July 31, 2001

A message was issued to the McMaster community on Tuesday afternoon regarding the arbitrator's release of an interim award for the McMaster University Staff Association (MUSA). A copy of the joint communique from McMaster University president Peter George and MUSA president Barry Diacon follows: We wish to inform you that arbitrator George Adams has released an interim award in the settlement of the McMaster University Staff Association's first contract with the University. As you recall, the University and MUSA agreed in April to voluntary mediation/arbitration. The interests and priorities of each party were presented to the arbitrator in May and June. At that time it was anticipated that a final award would be issued by the arbitrator by July 31, 2001. After having considered the party's interests, Mr. Adams has issued an interim award. He has indicated that he requires additional clarification on some issues and is currently attempting to confirm a date to meet with both parties to finalize the complete award. The interim award provides MUSA members with the final details around salary increases and improvements to the major medical and dental benefit plans. The award provides for increases as follows: 2.0% 1999/00 3.2% 2000/01 3.0% 2001/02 2.5% 2002/03 We encourage all members of the community to take the time to become informed about the interim award. Complete details on salary increases and the salary grid can be found on both the McMaster Human Resources and the MUSA Web sites. The interim award begins the process of implementing MUSA's first collective agreement. This award marks the beginning of a new relationship between MUSA and the University. (End of story)

July 30, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/Harveyfarewell.jpg” caption=”Harvey Weingarten, President George”]His farewell was bittersweet. Harvey, I know that you keep telling me that no one is irreplaceable, but I . . .

July 30, 2001

It has taken four years, but an international consortium that includes McMaster researchers has decoded the genome sequence of a bacterium that could play a key role in reducing the use of chemical fertilizers. The sequence revealed that the bacterium contains more than 6,000 genes or roughly one-fifth the number present in the human genome. This research contributes significantly to the goal of achieving environmentally safe and economically sustainable food crops. The bacterium, Sinorhizoblum meliloti (S. meliloti) is commonly applied to alfalfa crops as part of a natural fertilization process. Until now, scientists did not have a comprehensive understanding of the bacterium's genome. S. meliloti is unusual in that its genome is made up of three chromosomes, while most common bacteria have only one. Three teams of scientists, from McMaster (teamed with the Universitat Bielefeld, Germany), Stanford University, France and Belgium, were responsible for sequencing each of the three chromosomes. The integration of their research appears in the most recent issue of the international journal, Science. Turlough Finan, chair of biology and one of the lead investigators, believes that now that the sequence of genes is known, researchers can infer many processes and investigate the functions of many genes more efficiently. "If we can understand how the bacterium works, we may be able to improve the nitrogen-fixation process and increase the range of plants it can interact with." The team at McMaster includes Finan and Brian Golding, a professor of biology and a specialist in bio-informatics. Other members are Alison Cowie, research technologist; Ismael Hernandez-Lucas, postdoctoral candidate; Kim Wong, master's candidate and Patrick Chain, a recent M.Sc. graduate. (End of story)

July 27, 2001

Athletics & Recreation in partnership with Human Resources is conducting an assessment of what programs and services are available to enhance employee wellness at work. The goal of the new initiative is to determine what is available on campus to help employees be healthy and create a University profile of health and wellness needs. Once an inventory of programs is compiled and analyzed, both groups will make a recommendation for a direction for a comprehensive employee work site wellness program. "Wellness touches every aspect of an employee's life on campus and outside the work environment," said Therese Quigley, director of the Department of Athletics & Recreation. "We don't have a good assessment of what is in place. We need to get a baseline and discover what we do well and what we don't have that people might want and would be beneficial." Simon Ouellet, director of benefits, compensation & staffing, said the study will indicate the awareness level of employees about the advantages of a healthy lifestyle. "Many employees are aware that a healthy lifestyle has long term benefits at work and at home," Ouellet said. The project received $25,000 from the 2000-2001 allocations of the McMaster University Futures Fund (MUFF). Several initiatives to support employee wellness were approved for MUFF funding by the Board of Governors this year. They include a one-year pilot project through Student Health Service that ensures a physician is available on campus to address employees' health and wellness needs. Staff physician Finola Foley distributed a questionnaire to employees this week asking for input on what health and wellness services interest them. (See July 19 Daily News story Student Health Service opens door to employees.) Buffett Taylor & Associates Ltd. is conducting the needs assessment study on behalf of Athletics & Recreation and Human Resources. The consulting company will use a variety of tools to collect the data, build the inventory and obtain feedback about employee health and wellness. The firm will conduct interviews with internal and external stakeholders and review the results of the Reacon staff survey pertaining to employee morale, stress, job satisfaction and work/home life balance issues. Ouellet said any information that is collected or statistics that are gathered from health, disability and Workplace Safety & Insurance Board records will be generic in nature, will not identify individuals and will be treated with complete confidentiality. The needs assessment and a final report should be completed by November with plans for a report to go to the Board of Governors in December. Employees who wish further information about the project may contact Debbie Marinoff, manager of recreation services at marinof@mcmaster.ca or Wanda McKenna, human resources officer (benefits) at mckenna@mcmaster.ca. (End of story)

