December 3, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/christmastree.jpg”]Convocation Hall was filled with music, laughter and youngsters of all ages Saturday as more than 260 children and their families gathered to . . .

December 3, 2001

If you do the math, the numbers are astounding. A minimum of 2,400 years of service to McMaster and counting. Recently, 163 McMaster employees were honoured at a Service Recognition Awards annual luncheon held to mark the worthy service of those who have been employed by the University for at least 15 years. "It is no small feat these days to accumulate 15, 20, 30, 35 or 39 years of service to an employer," said President Peter George. "As our society becomes more mobile and technology makes the world seem smaller, people have more choices about what they want to do, where they want to work and how they see their careers unfolding. These new facts of life make all of you even more exceptional." The University has instituted a new award category this year, marking 35 years of service. Twelve employees were honoured in that category this year.

November 30, 2001

McMaster University today celebrated a generous donation of $750,000 from Scotiabank towards the establishment of 12 undergraduate medical scholarships. The gift will be matched with . . .

November 30, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Chapdelaine.Ben.final.jpg” caption=”Ben Chapdelaine”]Marauder quarterback Ben Chapdelaine is the winner of the 2001 Hec Crighton Trophy presented annually to the most outstanding university football . . .

November 29, 2001

The achievements of McMaster's 28 Canada Research Chairs were celebrated Thursday by one of the leaders of the federal government's innovation agenda. Industry Minister Brian Tobin was on campus to announce the appointment of McMaster's two newest chairholders as part of a national announcement of the newest recipients at Canadian universities. McMaster's newest Canada Research Chairs both hail from the Faculty of Science: John Brennan, an associate professor of bioanalytical chemistry and Cecile Fradin, an associate professor of physics & astronomy and biochemistry. Both recipients received Tier 2 awards which means they are researchers whose peers acknowledge them as having the potential to be world leaders in their field. The appointments are for a five-year period and can be renewed once. (Click on McMaster Chairholder Profiles for information about all the University's chairholders.) Tobin lauded the Canada Research Chairs program as one of integrity that emulates the highest standards, noting the awards aren't governed by appeasing political allies or constituents. "It's based on peer review," he said at the ceremony held at the Health Sciences Centre. "It's based on excellence. These 28 chairs have competed against the best and the brightest." The Canada Research Chairs initiative is a $900 million program created to establish 2,000 research chairs in Canadian universities by 2005. LAB TOUR: (L to R) Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president research, McMaster President Peter George, Industry Minister Brian Tobin and Stan Keyes, MP Hamilton West were given a tour of the new new High-Throughput Screening (HTS) lab by manager Rebecca Hartlen. Photo by Ron Scheffler

November 29, 2001

After a successful championship last year, with a capacity crowd in attendance at McMaster's Burridge Gymnasium, Power Cheerleading Athletics will host the National University Cheerleading . . .

November 28, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/ShaveForACure.final.jpg”]Their mandate is to make children smile. So 17 of them shaved their heads to make people do just that. And in the . . .

November 27, 2001

Professor Mary Law has been appointed to the John and Margaret Lillie Chair in Childhood Disability Research, which is supported by the Jack and Ina Pollock Charitable Foundation. Law is a professor and associate dean in the School of Rehabilitation Science and an associate member of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics. She is co-director of the CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability Research, a partnership between researchers at McMaster University and children's rehabilitation centres in Ontario. "There are more than 500,000 children and youth in Canada with disabilities that affect in some way their participation in daily activities," said Law. "The chair in childhood disability will enable continued leadership in childhood disability research at McMaster so that families can benefit from research, resources and information leading to improved outcomes for their children." Law is an occupational therapist with training in both epidemiology and health and social planning and has worked in the area of children's rehabilitation for many years. Her research has led to innovative methods to enhance the participation of children with disabilities in everyday activities. "Dr. Law is a fabulous mentor for young investigators in the field," said John Kelton, Faculty of Health Sciences' dean and vice-president. "Through her work with graduate students and the development of future post-doctoral study opportunities, Dr. Law will be helping to develop our future scientists in rehabilitation science." The funding of this chair will help lead to new discoveries about effective interventions for children and youth with childhood disabilities and the efficient and timely dissemination and use of research information in healthcare practice. Founded in 1997, the Pollock Foundation has continuously supported the School of Rehabilitation Science with particular interests in childhood disability research and the research activities of the CanChild Program. (End of story)

November 27, 2001

The way may be clear for scientists to take apart biological systems and understand them in the same way we understand machines. Robert Austin, professor of physics at Princeton University and a member of the National Academy of Sciences asks the question, "Will the 21st century be the century of biology?" for the 24th annual Alexander Graham Bell Lecture. The free public lecture takes place today, Nov. 27 at 2:30 p.m. in the Burke Science Building, Room 147. Austin's lecture will explore the technologies that have allowed scientists to quantify complex phenomena and the new ideas that have arisen from their understanding of biological systems. These new ideas include the possibility that scientists will have the ability to control and change biological systems. Austin's presentation will also include taking a guess at some new technologies and offering his ideas about what the future may bring. The Alexander Graham Bell Lecture, presented annually by the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, offers outstanding speakers on a topic in information and emerging technologies that is of interest to both the members of the University community and the general public. (End of story)

