Daily News

November 13, 2002

American linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky gave a wide-ranging, challenging talk to a capacity crowd gathered in McMaster's Ivor Wynne Centre Tuesday night. More than 1,100 people streamed into the main gym to hear the 74-year-old professor speak on "Is There Intelligent Life on Earth: the Role of the Intellectual Culture and Institutions". The topic gave Chomsky a large canvas on which to explore a number of issues: the role of universities and how they are/are not fulfilling the ideals of nineteenth century classical liberalism; the concept of "excess of democracy" and why the elite in a democracy are fearful of  and try to contain - its appeal to the populace at large; and the question of "is it better to be smart than stupid?" Although he admitted later during the question period that he is not the most dynamic of speakers, Chomsky effectively kept the crowd listening intently for more than an hour. His measured delivery was supplemented by wry humour mixed with a healthy dose of cynicism. Bringing his talk to an abrupt end, he quietly commented that the answer to the question posed by the title will "probably be known by us all in a few days".

November 13, 2002

Two new Canada Research Chairs have been awarded to McMaster University, bringing the University's total to date to 35. The two newest chairholders will focus on research that will develop novel interventions for treating obese people and study complex chemical systems to improve the design of new medicines and catalysts. Professor Arya Sharma is the Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management. Sharma, who comes to Canada from Germany, will use basic and clinical research to determine the genetic causes of obesity and an evidence-based approach to managing cardiovascular and metabolic problems in obese patients. Sharma, a senior Tier 1 researcher based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, will receive $200,000 per year for seven years. He has also been awarded a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant for $125,577 for infrastructure such as equipment and lab space related to the research position. Assistant professor Paul Ayers, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the Faculty of Science, comes to McMaster from Duke University. His research will look at the development of theoretical and computational methods for predicting reactions in complex chemical systems that can eventually add to the improved design of new medicines and catalysts. Ayers is a Tier 2 researcher based in the Faculty of Science and will receive $100,000 per year for five years. He has been awarded $113,715 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for infrastructure support. McMaster has now filled nearly half of its allotted 73 Canada Research Chairs.

November 13, 2002

Another overflow crowd of 7,000 plus is expected back at McMaster University's Les Prince Field on Saturday as the Ontario university champion McMaster Marauders face Atlantic conference winners Saint Mary's Huskies in the Churchill Bowl. Tickets, which went on sale Monday, are selling briskly, leaving McMaster officials expecting another wall-to-wall crowd. One glitch, however, could result in a late crowd. Tickets sold at McMaster erroneously list game time at 1 p.m., one hour later than the actual kickoff. The game will be broadcast live on radio station CFMU 93.3 and nationally by TSN. "It's going to be packed," confirmed Robert Hilson, manager of marketing and communications for the Mac athletics department. "Ticketmaster called today and said they needed another block of tickets. "Our student numbers should go up. People went last week and had a good time and told two of their friends," he said, referring to the 7,000 plus crowd that watched McMaster win the Ontario championship over the Queen's Golden Gaels last Saturday. Click here for the complete story in today's Hamilton Spectator.

November 13, 2002

McMaster University has learned that it will be a major part of a new centre of excellence on electricity which is being proposed by the Ontario government. Yesterday, energy minister John Baird announced a series of initiatives the Province will undertake as part of their action plan to lower hydro bills. The centre of excellence, also involving the University of Waterloo, was among the initiatives. Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president (research & international affairs) and a member of the Advisory Committee on the Centres of Excellence  a committee made up of industry, university and government representatives to provide advice on the operation and strategic direction of the centres of excellence program to the Minister of Enterprise, Innovation and Opportunity  says there has been talk of such a centre for some time. Many of the details are still being finalized but Shoukri expects the centre will be based on the same model as the other centres which bring together universities, industry and government. "The Province has had great success with the existing centres and they are confident it is a winning formula," says Shoukri. "All four centres  Materials and Manufacturing Ontario, Photonics Research Ontario, Communications and Information Technology Ontario and the Centre for Research in Earth and Space Technology  have proven track records."

