October 8, 2002

Romance will be in the air this week as McMaster hosts its eighth international Great Romantics Festival. The festival, founded in 1994 by Alan Walker, takes place Thursday, Oct. 10 to Saturday, Oct. 12. Walker is emeritus professor of music at McMaster and author of the standard (and international award-winning) biography of Franz Liszt, the famous 19th century composer. "The festival is an unusual and perhaps unique event," says David Palmer, academic skills counsellor with the Centre for Student Development. "It brings together renowned musicians from around the world to perform music from the Romantic period -- mostly of the 19th century. These musicians pay their own expenses, and appreciate this opportunity to meet each other and perform for each other, as well as for other music-lovers."

October 8, 2002

Many of the 300 McMaster students, faculty and staff who have a disability face barriers on campus every day. McMaster's Centre for Student Development (CSD) wants that to change. A disabilities awareness forum on Thursday, Oct. 10 will address disability issues that exist on campus. "Many people on campus, when they think of disability and disability issues, usually think of just physical disabilities and wheelchair accessibility," says Amber Rutherford, disabilities awareness co-ordinator with the CSD. She hopes the panel will educate people about disabilities issues on campus and also inform people about their rights. A panel of speakers, including students with visible and invisible disabilities and University representatives, will address questions such as, "What is your understanding of disabilities and disability issues on campus", "Who is responsible for change", and "what would a barrier-free campus look like to you?" The audience will be invited to share their own experiences, ideas, insights and concerns and ask the panel questions, says Rutherford. "We hope this will act as an avenue for students to contribute their ideas for the development of a barrier-free campus," she says. "Hopefully people will take away with them an understanding of disabilities, that they will be aware of the daily struggles of students, faculty and staff with disabilities and of the supports that are available for people with disabilities." People are invited to sign up to be involved in a working advocacy group following the panel discussion. The forum will be opened by Alan Shain, a comedian and disability activist, and concluded with a reception. The event takes place in the McMaster University Student Centre, Room 315 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

October 7, 2002

A pioneer in the care and treatment of critically ill newborns is being honoured today with the creation of an endowed research chair in neonatology at McMaster University. The Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation has contributed $1 million to create the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation - Jack Sinclair Chair in Neonatology. The University will match the endowment. "We are proud to make this contribution," says Liz Newman, chair of the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation Board. "It represents an investment in people and in the knowledge they bring to our hospital. "By creating this position, Hamilton Health Sciences will be better able to continue to recruit the best and the brightest in neonatology. We know it will help to ensure that babies and families in this region benefit from leading-edge care." The research chair is named in honour of Jack Sinclair, who is renowned for establishing neonatal intensive care in Hamilton and recognized internationally as an expert in evidence-based neonatology.

October 4, 2002

Globalization and autonomy scholars from Canada, China, Taiwan, Europe and the United States will converge at McMaster this weekend to help set the agenda for a major collaborative research project. Under the auspices of McMaster's Institute on Globalization and the Human Condition, team members will explore the terms "globalization" and "autonomy" during the institute's first full-team meeting, Oct. 4 to 6. "One of our objectives is to create a virtual research centre on globalization and autonomy issues to which all team members will belong and which will become a leading research centre on globalization issues in North America," says professor William Coleman, director of the Institute. The meeting includes plenary sessions, sub-groups, discussions and presentations. Sub-groups will finalize the research for the project and agree upon the organization and content of the academic publications from the project. "Although independent of McMaster's Globalization Institute, this virtual centre will be managed and maintained at the University," Coleman says. "McMaster University's support for our efforts has been crucial to our receiving a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council grant and to our being able to embark on this initiative." Project team members will also be introduced to the 'Globalization Compendium', which will make findings available in accessible, multimedia formats to a wide public audience. There will be discussions based on papers prepared and submitted for the meeting from both Globalization and Autonomy literature. Presentations will be made by all of the project partners: Shishir Priyadarshi, The South Centre, Mark Hecht, executive director of Human Rights Internet, Roy Culpeper, president of North-South Institute and Lauren Posner, Rights & Democracy. More information about the project, including the individual research proposals, can be found at http://www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/~global/gaa.htm