November 26, 2001

"Skreemin' Fury" indeed. With a speed worthy of their name, a fledgling Hamilton-based team of McMaster professors and graduate students has scorched a trail through the young but growing sport of adventure racing landing a coveted spot this fall on the starting line of one of the sport's top international races. Three members of the team pitted themselves against some 30 entries from around the world in this year's Mild Seven Outdoor Quest, held earlier this month for the fourth time in China. In adventure racing, teams of three or four people tackle a succession of sports - including running, mountain biking, paddling and orienteering -- over outdoor courses ranging anywhere from 50 to 300 kilometres long and lasting from one to four days. Based on its impressive track record - Skreemin' Fury won all five of the races it entered last year after it was formed in June 2000 - the team was selected early this year from among hundreds of would-be competitors. Says team member Mike Waddington, a professor in the School of Geology & Geography, "We were the only team invited from Canada." Theirs may also be the only team made up entirely of academics rather than professional athletes. Besides Waddington, the team includes Mark Tarnopolsky, a professor of medicine, and four graduate students: Doug Mahoney, John Markez, Natalie Perkins and Gianni Parise. Tarnopolsky, Mahoney and Markez, along with Ken Sidney, a cross-country skiing champion and professor at Laurentian University, made up a foursome that finished exactly in the middle of the 32 teams that competed in the race. "I broke my ribs on the first day of the race and we were in the top seven at the time," says Tarnopolsky, about the team's showing. Although he was taped up every morning by doctors, Tarnopolsky and his team finished the race. "Not bad, given the fact that I [could not] take a deep breath. It was hard to run at 11,000 feet above sea level with shallow breaths. Overall it was a great experience." Skreemin' Fury: (l-r) Doug Mahoney, Gianni Parise, Mark Tarnopolsky and Mike Waddington train on the trails in Dundas. Photo by Simon Wilson

November 26, 2001

A fundraiser initiated by social work students at McMaster will brighten the lives of children at McMaster's Children's Hospital and University students in need of financial assistance. The McMaster Social Work Students Association has teamed up with the hospital and its Teddy Bears Picnic program in launching a colouring calendar featuring Clifford's Creatures. Each picture is accompanied by a self-esteem building message. The groups are hoping to raise about $25,000 from the project. Gerald Walsh, president of the McMaster student group, organized the calendar as a community outreach program. He says funds raised from the sale of calendars will also support the establishment of bursaries for McMaster social work students in financial need. The calendars are $6 each and can be purchased on campus (from the hospital's gift shops) or from the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation. They will also be sold at the Hamilton Centre Mall and area schools. Sponsors of the program, which includes a colouring contest for kids, include Laurentian, Maple Leaf, McMaster Media Productions, the School of Social Work, and the McMaster Students Union. Laurentian is providing complimentary crayons with each calendar purchased. Illustrations for the calendar were supplied by Hamilton artist J. C. Walsh. Photo: Gerald Walsh with five-year-old Tylor Grant at calendar launch. (End of story)

November 23, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/cameraman.jpg” caption=”Cameraman films new exhibit in Museum”]The large billboard at Longwood and Aberdeen streets in Hamilton tells the story. McMaster's Museum of Art . . .

November 23, 2001

It's taken almost a week to move a 74,250-kilogram giant into the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute. Physical plant employees, security, machinery movers -- teams of people have been working on moving a new automotive sheet metal forming press into the back end of the John Hodgins Engineering building. The mammoth press has been lying on its side outside the engineering building as movers determine how to ease it through a hole in the wall, tilt it into a standing position, while at the same time positioning it into a 3.6-metre deep pit. Hydraulic lifts and conveyer belts are being used. And yes, it takes a few engineers to figure this out. The $1.6 million press, funded by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, comes from a company north of Toronto. Mukesh Jain, of the MMRI, said major automotive companies like the Ford Motor Co. would have this type of press in their manufacturing operations, but the McMaster model will be used as a highly refined research tool. "This one is unique, " said Jain, who left Alcan's Kingston operation three months ago to join McMaster. "This is well instrumented and well controlled." Jain said the McMaster operation would be one of the largest among universities in Canada. The press takes a flat sheet of metal and stamps it into a component, with the capacity to punch metal at a force of 900-tonnes. "The research will be working with material suppliers and automotive companies to try and understand the different types of metal forming processes." Jain said researchers will study topics such as how new materials and lubricants behave in the metal forming process. Once the press is ensconced in its new home, it will take a few more months to set up the instrumentation before researchers can begin conducting research using the machine. The new press is the final piece of equipment to be housed in the 15,000 sq. ft. MMRI facility, which houses 13 industrial machines and a robot. The institute is designed to meet the sophisticated research and development needs of leading manufacturers. MOVING DAYS: MMRI researcher Mukesh Jain stands in front of the new sheet metal forming press being installed in the institute. Photo by Shelly Easton