November 12, 2002

George Daley, Whitehead fellow at the MIT-affiliated Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, and assistant professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, will deliver the 2002 Redman Lecture on the topic of stem cells. His talks are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18 and Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. in the Health Sciences Centre, Room 1A1. Monday, Nov. 18: "The Science of Stem Cells" In 1999, Science Magazine highlighted Stem Cells as the "Breakthrough of the Year", based on the isolation of human embryonic stem cells, startling revelations about stem cell plasticity, and the conviction that patients of the 21st century stand to benefit from harnessing the potential of Stem Cells for cellular and genetic therapies. Tissue replacement is the optimal treatment for a wide array of degenerative disorders, especially since organ transplantation cannot meet all the needs of an aging population. The realization that Stem Cells from embryonic and somatic tissues can differentiate into a diversity of tissues and provide a renewable resource for regenerative therapies has stimulated enormous interest in these versatile cells and their applications in human disease. Daley will provide a layman's overview of the exciting science behind the revolution in stem cell biology and the brazen new technologies for therapeutic and reproductive cloning, while providing a realistic projection about the immediate and future prospects for medical breakthroughs. Tuesday, Nov. 19: "The Stem Cell Debate: Science Confronts Politics" The isolation of human embryonic stem cells entails the destruction of human embryos, and this has stimulated a debate about the morality of this research. One perspective holds that human life begins with conception and that a human life should not be sacrificed even for medical therapies to help scores of others. On the contrary are those who believe that embryonic stem cells represent the best hope for cures for countless human diseases, and that the needs of patients justifies the sacrifice of early embryos. Alongside this debate is the concern that research in stem cell biology might lead to human reproductive cloning. Daley will recount the history of the stem cell debate and highlight the controversial questions concerning embryonic and adult stem cells, and therapeutic versus reproductive cloning. Daley, M.D., Ph.D., created the first mouse model to demonstrate that the BCR/ABL oncogene causes the human leukemia CML. He received a bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Harvard University (1982) and a Ph.D. in biology from MIT (1989) where he studied in the laboratory of David Baltimore. Daley was only the twelfth individual in the history of Harvard Medical School to receive the M.D. degree summa cum laude (1991). He served as chief resident in Internal Medicine at the Massachusetts General Hospital and is currently a staff member in Hematology/Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Children's Hospital in Boston. His awards include the Leon Reznick Memorial Research Prize from Harvard Medical School, the New England Cancer Society Research Award, a Research Award for Clinical Trainees from the National Institutes of Health, the Burrough's Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Science, and Scholar Awards from the Edward Mallinckrodt, Jr. Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America.

November 12, 2002

Leading American political dissident Noam Chomsky says we needn't fear Saddam Hussein because the reviled Iraqi leader doesn't possess any nuclear weapons. "Nuclear weapons are of no use unless people know you have them," Chomsky told a roomful of journalists at McMaster University yesterday. "If I have nuclear weapons in my garage and nobody knows it, I can't use them as a threat or a deterrent. You have to make it obvious you have them. But the minute Saddam indicates he has them, it's suicide. The moment Iraq lets on it might have nuclear weapons, it will be obliterated." Yesterday's press conference kicked off the noted linguist's week-long visit to the Steel City, including two public lectures that sold out within an hour of tickets becoming available. Organizers say people from across the region and as far away as Montreal called for tickets. Hundreds had to be turned away. Graeme McQueen, a McMaster professor of religious and peace studies, chalks it up to "people's desire to listen to an informed person who has the courage to tell the truth. In a time of lies and great danger, this can be an intoxicating experience." A slim volume simply titled 9-11, containing excerpts of Chomsky's interviews with journalists from around the world immediately following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorists attacks in the United States, remains on the best-seller lists in the United States, Canada and abroad. In his book, Chomsky says he's been quoted by the mainstream media much more often since 9-11 than he ever was before. Yesterday, he said he's constantly in demand to give public talks and that he hasn't seen an audience of fewer than 3,000 people in a long time. And everybody wants to talk about the impending war on Iraq. "There's huge opposition to it, in fact, it's completely without historical precedent," Chomsky said. "There are huge demonstrations of protest. "Ask yourself, when in the entire history of European imperialism, counting the U.S. as part of Europe, has there been massive opposition to a war before it's begun? People mention Vietnam but the U.S. had been attacking South Vietnam quite publicly for four or five years. They had practically destroyed the country before there was any protest." He boils down the present situation to "two extreme positions" : That the Bush administration believes it alone has the authority it needs to attack Iraq. The Arab League endorsed the UN Security Council resolution calling for Iraqi disarmament with explicit guarantees from Secretary of State Colin Powell that the resolution "is not a trigger for war." "The Arab League statement is calling for regional disarmament, not just Iraqi disarmament," Chomsky noted, adding their position goes back more than a decade, predating the Gulf War and, in fact, might have prevented it. Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait was on the table but was contingent upon a conference on regional problems of armament threats "which is really code for Israeli weapons of mass destruction." He says the proposal was turned down by the U.S. and not reported by the mainstream media. Even retired general Lee Butler, former head of the U.S. strategic forces who once had the American nuclear arsenal under his command, pointed out in recent years that "the main problem of proliferation in the region is Israel's nuclear capacities which are far beyond anyone else's and part of the U.S. system of regional and global dominance," Chomsky said. No one in the Middle East is in favour of a war on Iraq, he noted, even Kuwait and Iran, which were both invaded by Iraq. "Most people in the region hate Saddam Hussein but they don't fear him because they know there isn't much he can do. The only people afraid of Saddam Hussein are Iraqis ... and for good reason ... and the U.S., and they're terrorized by George Bush telling them that if he doesn't do something, they're going to bomb us tomorrow." Meanwhile, the war on Iraq is serving to distract voter attention from tax cuts for the rich, a fiscal crisis manufactured to justify cuts to social spending and an environment facing destruction, Chomsky said. (The Hamilton Spectator, Nov. 12, 2002)