July 26, 2001

At Venture engineering and science camp, they're making remote control cars and pinball machines. At Adventures in engineering computing camp, they're designing Web pages. At Sport Fitness School they're biking, learning to bunt or striking soccer balls. At Mini-U, "just the facts" of journalism and the human body in motion or kinesiology are some of the topics campers are tackling. And the beauty of it all is that for campers this is fun. Summer camps are in full swing with about 3000 children enrolled in a variety of camps offered on campus this year. About 850 children are enjoying hands-on projects at Venture engineering and science camp and Adventures in engineering computing camps operated by the Faculty of Engineering. This week is all-girls week at computer camp with 22 girls from grades 5 to 10 learning about computer design. Karen Zuccala, assistant co-ordinator for Mini-U, says about 550 children ages 10 to 15 are studying subjects like chemistry, physics, the arts and psychology. Mini-U campers also enjoy a sleepover in residence on their second last day at camp and take part in a no-fire campfire and canoe trip at Princess Point. The counsellors, as well as the children, learn while they have fun. "The people are great and it's a fun atmosphere," said Zuccala, 23, who graduated from McMaster this spring with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in business. She's off to the University of Windsor this fall to pursue a post-graduate degree in sports management. "People think it's school but it's all hands-on. A lot of people want to go to teacher's college so this is a great opportunity for them to work with kids and see if they really like it and want to continue on." Tim Louks, program co-ordinator of Sport Fitness School (SFS), said the counsellors, who are all university students, make SFS as successful as it is. The 24-year-old sports camp this year added its 24th sport, cycling, and boasts 85 staff. "The strength of our program is the counsellors," Louks said. "Our ratios are 1 to 5 and 1 to 8 in sport group making it one of the best around." About 1600 children will rotate through three sports, trail running, cardio funk and daily swimming during their two-week camp sessions. SFS has been at capacity the last three years with registration beginning Feb. 1 and closing in early May. BUILDING FUN: Venture engineering and science campers Adam Burt, 9, (front left), Geoffrey Lawson, 10, and Ali Lawson, 13, worked with counsellors David Colangelo (engineering physics) and Kelli Celeste (mechanical engineering & management) creating machines this summer. Photo by Shelly Easton

July 26, 2001

First-year McMaster students who enrol in a Student Send-Off event in their local community get a head start on their university experience. The Office of . . .

July 25, 2001

He's won McMaster's and the province's top teaching awards. Now Miroslav Lovric, an assistant professor of mathematics & statistics, has another award for his dossier -- the prestigious 3M National Teaching Fellowship. It is Canada's only national interdisciplinary fellowship and recognizes teaching excellence as well as educational leadership. This year the fellowship was awarded to 10 university teachers from across Canada. Award winners attended a three-day retreat at Chateau Montebello in Quebec where they had the opportunity to share their teaching experiences and discuss new ideas. Last year Lovric received a Teaching and Academic Librarianship Award from the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations. In 1999 he received the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching at Spring Convocation. Since he began lecturing at the University in 1991, students have nominated him every year for a McMaster Students Union Teaching Award. In 1994 he won the overall teaching award at McMaster. Students praise their mathematics professor for his ability to simplify complex concepts to an understandable level. In addition to teaching, Lovric actively promotes mathematics through competitions. He has developed and significantly improved several math courses and has written a textbook called Vector Calculus. (End of story)

July 24, 2001

Ahmed Ghobarah has been appointed to the Joe Ng/JNE Consulting Chair in Design, Construction & Management of Infrastructure Renewal in McMaster's Faculty of Engineering. Ghobarah has served in the Faculty for 19 years. Ghobarah has contributed significantly to innovative research into structural strengthening, rehabilitation and upgrading strategies and techniques. He is a recognized world leader in earthquake engineering and design. "The appointment of Ahmed Ghobarah builds on our current reputation as one of Canada's most research-intensive engineering Faculties," said Mo Elbestawi, dean of engineering. "I am confident that under the leadership of Dr.Ghobarah, our Faculty will continue to be at the forefront of research in infrastructure renewal." After completing his M.Eng. and PhD degrees in civil engineering at McMaster, he worked for 12 years in the international consulting engineering industry before joining the engineering Faculty in 1982. He has to his credit more than 300 journal publications, conference presentations and industrial research reports. As the Joe Ng/JNE Consulting Chair, Ghobarah will focus on leading-edge research in design, construction and management of infrastructure renewal. He will also provide liaison between the consulting engineering sector, government and academia. (End of story)