November 22, 2001

The room is bright and airy, with giant poster board art on the walls. It's filled with navy comfy couches, blonde wood tables, plants, a fridge, microwaves and a sleek, black computer. Rather than punch in numbers to a key pad, employees swipe a proximity card to get access to the room 24 hours a day. Quite a change from the janitor's room with its mops and cleaners that constituted the lunchroom for physical plant co-workers Dora Bianchi and Jackie Emery. The two women were guests attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday in the newly-refurbished employee lounge in the Arthur Bourns Building (ABB). "This is nice and bright," said Emery. "It's good to get away from the work area with the janitor supplies. You don't want to see that on your lunch hour. Here you get to meet new people, socialize. That's important. It's good for your health." The ABB lounge (Room 273) is the first designated employee lounge to be refurbished through an initiative that grew out of recommendations from the Employee Lounges Implementation Team. The team is one of four formed in February to work on recommendations from the staff survey. Click on New lounge space for employees in Arthur Bourns, Burke Science to read an earlier Daily News story about the lounges initiative. Karen Belaire, vice-president administration, told yesterday's gathering that the ABB lounge improvement project is the "first of many." She thanked the employee lounge steering committee, led by Ingrid Ellis, for the work put into the lounge renovations and the physical plant projects team, led by Peter Whitaker, for the work that group did on the room. Ceremony guests: (Front L to R) Dora Bianchi, Jackie Emery, Karen Belaire, Ingrid Ellis, Leah Allan, Sandra Sullivan, Mary Williams, Muriel McKay; (Back L to R) Peter Sutherland, Stephen Shurvin, David Kidney, Peter George. Photo by Ron Scheffler

November 22, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/CampusplanNovopenhouse1.final.jpg”]The campus master plan steering committee wants feedback on a draft campus master plan. Dozens of members of the McMaster community on and . . .

November 21, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/SolarcarSantas.final.jpg”]The McMaster Solar Car Project team helped spread holiday cheer, along with awareness of renewable energy resources, at the Hamilton Santa Claus parade . . .

November 21, 2001

In 1960, Alvin A. Lee, then a brand new assistant professor, had a dream. The brash young professor wanted to establish and build a research library at McMaster. With this in mind, he visited University librarian Marget Meikleham and left her office with a fund to begin a collection in his specialty areas of Old and Middle English. This was the beginning of Lee's 41-year relationship with the Library. On Nov. 8, Lee's numerous contributions to the development of the Library and his untiring support were recognized when he was presented with the first Library Advocate Award. In his remarks, University librarian Graham R. Hill said, "There is no doubt that a vital university library is the product of the intense interest and vigorous advocacy by the faculty that it serves...In his role as president and vice-chancellor from 1980 to 1990 and again as co-chair of the community campaign in the recent Changing Tomorrow Today campaign, Alvin Lee has constantly demonstrated his belief in the priority of the Library, and the continuing need for its growth and development." Accepting the award, Lee recalled that in 1962, having heard from the head of the English department, Roy Wiles, that the senior administration wanted arts departments like English to establish doctoral programs, he and another equally-brash colleague went off to see the then dean of graduate studies, physicist Harry Duckworth. Their purpose was to point out that building a research library would require significant new funds. Asked what he thought was needed, Lee replied that a million dollars a year for the next 10 years would be a realistic start. Within a few months the University was providing this money in the budget. Lee also recalled with pleasure the opportunity, during the Centennial Campaign in the late 1980s, to play the leading role in raising the $21-million of public and private money to expand and renovate Mills Memorial Library. To commemorate his award, the Library will inscribe two books that Lee has selected: The Encyclopaedia of Canadian Literature  which, when it is published next year, will be the most complete and up-to-date reference work on Canadian literature ever published  and The Diaries of Northrop Frye, 1942-1955, Volume 8 of The Collected Works of Northrop Frye. Now retired from the University, Lee continues the demanding leadership of the editorial project to publish The Collected Works of Northrop Frye. He has also given of his time, energy and knowledge to work with the Library to raise funds for the Library of the Future Endowment Fund in the belief that the McMaster community must support the continued excellence of its library collections in this time of severe economic stress. (End of story)

November 21, 2001

John Basmajian John Basmajian MD is internationally recognized as a leader in the field of rehabilitation science, specifically in the area of electromyography. At McMaster . . .

November 20, 2001

Physical Plant is currently in the process of reviewing and reassessing its services. Over the past week the department has held three sessions on campus . . .

November 20, 2001

Everyone is invited to attend the second Campus Plan Open House to review and discuss future directions for the McMaster campus. The plan will shape campus growth and development for the next 30 years. The open house is Wednesday, Nov. 21 in Convocation Hall from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Significant work to refine the campus plan has been undertaken since the first campus plan open house last March. McMaster's consultants, Urban Strategies, and University representatives will be on hand to guide you through the draft campus plan, discuss the key directions and themes that have emerged, answer any questions and receive your feedback. For additional information, call ext. 24330. (END OF STORY)