November 12, 2002

Future scientists, engineers and health researchers studying at McMaster University are honing their skills in new chemistry labs that rival the industry standard. The University community and guests, including Ontario Labour Minister Brad Clark, celebrated today the official opening of the newly retrofitted undergraduate chemistry labs that are equipped with state-of-the-art fume hoods, measurement tools and lab equipment. The $11.3 million retrofitted labs feature more than 150 new fume hoods that will allow first and second year students to conduct experiments in a controlled setting that mirrors the industrial environment. McMaster is the only university in Canada to offer chemistry courses to first year students in labs equipped with fume hoods. The University has more than 3,000 students from various disciplines enrolled in Level 1 and 2 chemistry courses. The new labs, located in the Arthur Bourns Building, span four floors and occupy 20,000 sq. ft. of newly-renovated space.

November 12, 2002

The health and environmental toll of war on Iraq could include more than 500,000 people dying, civil war, famine, epidemics, millions of displaced people and refugees and catastrophic effects on children's health and development, a new report says. McMaster's Centre for Peace Studies and Physicians for Global Survival (Canada) released the report, Collateral Damage: the health and environmental costs of war on Iraq, today (Nov. 12). The evidence-based report, researched and written by health professionals, analyzes the impact of a new war on Iraq from a public health perspective. The report concludes that the threatened war would be disastrous for the Iraqi people and people world-wide. Click here to view the report. Speakers at the news conference included Joanna Santa Barbara, a Hamilton child psychiatrist and president of Physicians for Global Survival (Canada), medical student April Kam and religious studies associate professor Graeme MacQueen, of the Centre for Peace Studies. The report was produced by Medact, the U.K. affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and is being distributed internationally on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The IPPNW received the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. Physicians for Global Survival (Canada), a registered charitable organization, is dedicated to the abolition of nuclear weapons, the prevention of war and the promotion of non-violent means of conflict resolution. It is the Canadian affiliate of IPPNW.

