Daily News

October 22, 2002

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/healthminister.jpg” caption=”Students with Tony Clement”]Students from McMaster University went one-on-one with Tony Clement, minister of health and long-term care, at a dinner reception . . .

October 21, 2002

McMaster's Centre for Peace Studies will feature former Australian of the Year Lowitja O'Donoghue at its seventh annual Mahatma Gandhi Lecture on Nonviolence. O'Donoghue, from Flinders University, South Australia, will speak on "Human rights and reconciliation in Australia in the 21st century: an unfinished journey". Born at Indulkana, located in central south Australia, O'Donoghue is a member of the Yankunjatjara people of North West South Australia. Her commendations include the Order of Australia (1977); commander of the British Empire (1983); Australian of the Year (1984) and Australia's Living National Treasures (1998). She was also the former chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) from the inception of the Commission.

October 21, 2002

For his contributions to engineering theory and practice and unusual accomplishment in the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, McMaster's David Embury was one of just seven foreign members elected into the U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE). "The election to the NAE is a great honour for me because there are only 158 foreign members, six of whom are Canadians," said the professor of materials science & engineering. "However, I want to emphasize that the honour reflects not my own abilities but the wonderful collaborations I have had at McMaster with colleagues in both engineering and science and particularly my good fortune in having many excellent graduate students and post-doctoral researchers in the time I have been at McMaster." Embury was elected by the NAE along with 74 new American members. He was chosen for his "outstanding contributions to fundamental structure/mechanical property relations of materials and their applications". Election to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering is one of the highest professional distinctions that can be accorded an engineer.

October 18, 2002

Four exceptional University researchers are the recipients of the prestigious John Charles Polanyi Prizes this year, making McMaster one short of a clean sweep for 2002. The new researchers were awarded the honours in the areas of chemistry, economics, physics and physiology/medicine. Their fields of research cover polymers and carbon nanotubes, economic household welfare, star clusters and cancer cells.

October 17, 2002

It's not easy being green. Ask Allan Dafoe. According to the founder and chair of McMaster's Green Coalition, taking care of the environment is hard work. But with recent efforts on campus, he's confident green will soon become the University's favorite colour. Celebrating its first anniversary, the McMaster Green Coalition unites clubs and organizations that promote environmental and sustainability issues. It was a hit from the beginning. At its first meeting in September 2001, nearly 40 staff, faculty and students came to support Dafoe's brainchild to build a coalition around the environment. He found these groups knew little about each other, and he was determined to change that. "There are all these groups, but they're all very disparate," he says. "That's what I feel the environmental movement at McMaster is lacking the most. Because it's so disparate you don't feel a sense of community." "I think it's very important that the environmental community becomes more tangible because there are so many people on campus who are passionate and involved with environmental aspects."

October 16, 2002

McMaster University, in conjunction with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, has announced a major funding commitment of $1 million from Pharmacia Canada Inc. and Pfizer Canada Inc. for an innovative educational initiative called the Arthritis Treatment Program. Funded over five years, the program will be designed to assist primary care physicians and other health professionals in providing optimal care for people with arthritis. "This is an excellent example of innovation in the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry, health care providers and universities, where our interests mesh well," said John Kelton, dean and vice-president, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. "Funding of the Arthritis Treatment Program clearly supports a commitment to excellence in health care education. By enhancing current medical training, the program will support better diagnosis and treatment for millions of Canadians with arthritis." More than four million Canadians, or one in every seven individuals, suffer from some form of arthritis. That number is expected to grow at a rate of one million more Canadians per decade, at least until the year 2031. Led by one of Canada's leading clinical rheumatologists, William Bensen, and a team of rheumatologists at McMaster and its partner institution, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, the Arthritis Treatment Program will consist of an overall practical management package including concepts and tools for managing rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. A simple, easy-to-use measurement tool will be developed for use in clinical practice that provides a common language between physician and patient and acts as a benchmark for improving arthritis care.

October 15, 2002

It's going to be a decade of enormous challenges for Canada's universities, according to a major new report released today by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Entitled Trends in Higher Education, the 94-page report notes that, by 2011, universities will face a projected 20 to 30 per cent increase in enrolment, or up to 200,000 new students. They also will need to hire as many as 40,000 new faculty members to respond to enrolment growth and to replace retiring professors. At the same time, universities will be expected to perform significantly more research if Canada is to reach the federal government's objective of being one of the top five countries in the world for research and development. But all of this comes at a price: $6.2 billion more annually in operating revenues and $6.4 billion more a year in research funds will be needed by 2011 to meet these challenges, says the report. Universities currently receive about $10.7 billion in total operating support and conduct roughly $3.2 billion in sponsored research annually.