October 4, 2002

The Royal Society of Canada is a national academy whose object is the promotion of learning and research in the arts and sciences. Election to a Fellowship in the Royal Society of Canada is the highest academic accolade available to scientists and scholars in Canada. McMaster University currently boasts 56 Fellows and on October 1 the university celebrated the contributions of this elite group with a recognition dinner held at Hamilton's LIUNA Station. Peter George, President and Vice-Chancellor, thanked all of the 33 Fellows able to attend the event and praised their individual accomplishments. "It is clear that we could not have made such significant strides if it were not for your outstanding contributions. You are the backbone of this university. You have helped to shape McMaster and, as a direct result of your scholarship, we have grown into one of the country's most research-intensive universities. You are the reason we enjoy such a stellar reputation and are now able to recruit some of the most outstanding faculty, staff and students. You have truly made a difference. For this, we applaud you." McMaster University's Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) This list indicates the year in which the individual was elected as a Fellow and includes the number of the Academy to which he or she belongs. Academy I Academie des lettres des sciences humaines Academy II Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences Academy III Academy of Science, which includes the following Divisions: Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences (EOAS) Life Sciences (LS) Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) 1980 Richard Bader (Chemistry)III-MPS 1962 Bernhard Banaschewski (Math) III-MPS 1986 John Bandler (Electrical Engineering)III-ASE 1992 John Bienenstock (Medicine & Pathology)III-LS 1964 Arthur Bourns (Chemistry) III-MPS 1962 Bertram Brockhouse (Physics)III-MPS 1984 Colin C.K.Campbell (Electrical Engineering)III-ASE 1983 E.J.Moran Campbell (Medicine)III-LS 1974 Jules P. Carbotte (Physics)III-MPS 1969 Pierre Conlon (French) II 1998 Martin Daly (Psychology) II 1993 Edwin E. Daniel(Medicine)III-LS 1979 W. Ross Datars(Physics)III-MPS 1971 John A. Davies (Physics) III-MPS 1984 Frank Denton (Economics)II 1991 J. David Embury Materials Sciece & Engineering III-ASE 2001 John Eyles (Geography)II 2001 Harvey Feit (Anthropology)II 1988 Derek Ford (Geography & Geology)III-EOAS 1997 Jack Gauldie (Pathology)III-LS 1965 Ronald J. Gillespie (Chemistry)III-MPS 1999 Frank Graham (Biology)III-LS 1987 Archie Hamielec (Chemical Engineering)III-ASE 1993 Rhoda Howard-Hassmann Sociology II 1980 Simon Haykin (Electrical& Computer Engineering) III-ASE 1999 Jack Hirsh (Medicine)III-LS 1993 Gyan P. Johari (Materials Science & Engineering)III-ASE 1958 Martin Johns (Physics & Astronomy)III-MPS 2002 John Kelton (Medicine) III-LS 1980 Ken Kershaw (Biology)III-LS 1972 Gerald W. King (Chemistry)III-MPS 1993 James King (English)II 1988 Les King (Geography)II 1975 Jack Kirkaldy (Materials Science & Engineering) III-ASE 1977 John Kuehner (Physics & Astronomy) III-MPS 1982 David B. MacLean (Chemistry) III-MPS 1965 Alexander McKay(Classics) II 1970 Gerry Middleton (Geology)III-LS 1975 Warwick J.B. Owen (English) II 1992 David Parnas (Computing & Software) III-ASE 1961 Melvin Preston(Physics & Astronomy)III-MPS 1991 Gary Purdy (Materials Science & Engineering)III-ASE 1992 David Sackett (Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics III-LS 2001 Shelley Saunders (Anthropology)II 1999 Gary Schrobilgen (Chemistry)III-MPS 1984 Henry Schwarcz (Geograpy & Geololgy) III-EOAS 1961 Denis Shaw (Geograpy & Geololgy) III-EOAS 1985 Leslie Shemilt (Chemical Engineering)III-ASE 1991 Shepard Siegel (Psychology) II 1986 Victor Snaith (Mathematics)III-MPS 1980 Ian Spenser (Chemistry) III-MPS 1980 Donald Sprung (Physics & Astronomy)III-MPS 1995 Thomas Timusk (Physics & Astronomy)III-MPS 1984 Alan Walker (Music)II 1998 Margo Wilson (Psychology)II 1996 Sandra Witelson(Psychiatry)III-LS Photo Caption: McMaster's Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) gather with President George at their Oct. 1 recognition dinner. Front Row (Seated L to R): Ron Gillespie; Melvin Preston; Rhoda Howard-Hassmann; Sandra Witelson; Martin Johns; Alexander McKay; Bertram Brockhouse; John Kelton; Tom Timusk ; Jack Kirkaldy; Second Row (L to R): Peter George; Denis Shaw; David MacLean; Ian Spenser; Ross Datars; Archie Hamielec; Les King; Les Shemilt; Jules Carbotte; Donald Sprung; Gerry Middleton; John Kuehner; David Parnas Third Row (L to R): Gary Schrobilgen; John Eyles; Harvey Feit; Gerry King; Richard Bader; John Bienenstock; Alan Walker; Jack Gauldie; David Embury; Shelley Saunders.Photo by Ron Scheffler