November 11, 2002

At its Nov. 6 meeting, University Senate approved a number of new programs, including a collaborative program in rehabilitation sciences with the University of British Columbia, a diploma in health services and policy research within the Ontario Training Centre and two new fields in physics & astronomy. Joint program with UBC McMaster's School of Rehabilitation Science, in collaboration with the University of British Columbia, will offer a joint graduate diploma in rehabilitation science. Delivered through Web-based, distance education, the program is intended to meet the continuing education needs of occupational and physical therapists. Students will receive a joint diploma from McMaster University and the University of British Columbia. The partnership will allow the universities to combine their individual strengths, said dean of graduate studies Fred Hall. UBC, with experience in distance education, is also experienced in using technology within their teaching methodologies, he says, adding UBC also offers a strong resource in designing and facilitating Web-based learning. Master will take the lead in designing two courses based on the school's strengths in evidence-based practice and measurements of outcomes, says Hall. "There would be benefits to both institution involved and also benefits to the recipients of the program." The program will be focused on the development of skills in evidence-based rehabilitation practice, clinical reasoning, use of outcome measurement in rehabilitation practice and working with clients and families to develop and evaluate effective rehabilitation programs. The programs will be delivered on a full cost-recovery basis. Ontario Training Centre diploma Senate approved a Diploma in Health Services and Policy Research within the new Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research, a multi-university, transdisciplinary training centre that is expected to increase the number of health services researchers in Ontario. Click here for further information on the Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research. The diploma program is offered to students enrolled in a discipline-based master's or doctoral program. The program will provide training in health services research for graduate students, enhance the quality and breadth of transdisciplinary training in health services research by providing learners with access to learning experiences and include decision makers as active partners in teaching, program and curriculum planning. It will also provide field placements for students. New fields in physics & astronomy With the recent hiring of seven new faculty members in physics and astronomy, two new fields have been added to its graduate program -- soft condensed matter and biophysics, and computational and theoretical physics. The expected enrolment in these areas is 30 graduate students  18 in soft condensed matter and biophysics, and 12 in computational and theoretical physics -- an increase of 16 students over the current enrolment figure. "We believe this increase in graduate enrolment is entirely consistent with the presence in our department of a large number of new faculty members whose research is clearly of the highest quality," says a Graduate Council report.

November 11, 2002

The average McMaster student overestimates the number of nights per week that their peers spend drinking alcohol, according to the latest Alcohol Awareness Survey by Student Health Services. The statistics show a 34.6 per cent inflation rate, between the perceived and actual number of nights that McMaster students spend drinking alcohol. The "Reality Check" Alcohol Awareness Campaign, run by Student Health Service, is a program designed to inform students of this misperception and increase student awareness of the realities related to alcohol use amongst their peers. As part of the campaign, the Health and Wellness Centre of Student Health Service is hosting the "That's the Spirit" McMaster Alcohol Awareness Fair Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 12 to 4 p.m. in the McMaster University Student Centre Marketplace. Campus departments, student groups and community partners will be on hand to promote moderate, responsible use of alcohol. The fair will include challenging games, prizes and giveaways. Student Health Service also developed a series of posters that have been placed around campus; in bathrooms, residences, on bulletin boards and distributed through various student associations and clubs. This year's theme "You Know You Want To..." alludes to the peer pressure associated with alcohol use, but completes the sentence with positive results of responsible drinking habits, such as "...make it to class" and "...make a good impression". The campaign is based on social norms theory; which argues that the misconceptions students have about the alcohol usage rates of their peers can become a self-fulfilling prophecy as students consume more alcohol in a subconscious attempt to meet the perceived norms. By presenting actual data on alcohol usage and its effects, the Reality Check Campaign attempts to shift these perceptions. Jane Radix, co-developer of the Reality Check campaign and Health Education Coordinator at the Health and Wellness Centre said, "So far, the campaign posters have been very successful in terms of students recognizing them and recalling the statistics." This year's study also investigated the negative consequences of alcohol use. When respondents were asked to list the consequences of alcohol use experienced in the last two months, one-third cited embarrassing themselves and missing class. Other notable consequences students identified were receiving unwanted sexual advances, personal injury and engaging in unprotected sex. For more information about the campaign, and social norms theory, visit the Student Health Service Web site at www.mcmaster.ca/shs/

November 11, 2002

In front of a capacity crowd, the McMaster Marauders secured their third straight OUA Yates Cup Championship Saturday by defeating the Queen's Golden Gaels 33-19. The top-ranked Marauders will host the fourth-ranked Atlantic University Sport monarchs and defending Vanier Cup champions Saint Mary's Huskies in the CIS National Semifinal Churchill Bowl at Les Prince Field Saturday, Nov. 16. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. The winning team of this game will vie for the national championship Vanier Cup to be held in Toronto at the SkyDome Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m.