July 22, 2001

You can't judge a book by its cover. -- a traditional proverb Many visitors don't heed that advice when appraising McMaster's campus and their first impressions aren't always favourable. Urban Strategies Consulting is working with internal and external stakeholders to develop an updated campus plan due to be unveiled later this fall that addresses those views. The goal is to develop a plan that takes into account feedback from neighbours, students, University employees and community representatives about what people like and dislike about the way the campus looks and works. What the consultants have heard so far is that while the interior parts of campus are generally embraced by users, the University's exterior is considered by many to be uninviting. "We heard about 'the moat' that surrounds campus," said Cindi Rottenberg-Walker, an Urban Strategies consultant who is helping create a draft campus plan. Visitors have the impression, especially from the "entrances and faces" of campus that buildings are inward facing, there is no sense of arrival and pedestrian walkways are poorly organized and not well connected to the surroundings, she said. There is also room for improvement on the edge of campus where open space is fragmented and there is conflict between pedestrians and cars. The core campus "works well," she added. A draft plan will be drawn up this summer and presented to the public at a September open house. CAMPUS PLANNING: Earlier this year about 60 people spent a day discussing their visions for how the campus should look. Photo: Shelly Easton

July 20, 2001

The 52 McMaster Shad Valley students that travelled from all over Canada and Scotland to spend July learning more about the fields of science, engineering and business are starting to see the fruits of their labour. Three weeks ago the senior high school students were split into four teams and presented with the challenge of brainstorming, designing, constructing, marketing, presenting and writing a full business plan for a product or service that would assist people with disabilities. "It's been a real challenge," admitted Edwin Li from Vancouver, B.C. "It's not something that you think about every day and most of us have never used the types of products that we're designing - it's really opened our eyes." The four products designed by the student teams cater to a variety of physical disabilities. The "Pop-A-Lid" serves as a lid and can-opening device to assist people with weaknesses in their hands or fingers, shifting stress away from the hand and allowing people to use their whole arm as a lever. A specialized cane with features that allow for greater independence in cane users includes a second handle to assist the user in standing from a seated position and a belt clip holster to free up hands while the cane is not in use. The "Easy Handle," a portable and adjustable device for converting door knobs into door handles, will ease discomfort experienced by individuals suffering from arthritis. Finally, a reaching aid for people in wheelchairs will assist individuals in obtaining items that would otherwise be inaccessible. Presentations of these devices and the accompanying business plans will take place Monday, July 23 from 2 to 4 p.m in the John Hodgins Engineering building, room 264. Several individuals from the community will provide expertise in engineering, business and disability awareness while serving as judges of the competition. Everyone hoping to learn more about Shad Valley is invited to attend. The winning team from McMaster University will go on to compete at the Royal Bank Shad Entrepreneurship Competition held in Toronto in October.

July 19, 2001

Employees will be able to visit a doctor on campus beginning this September. Student Health Service (SHS) is launching a one-year pilot project that involves dedicating one doctor specifically to dealing with employees' workplace-related injuries, acute care health concerns and health promotion. This is the first time this type of service has been available at McMaster. "In the past employees often asked if they could come to see us if they had a sore throat or headache or needed an allergy shot," said Julie Fairservice, SHS clinic director. "Many people have also asked about a health newsletter similar to Health Talk @McMaster published for students." Dr. Finola Foley will be available to see employees beginning Sept. 17, Fairservice said. The hours of operation will be announced closer to the start date. Services provided during the pilot project include a flu vaccine clinic slated for October, laceration repairs, immunization updates, management of communicable diseases that affect the workplace, allergy shots and referrals to the sports medicine physician and the sport injury clinic. As well, she said a needs assessment will be conducted this summer to determine what employees want in health education. Fairservice said the health care provided by Foley is not intended to replace the use of family doctors for yearly physical exams or manage chronic care situations. SHS submitted a proposal to the McMaster University Futures Fund (MUFF) to fund the service and received $136,000 to run the program for one year. (Under the terms of a pension surplus sharing proposal approved by the Board of Governors in October 2000, MUFF expired April 30, 2001.) Fairservice said other funding avenues will be explored to continue the service if the pilot project is popular. Employees will receive a letter next week explaining the program. (End of story)