October 4, 2002

Mexican muralist Daniel Manrique's message to the world is now on view in the new McMaster University Student Centre. The painting will be officially unveiled today (Oct. 4) at a reception. "There is something idealistic, utopian and romantic about this image," Manrique explains (assisted by translator and McMaster professor emeritus of modern languages John Browning). His message? The natural world is the responsibility of human beings. Just as a mother protects her child, so must we protect the Earth. The artist has been at McMaster for the last three weeks working on a newly commissioned diptych, painted in acrylic, that replaces a painting he created for the University 20 years ago. His new work, titled El Mundo (La Naturaleza) Es Responsabilidad de los Humanos (The Natural World is the Responsibility of Humankind), is displayed on a wall outside the Bookstore where the University Centre and the Bookstore meet.

October 3, 2002

McMaster's School of Graduate Studies, in conjunction with the Department of Religious Studies, celebrated the establishment of the Buddha Dharma Kyokai Scholarship Fund at a recent event on campus. Established by the Buddha Dharma Kyokai Foundation of Canada, the fund will support Buddhist Studies in Canada, which will enable advanced graduate students at McMaster and other universities to study Buddhism for one year at a university in Japan. The funds for this scholarship will be set up under the auspices of the School of Graduate Studies at McMaster and administered by a committee of scholars from across Canada. "The study of East Asian Buddhism, and in particular Buddhism in Japan, has been a core component since the Department of Religious Studies was established in the 1960s, and one of the founding departments in the discipline in Canada and indeed in North America," said Eileen Schuller, chair of the Department of Religious Studies at McMaster. "One of the distinctive features of our department has been, and is, the commitment to strength in the study of the religions of the East and West within a context of academic research, respect for all religious traditions, and cross-cultural and interdisciplinary study." Photo caption:Pictured at the announcement, in back row, left to right: Neil McMullin, University of Toronto; Yasuo Honjo, director of BDK Canada; Brian Nagata, president BDK USA; Fred L. Hall, dean of Graduate Studies at McMaster; John Scime, Graduate Registrar and Secretary at McMaster; Koichi Shinohard, professor in McMaster's Department of Religious Studies; Jinhua Chen, University of British Columbia. Front row, left to right: Ken Maruyama, former director of BDK Canada; Victor Hori, McGill University; Eileen Schuller, chair, Department of Religious Studies at McMaster; Leslie Kawamura, University of Calgary and Roy Sato, president BDK Canada.