November 11, 2002

On Nov. 11, we remember the brave men and women who died serving our country. In this article, a McMaster graduate and soldier poet is remembered. In a Remembrance Day address in 1996, the then University Chancellor, James Taylor, reviewed the accomplishments of fellow alumnus Bernard Freeman Trotter. He aptly described him as a memorable and worthy representative of those McMaster graduates and students who died serving in the two world wars of the 20th century and whose names are honoured in Alumni Memorial Hall. Toronto-born Bernard Freeman Trotter was educated at Baptist schools, Horton Academy in Nova Scotia and Woodstock College in Ontario, the latter an affiliate of McMaster University. In the fall of 1907, in the company of his brother, Reginald - a future historian at Queen9s University in Kingston -he embarked for sunny California in the hope of improving his shaky health. A year spent tending a lemon ranch and two years as a private teacher on the Pacific Coast appeared to do the trick. In 1910 he returned to Canada and enrolled in McMaster University, the Baptist institution then located in Toronto where his English-born father, Thomas, served on the theological faculty. By the time Bernard reached his senior year, the Great War (or the First World War) had erupted in Europe and Canada had entered the fight alongside what was then styled the Mother Country. Consequently, in his final months at McMaster, academic studies shared time with the duties he undertook in the University9s war-inspired Officers9 Training Corps. Room was also found, however, for other undergraduate pursuits, including his active participation in campus clubs and literary groups, where he shone as a poet, some of his pieces making it all the way to Harper9s Magazine and other American journals. Not surprisingly, he served as a productive editor of the McMaster University Monthly, a forerunner of the Silhouette and other student publications on campus. In an early wartime issue of the Monthly, his contribution, "To the Students of Liege," feelingly expressed his reaction to the German invasion of "little" Belgium, the act that had helped to trigger Britain9s entry into the war in August 1914. In old Liege, when those dark tidings came Of German honour callously forsworn And the red menace that should bring the scorn Of ages on the Kaiser9s name and shame And crown their city with a deathless fame, The students wrote, they say, that summer morn For their degrees, then joined the hope forlorn Of Liberty, and passed in blood and fame. O valiant souls! Who loved not Duty less Than Honor, whom no fears could move to shirk The common task, no tyrant9s threat subdue When Right and Freedom called in their distress - Not vain your sacrifice nor lost your work: The World9s free heart beats high because of you. In the circumstances, Bernard, a wartime student himself, was understandably anxious to "do his own bit" following his graduation in 1915. But he was in for a disappointment. Because his health could still be problematic at times, he was deemed medically unfit for service in the Canadian armed forces. Nevertheless, a welcome opportunity to serve came his way shortly after he had embarked on postgraduate studies at the University of Toronto. When the hard-pressed British (Imperial) army announced plans to recruit Canadians and other colonials, as they were then dubbed, for service in its officer corps, he eagerly applied. Health considerations in this case seemed to pose no problem; his application for a commission was accepted and he left Toronto for England in March 1916. Following a training period, part of which was spent amongst Oxford9s "dreaming spires," the freshly minted lieutenant was posted to the maelstrom known as the Western Front. In due course he was assigned to the 11th Battalion of the Leicestershire (Pioneer) Regiment. Bernard9s experiences in England and France were graphically and often amusingly related in a series of well-preserved letters to his family. In what turned out to be his last one, written on April 27, 1917, he advised his "Dear People" that he had recently been appointed assistant transport officer in his battalion and given the task of bringing up supplies to the front line. "... I [soon] found myself," he disclosed, ...mounted on my trusty steed in charge of a convoy, sniffing again the acrid reek of high explosive, and listening with a very personal interest to the whistle and bang of the shells. We had a few rather warm moments during the night but ... we got back without any untoward incident, so I had my usual good luck .... Then, a few days later, on May 7, 1917, Bernard9s good luck sadly and abruptly ran out. While again convoying supplies he came under heavy shellfire and was instantly killed. He was 26. After his death, Bernard9s family assembled and published his poetry. His poetry collection appeared in 1917 under the title A Canadian Twilight and Other Poems of War and of Peace and would join In Flanders9 Fields and the other literary contributions that were such a defining and poignant feature of the Great War. It was greeted with favourable reviews at home and abroad. An enthusiastic Times Literary Supplement, for one, hailed the author as the "Canadian Soldier Poet" and praised him for his "3ardent love of letters." The book was subsequently reprinted in Canada and over the years several of its poems have been selected for Canadian and American anthologies. In 1927, a grateful French government had his name inscribed in a section of the Pantheon in Paris devoted to those writers and poets who had fought and died in France during the conflict. Bernard Freeman Trotter9s wartime letters now repose in the McMaster University Library thanks to the generosity of his nephew and namesake, Bernard Fisher Trotter, also a McMaster graduate (945). The latter also kindly provided information and the photograph for this article.

