telescope and from fellow stargazers working at Earth-bound observatories in Chile and Hawaii. Last fall the Arthur Bourns Building became home to one of fastest supercomputers in the world dedicated solely to calculating gravitational forces between stars, particularly stars in the oldest parts of our galaxy. She's purchased the new desktop device through a New Opportunities grant worth almost $175,000 announced this past summer by the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

August 7, 2003

When it comes to computers, engineering, and sciences, girls are often outnumbered by boys. This week, the Venture Engineering and Science summer day camps, run by the Faculty of Engineering, are giving female campers aged 9 to 14 special opportunities to experience the worlds of engineering and science. All girls week, which runs from Aug. 5 to Aug. 8, fosters girls' confidence with computers, engineering and science in a supportive team environment. As a finale for the week, these lucky campers will learn about being a scientist from one of their mentors, Lisa Crossley, assistant professor, chemical engineering. "Our mandate is to introduce all children to the exciting world of engineering, science, and technology in a fun and innovative environment," explains Krista Adlington, co-director of Venture. "Girls are traditionally under-represented in these fields and we want to show them how much fun engineering, science and technology can be." Part of showing this excitement is to have a women scientist visit Venture to share her experiences with the girls. Crossley will speak to the campers Friday, Aug. 8, 2003 from 11 a.m.  12 noon in the John Hodgins Building, Room 264.

August 7, 2003

A creative, multi-faceted mix of approaches to psychotherapy training has garnered an award for the postgraduate psychotherapy program at McMaster University. The Psychiatric Education Award is given by the Association for Academic Psychiatry (AAP) to an outstanding specific project or program. The AAP receives submissions internationally for the award, which recognizes programs at both medical school and residency levels. The McMaster postgraduate psychotherapy program was developed in 1995 to train psychiatric residents to practice a variety of psychotherapies. The program is innovative in that most psychotherapy programs only teach the psychodynamic approach, said Priyanthy Weerasekera, the program's co-ordinator. The psychodynamic approach to therapy is one method that psychiatrists use to help patients gain insight into their feelings.

August 6, 2003

Would you like to see what's inside a grasshopper, hear what bones have to say, brush up on your basketball, or get fit with cardio-funk? For more that 3,000 elementary and secondary students, the answer was an enthusiastic yes. This list is just a sampling of the many activities available to participants in McMaster's annual summer camp programs. The University offers four main summer camps: Venture Engineering and Science Camp, Mini-University, Sport Fitness School and Marauder Sports Camp. Programs began in July and continue throughout August.

August 6, 2003

Three leading advocates of corporate director education announced their support for The Directors College, Canada's only accredited professional development program for directors. The Ontario Municipal . . .

August 6, 2003

Some McMaster professors think this year's Ontario Grade 12 graduates — the younger members of the infamous double cohort — won't be as well prepared . . .

August 5, 2003

McMaster University researchers have passed a significant milestone along the long road to unravelling the mystery of how to get patients with spinal cord injuries . . .

August 5, 2003

It will be a taste of university life for approximately 1,500 new students and parents who will come to campus Friday, Aug. 8 for Welcome Day @ Mac 2003. Welcome Day is an opportunity for the University to welcome first-year students and their families to the McMaster community. The program is designed to provide students and parents with valuable information before classes begin in September. Visitors have a wide variety of events to choose from including tours and information sessions. As well, department, Faculty Society, MSU services and clubs displays will be set up in McMaster University Student Centre. Visitors will park in Zones 6 and 7 and will take a shuttle bus to the centre of campus, where most activities will take place. A large tent will be set up in the courtyard, where visitors can purchase Welcome Week MacPacs and pick up a barbeque lunch for $3.25. For a full schedule of events, click here