October 3, 2002

It may only be a day, but it could be the experience of a lifetime. The Experiential Education Initiative within the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University, in partnership with Volunteer Hamilton and supported by the United Way, is organizing an event that can help students make a difference in their community. Mac Serve will offer students the opportunity to spend half a day volunteering in a local community organization and connect this to their academic and personal life. "By participating in Mac Serve, we hope students will learn more about the urgent and pressing needs that exist in the community and will be inspired to get more involved and make a difference," said Kris McCrady, leadership co-ordinator with Experiential Education.

October 2, 2002

A mathematical physicist and Anglican priest renowned for his treatment of theology as a natural science presents two public lectures on campus this week. John Polkinghorne is a Hooker Distinguished Visiting Professor invited by the Faculty of Science to lecture on his studies about the complicated relationship between science and theology. The first lecture is entitled "Belief in God in an age of science" and will be presented Thursday, Oct. 3 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The second lecture, presented in conjunction with the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation, is called "How will it all end?" and will be presented Friday, Oct. 4 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Both lectures will be held in HSC-1A1 and are open to the public.

October 2, 2002

McMaster isn't messing' around in its effort to bring together faculty and staff. The McMaster Employee Spirit Society (MESS) is offering free tickets to the Oct. 12 Marauders football game to faculty, staff and their families. "The purpose of this is to bring McMaster employees and their families together to the football game, in a way of building "working at McMaster" team spirit and to recognize and thank employees and have fun with colleagues and families," says Anthony Celani, Human Resources officer. The Marauders will take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues at Les Prince Field at 2 p.m. The initiative includes free refreshments in a tent from 1 to 2 p.m., end-zone patio seating, child-monitoring services and children's programs from 1 to 5 p.m. for ages four and up. Half-time activities include a 60-piece marching band from New Jersey, a 50-50 draw and door prizes. A limited number of complimentary tickets are available. To get game tickets and information sent by mail, you must register by Oct. 4. Employees who register after that date will be able to pick up their tickets and information at the Ivor Wynne Centre Locker Rooms Service Desk. Tickets are limited to a maximum of two adults and two children per family. Registration must identify is minding/activities for children over four years old are needed during the game and if a child has special needs. For more information, or to register online, visit http://www.workingatmcmaster.ca/life/index.html or email celania@mcmaster.ca.

October 1, 2002

The Speech from the Throne officially opened the new session of Parliament yesterday. The Speech sets out the broad goals and directions of the government and its strategy to accomplish those goals. The following are sections from the Speech on Skills, Learning and Research: "The fuel of the new economy is knowledge. The government has invested heavily in providing Canada's schools and libraries with the information technology to connect young Canadians with the best information and knowledge the world has to offer. It has invested in access to universities and in excellence in university research because Canada's youth need and deserve the best education possible, and Canada needs universities that produce the best knowledge and the best graduates. The government will build on these investments. It will continue to increase its funding to the federal granting councils to provide young Canadians greater support for graduate studies and research. It will work with universities on the indirect costs of research and on strategies for its commercialization to create opportunities for entrepreneurs and to fuel innovation. It will strengthen government science, integrating its efforts across departments and disciplines, and focussing on the priorities of Canadians. In November, the Government of Canada will host the National Summit on Innovation and Learning. This will be an opportunity to position Canada as a world leader in such areas as health sciences, biotechnology and clean energy. The government will work with its partners to break down the barriers to the recognition of foreign credentials and will fast-track skilled workers entering Canada with jobs already waiting for them. It will also position Canada as a destination of choice for talented foreign students and skilled workers by more aggressively selecting and recruiting through universities and in key embassies abroad. It has invested in access to universities and in excellence in university research because Canada's youth need and deserve the best education possible, and Canada needs universities that produce the best knowledge and the best graduates."