November 10, 2002

McMaster University continues to be ranked as one of Canada's top innovative universities by Maclean's magazine. In the reputational survey section of the Nov. 11 ranking issue, McMaster continues to be in the top five in the areas of 'highest quality,' 'most innovative' and 'best overall' and placed second in the 'most innovative' category. The annual Maclean's ranking takes a measure of the undergraduate experience, comparing universities in three peer groupings. McMaster is ranked in the medical doctoral category that includes universities with a broad range of PhD programs and research, as well as medical schools.

November 8, 2002

McMaster's Centre for Continuing Education rolls out the red carpet tonight to celebrate the achievements of some 225 students who are completing their certificate and diploma studies. The students will be honoured at a Graduation and Awards ceremony in the McMaster University Student Centre beginning at 7 p.m. Among those completing programs and courses are Sara Lake, a single mom and a full-time employee in telecommunications at McMaster, and Angela McKague, a fourth-year psychology major at McMaster. Both have gained an enriched learning experience through their continuing education studies. "Their stories show what can be achieved through certificate and diploma programs offered by the Centre for Continuing Education," says Anne Dwyer, CCE program co-ordinator. "Sara was able to apply credits from a diploma program to an undergraduate program and Angela has developed a specialization in addictions while pursuing full-time undergraduate studies."

November 8, 2002

The Toronto Star reports that poppy sales have soared this year. The legion believes the fight against terrorism is partially responsible for the increased demand for poppies they are seeing this year. Some may wear a poppy as a sign of respect for those who lost their lives in the fight for freedom. Others wear poppies as a sign of remembrance so they may never forget the loss of life. Remembrance Day ceremonies will be taking place around the world on Monday, Nov. 11, including a ceremony at McMaster from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. in Convocation Hall. The Office of Alumni Advancement invites all students, faculty and staff to the ceremony which will honour those members of McMaster University who gave their lives in World War I and World War II. McMaster President Peter George will read the Honour Roll. Also speaking at the event will be McMaster Chancellor Melvin Hawkrigg and McMaster Students Union president Evan Mackintosh, who will read a Remembrance Day poem. There will also be a Remembrance Day reading by Anne Plessl, development officer in Mills Memorial Library.

November 8, 2002

Today, 789 individuals will leave Hamilton Place with a very significant piece of paper. McMaster confers undergraduate and graduate degrees at two Fall Convocation ceremonies Friday, Nov. 8, while also recognizing four outstanding leaders in public service, medical science and urban design. Legendary hockey dad Walter Gretzky, media executive Israel Asper, esteemed Japanese physician Shigeaki Hinohara and award-winning architect Raymond Moriyama, each receive honorary degrees. Pictured top, Isreal Asper reviews a convocation program prior to giving his address at this morning's ceremony. Pictured bottom, Walter Gretzky poses for a photo with McMaster President Peter George. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay

November 7, 2002

A strong thesis and a productive PhD program, rich with published papers and important findings in the area of copper metabolism, have earned Collins Kamunde the 2002 Governor General's Academic Medal. The medal is awarded to the graduate student who achieves the highest academic standing in his/her graduate degree program. Kamunde came to McMaster in 1998 to complete his doctorate under the supervision of biology professor and fish physiologist Chris Wood. Already the holder of a BA and M.Sc. in veterinary science and veterinary anatomy, Kamunde had a strong background in animal research and academic preparation upon arriving at McMaster. He is on study leave from his position as an assistant professor in the veterinary anatomy department at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. Kamunde finished his doctoral program at McMaster in under four years, contributing significant new findings to his chosen area of research. His work examined copper metabolism and toxicity in fish with particular emphasis on the interactions between waterborne and dietary uptake pathways.