October 15, 2002

Grant B. Walsh, president & CEO of St. Peter's, today announced the appointment of world-renowned gerontologist William Molloy to the St. Peter's McMaster Chair in Aging in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. William Molloy, who will be working at the new St. Peter's Centre for Studies in Aging, located at St. Peter's Hospital, is internationally recognized for his contribution to research in aging. His responsibilities will include the development of academic programs related to aging and working with relevant organizations that are responsible for the care of older adults. "I am thrilled to be working at St. Peter's; there's a great can do' attitude here," says Molloy, who has authored several research studies, articles and books such as Vital Choices: Life, Death and the Health Care Crisis. "This jointly funded $2-million chair appointment is important to both St. Peter's and McMaster University," says Grant Walsh. "It puts issues associated with aging at the forefront of teaching, research and service in Hamilton, and will help to improve the lives of those entrusted to our care. St. Peter's is delighted to welcome such a prestigious researcher as Dr. Molloy to the St. Peter's family." John Kelton, dean and vice-president, Faculty of Health Sciences, says, "With a growing population of seniors, appointing an international leader in aging and health to this Chair demonstrates our joint commitment to research and education in this area." The appointment contributes to St. Peter's leadership in providing a continuum of service and care for older adults and the chronically ill.

October 11, 2002

Whether in the physics paper triathlon, photonic puzzles or the software engineering challenge, the engineering and science skills of 600 high school students were put to the test in the annual McMaster Engineering and Science Olympics and Open House. Students from 41 secondary schools across Ontario competed in Thursday's event that showcased McMaster's engineering and science programs. "It is an opportunity for students to meet faculty and students in the engineering labs, view the numerous displays and demonstrations and tour the McMaster campus," says Bob Loree, director of Engineering I. "It also shows students that engineering and science is very broad."

October 10, 2002

At its Oct. 9 meeting, University Senate revised its Enrolment Management Team, it released its latest enrolment figures and it discussed how the University plans to ease pressures resulting from the double cohort. Senate also approved the establishment of a prestigious editorship in mathematics & statistics.

October 10, 2002

It drives advertising and launches wars, and now a Canadian population biologist says scientists have seriously underestimated a central force in the origin of new species - sex. According to McMaster's Rama Singh, new evidence is revealing that sex and reproduction-related genes are the overlooked supercharged engines for the evolution of new types of animals and plants. "Most species live in a stable environment, and therefore in my mind, the force of natural selection is smaller than sexual selection. This is because sexual selection involves two components - males and females - and they always have to adjust to changes in the other sex regardless of whether those changes are due to selection or chance," says Singh, a biology professor at McMaster University. A species is any group of animals or plants that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

October 9, 2002

McMaster University announced the official grand opening of the AIC Institute of Strategic Business Studies at the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business today. Michael Lee-Chin, chairman and chief executive officer of AIC Limited, was on hand for the ceremonies. "The importance of instilling within business leaders a sound intellectual framework to allocate capital prudently has become even more apparent in today's environment," explains Lee-Chin. "AIC is proud to play a role in educating the business leaders of tomorrow through the AIC Institute for Strategic Business Studies." In June 2001, Lee-Chin announced a $5-million gift to the DeGroote School of Business on behalf of his company, AIC Limited, to establish the specialized institute. Although he graduated from McMaster with an engineering degree, Lee-Chin soon discovered he possessed an inherent business savvy. A classic success story recognized in Forbes and other media, Lee-Chin has gone from enterprising student to one of Canada's wealthiest men. AIC Funds commenced operations in 1985 and has grown to become Canada's largest privately held mutual fund company, servicing more than one million investors. Assets under management total more than $11 billion. McMaster University President Peter George hails the establishment of the institute and the creation of the AIC wing as a generous investment in the future of outstanding teaching and research in the business school. "This exciting partnership with AIC allows the University to pursue a new direction in business studies," says President George. "It contributes in a significant way to McMaster's ability to deliver exceptional educational programs and research in the field of investment management and ensures our students will continue to be recipients of innovative, interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship."

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.