October 1, 2002

McMaster University will be lending two documents from the Bertrand Russell Archives for a major exhibition on Einstein to be staged at four museums in the United States and one museum in Israel over the next three years. The exhibit is titled Einstein: Changing World. Carl Spadoni, research collections librarian, Mills Memorial Library, says that the Library will be providing the April 11, 1955 letter from Einstein to Russell which, in fact, is Einstein's last letter. The letter was written a week before Einstein died, and in it he agrees to sign a statement about the threat of proliferation of nuclear weapons. The statement is known today as the "Russell-Einstein Manifesto." The second document is a mimeographed press release, containing the statement, which is signed by Einstein, Russell, and six other scientists, several of whom were Nobel Prize winners.

September 30, 2002

Recipients of the 2001-02 Karl Freeman Prize in Biochemistry for top graduate seminars were announced Monday. The recipients, pictured from left, with Karl Freeman in centre, are: fourth-year PhD candidate Iain Mainprize (first prize PhD), first-year PhD candidate Tracey Campbell (second prize MSc), fourth-year PhD candidate Kari Draker (second prize PhD) and second-year MSc candidate Joe McCann (second prize MSc). McCann will transfer to PhD in January. The prizes are awarded to biochemistry students deemed to have presented the most outstanding graduate seminars during the 2001-02 graduate seminar series. The Karl Freeman Prizes in Biochemistry Graduate Seminars were established in 2001 by Karl Freeman, chair of the Department of Biochemistry from 1973 to 1979 and also acting chair for six months during 1982. This is the first time the prizes have been presented. Freeman is now professor emeritus but continues to have an active interest in the Department and takes courses at McMaster. Tracey Campbell was also awarded the 2002/03 Thomas Neilson Scholarship. This is awarded each year to the biochemistry graduate student deemed to show the greatest potential as an independent scientist at the time of transfer to the PhD program. This award was established in memory of Thomas Neilson by his family, friends and colleagues as a token of their appreciation and respect. Neilson joined the Department of Biochemistry in its early years and contributed strongly to its chemical expertise.

September 30, 2002

While it has been open for months, the cutting of a red ribbon made it official. Alumni, faculty, staff and students converged in the curved, glassed-in Marketplace of the new McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) Saturday for a grand opening celebration. Taking part in the official opening, from left are, Walter Pohl, McMaster Association of Part-Time Students president; Evan Mackintosh, McMaster Students Union president; Ian Cowan, Alumni Association president; Peter George, McMaster President; and Gary DeGroote.

September 27, 2002

This Homecoming weekend, McMaster alumni will return to a very different campus. One major change is the addition of the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC). The long-awaited heart of campus will be home to two days of celebrations to thank students and donors, past and present, for their contributions to the project. The MUSC and the McMaster Students Union (MSU) will be hosting a number of events on Friday. The MSU is sponsoring hourly draws starting at noon for students who pick up a special passport for the day. Once the passport is stamped at five MSU services, it can be entered into the draws. Services located in the MUSC and the newly renovated space in Gilmour Hall will be holding open houses. Students and staff are encouraged to visit and see what services are available.

September 27, 2002

A fourth-year student in the School of Business is being lauded for recovering a visiting consultant's computer this week. In this story, Bob Hodgson, director . . .

September 27, 2002

The McMaster community had a glimpse into the future of the Health Sciences Centre Expansion Thursday. Pictured from left, David Clusiau, principal architectural designer of Norr Limited, Tony Cupido, director of Physical Plant at McMaster and Niky Melichar, administrator in the Office of the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences, display a rendering of an addition to the facility. Details, construction timelines and the approved design of the expansion of the facility were presented. The building will be located in the area between Wentworth House and the McMaster University Medical Centre. The multi-storey building will be approximately 300,000-sq. ft. and will house lecture halls, classrooms, hospital facilities, the Institute for Molecular Medicine and Health and incubator space. The project -- the largest in 30 years on campus -- is tentatively scheduled to commence Oct. 15, 2002 and will be completed in the summer of 2004. Site preparation has already begun.