November 7, 2002

Every year, 585,000 women die due to pregnancy-related complications. It's a statistic that makes Jean Chamberlain cringe. But with McMaster's expertise, it's possible to reduce these numbers, she says. "McMaster has always had a strong voice in international health. There are so many people here who have ideas on how we can be involved on a more personal level." That's one reason the assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at McMaster has organized the fourth annual International Women's Health Symposium Friday, Nov. 8 at the Royal Botanical Gardens, in Burlington. "The intent of the symposium is to bring people together with like-minded ideas," she says. "It gives people practical suggestions on how to move forward and participate in women's health." Called International Women's Health: Making a Difference, the conference will feature: Sally Armstrong, Canadian journalist and author, who will speak about women in conflict; Audrey McLaughlin, former federal NDP leader, will discuss the politics of women's health care from an international perspective; John Sellors, senior medical adviser of reproductive health in Seattle, Washington, will discuss developing technology and measuring impact in low resource settings; Florence Mirembe, chair of obstetrics/gynecology at Makerere University in Uganda, will speak on the challenges and victories of Ugandan Women living with HIV/AIDS; Yves Berjevin, chief of health at UNICEF New York, will discuss how UNICEF and multinational organizations make a difference in international women's health; Sonia Anand, chair of women's health at McMaster University, will speak on how poor health takes years off many women's lives. The day-long conference is for health care professionals and students, and is open to the public. The cost is $75 and includes lunch. For information, contact McMaster's continuing education program at 905-525-9140 ext. 22671.

November 7, 2002

For the third consecutive year, McMaster will host the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Yates Cup championship football game. The Marauders will take on the Queen's Golden Gaels Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. at Les Prince Field. McMaster Marauders defeated York Yeomen, 29-14, in the OUA semi-finals this weekend. Queens defeated The University of Western Ontario in the other OUA semi-final. Mike Ray led the scoring with five field goals, the longest being 36 yards. Quarterback Jon Behie was 11 for 26 for 168 yards and scored one rushing touchdown. Kyle Pyear had the other McMaster touchdown and led the ground attack, with 100 yards on 25 carriers. Brandon Little led the defence with two interceptions. The winner of the Yates Cup will play in the Churchill Bowl game Saturday, Nov. 16. The winning team of this game will vie for the national championship Vanier Cup to be held in Toronto at the SkyDome Saturday, Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. Ticket prices for Saturday's championship game are: Adult - $10 Student - $8 Senior - $8 McMaster Student - $5 Children under 10 - $5 Children under 3 -- free Tickets are available beginning Tuesday at 12 p.m. at the following locations at no service charge: McMaster Information Centre, in the McMaster Student Centre McMaster Locker Room Service Area, in the McMaster Ivor Wynne Centre (Athletic Complex) Copps Coliseum Box Office McMaster Spirit Store at Lime Ridge Mall Les Prince Stadium on the McMaster University Campus, one hour prior to game time Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at 905-527-7666, http://www.ticketmaster.ca and all Ticketmaster outlets. Normal service charges apply. For more information, contact the athletics & recreation department at www.athrec.mcmaster.ca or at ext. 24463

November 7, 2002

Sometimes the simplest message has the greatest impact on the environment. It can also have the biggest reward. Students of McMaster's Shad Valley program, known locally as MacShad, received the best overall award from the RBC Shad Entrepreneurship Competition for the "Big Green Tree Planting Kit", which includes Marvin's Tree, a story about a bird who searches for a new home after his tree is destroyed. "We're really proud of winning this award," says Bob Loree. "It really says a lot for McMaster and the faculty, staff and students that we have here." The 52 students who came to McMaster in July for the Shad program were instructed to create a project that would benefit the environment. Divided into four groups, the students were given four weeks to design, build, market, and present a product or service to a panel of judges. The 'Big Green Tree Planting Kit' was selected for entrance into the fifth annual RBC competition. This is the second time McMaster has claimed the top prize. They also won first place for prototype and third for their business plan. The kit includes five tulip tree seeds per student that they plant to help re-establish this endangered species. Also included in the kit is a teacher's reference guide, three compact discs, 25 planting pots and a colored children's storybook of Marvin, that the students translated in several languages, including English, French, Ukrainian and Mandarin. The team also created a Web site, which people could submit their address to, to be mailed tree seeds native to their area. The kit has caught the eye of local school boards who are considering purchasing the books for Grade 3 teachers, notes Loree. "The Shad experience in itself is fantastic," he says. "With or without the reward, students were able to go home and say they had a great experience and a lot of fun. The skills they learn here are really invaluable." Photo caption: One of the pages from Marvin's Tree, the colored children's storybook that has been translated by students into several languages, such as French, Mandarin and Ukrainian.