September 26, 2002

McMaster Tiger-Cats fans are being offered a touchdown deal on the final three games of the season. Two-for-one tickets are being made available to faculty, staff, students and alumni for games on Sunday, Sept. 29 vs. the Edmonton Eskimos; Monday, Oct. 14 vs. the Toronto Argonauts; and Sunday, Oct. 27 vs. the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. All three games begin at 1 p.m. Tickets are two for $40 and can be purchased at the Roarrr Store in Jackson Square or Centre Mall, the Ivor Wynne Stadium Box Office and at the concession of Les Prince Field at Saturday's Homecoming football game. You must present your McMaster identification card. "McMaster's partnership with the Tiger-Cats is an effort to get people excited about Tiger-Cats football," says Roger Trull, vice-president, University Advancement. "We're trying to get faculty, staff, students and alumni to consider going to games. In return, the Tiger-Cats are going to offer this attractive ticket package for McMaster's people and will donate five per cent of the proceeds from the tickets to student groups on campus." Supporting the Tiger-Cats ultimately benefits the University, Trull adds. "We think it is important that the Tiger-Cats thrive in the city because what it good for the city is good for McMaster and what reflects positively on the city, reflects positively on McMaster," he says. Tiger-Cats chairman and co-owner David MacDonald appreciates McMaster's support. "We know that McMaster has always been a strong football University and Tiger-Cats supporter," he says, "and we are happy to offer them this special deal on our last three games before the playoffs."

September 26, 2002

More than 60,000 prospective students will probe McMaster this weekend. These students  many of the double cohort  will explore what McMaster and 19 other Ontario universities have to offer at the sixth annual Ontario Universities' Fair at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. "For some students, this is probably the only chance they have to see all Ontario universities in one location at one time," says Bonnie Crocker, student liaison officer in McMaster's Office of the Registrar. "Hopefully the fair will interest students enough to come visit McMaster because our campus is a great selling feature." Representatives from across McMaster will attend the fair, including individuals from first-year programs, Department of Athletics and Recreation, Housing and Conference Services, The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships, Admissions and Student Liaison. "Over the three days we will have 183 McMaster faculty and staff representing 17 McMaster faculties and departments," says Crocker. "One of the unique things about our booth is that we have representatives from all of our programs and services there to speak to students and this will allow us to have one-on-one contact with them."

September 25, 2002

Three suspects are in custody today after McMaster security officers observed them breaking into vehicles on campus Tuesday, Sept. 24. At approximately 1 p.m., a McMaster shuttle bus driver witnessed someone suspicious entering vehicles and informed McMaster Security. Officers monitored their security cameras and observed three individuals breaking into vehicles. The officers responded in their cruisers. According to sergeant Margaret McKittrick of the Hamilton Police, the suspects, who were operating a stolen auto, attempted to exit the parking lot but were blocked in by McMaster security cruisers. "The suspects rammed the roadblock and subsequently collided with a third McMaster vehicle (a McMaster Physical Plant van) where they were eventually stopped. All three suspects were apprehended. Hamilton Police cruisers responded to assist and take control of the suspects." The suspects were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital and the Hamilton General with minor injuries and released. The vehicles were towed and secured. As the vehicles contained stolen equipment, the Hamilton Police Break and Enter Auto Recovery Unit was advised and will continue an investigation. Hamilton Police suspect the arrested persons may have been responsible for numerous other thefts from autos in the area. Facing charges of dangerous driving, theft and possession under $5,000 and criminal negligence causing bodily harm are Michael Hall, 19, Trevor Marquard, 20, and a 16-year-old Hamilton female. "The entire community came together to make this arrest," says McMaster's sergeant of crime prevention Cathy O'Donnell, noting Parking and Transit Services helped redirect traffic. "It really was a combined effort."