July 18, 2001

No. 13 has proved to be completely unlucky for Fireball, McMaster's solar car. The solar car team withdrew from the 4000-kilometre American Solar Challenge race yesterday because a number of obstacles had made it too difficult to proceed. They were in Rolla, Missouri when they withdrew. The team chose No. 13 for their entry hoping it would prove to be a lucky charm but the number lived up to its reputation of signifying bad luck. The team suffered a series of setbacks with Fireball, including a flat tire and the solar panel flipping and needing repairs, since making the qualifier race at Western Michigan University last week and starting the race in Chicago on Sunday. The team wasn't able to make various checkpoints and that meant they were accruing penalties that were insurmountable in terms of being a viable competitor. Communications have been difficult and at one point the car's driver lost contact with the support vehicle. The Daily News has been unable to communicate with the team on the road. The race, which follows historic Route 66 and includes teams from the Universities of Waterloo, Toronto and Alberta, ends July 25 in California. (Photo courtesy of Western Michigan University) (End of story)

July 17, 2001

Ten faculty members have been docked pay for their actions during the five-week strike by the McMaster University Staff Association. There is a negotiated policy between the University and the McMaster University Faculty Association that stipulates faculty do not have to cross picket lines but are required to be available for scheduled duties. Each day they are not available is considered a one-day leave without pay. Faculty members were informed of the decision to deduct pay in letters sent out last month by former provost Harvey Weingarten. Click here to read more.

July 16, 2001

Landscaping work will begin around the McMaster University Student Centre (MUSC) this week. The work includes the installation of planters and walkways and the planting of trees and shrubs. The small trees that were uprooted last spring will be brought back to the site from their temporary locations around campus and the larger trees will be brought back from Aldershot Nurseries where they have been cared for since the site was excavated. In addition to these returning trees, new plants will be introduced including evergreens, deciduous trees and flowering shrubs. The main courtyard between Mills Memorial Library and Titles Bookstore will be centred around four mature pin oak trees. The east side of the building by the round glass wall will boast another cluster of trees that will create a "green view" from the fireside lounge within the building. Along the east entrance to the centre, a line of locust trees will shade three stone chess tables and stools, donated to MUSC by Sheila Smith, the McMaster Association of Part-Time Students representative on the MUSC Board of Management. George Stockton, of Moriyama & Teshima Architects, said that the landscaping around MUSC will make it feel like an outdoor room. The landscaping will "extend the interior of the building out onto site." The outdoor courtyard between Titles Bookstore and Mills Memorial Library is designed to be a pleasant space to walk through from one part of campus to another and also a great space for all kinds of activities including outdoor fairs and rallies. Most of all, this space will be a great place to eat lunch or to hang out between classes or on a coffee break. The landscaping work will change the fencing around the site for the next few weeks. This week, the area to the west of Mills Memorial Library will be closed off and the entrance to the library will change to the north door only (the entrance that faces Council Chambers). Access to the other entrance will be restored on Sept. 3. The work along the north-east side of the building, by the curved wall, will begin mid-August and continue until the end of October.

July 13, 2001

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/ABournsBuilding.jpg” caption=”Arthur Bourns Building”]Renovations to the north wing of the Arthur Bourns Building (ABB) began this week. The renovations are part of a . . .

July 13, 2001

The Gilmour Hall time capsule is back behind the date stone. John Farrell, associate director of physical plant, placed the time capsule back behind the date stone yesterday just before bricklayer John Bartolussi from G&A Masonry sealed up the area with a few final bricks. The time capsule was found in May when construction workers took the old stone off the south face of Gilmour Hall. Some Daily News readers believed the time capsule, estimated to be about 42 years old, should have been opened but Farrell said the time capsule should be put back. "One hundred years is a good round number," he said. BACK IN TIME: John Farrell(L), associate director of physical plant, stuffs the Gilmour Hall time capsule back behind the date stone with the help of John Bartolussi from G&A Masonry. Photos: Kelly Curwin

July 12, 2001

The third floor of the General Sciences Building(GS) is getting a fresh look as part of a plan to move several groups into new spaces around campus. Project manager Joe Medeiros of physical plant said renovations to the third floor of GS began this week to receive the geography & geology people that now occupy the north wing of the Arthur Bourns Building. Employees from the Department of Computing & Software, now relocated to T16, the former teacher's college building, previously occupied the third floor of GS. Staff from the School of Geography & Geology have to be relocated to make room for the eight new chemistry lab facilities that will be built in early August. Employees from the geography & geology department should be moved into GS during the first week of August. These renovations are all part of the science and engineering Faculty expansions that began a few years ago. The renovation to the third floor will be on a fast track, with the major part of the renovations being completed by the end of July. The renovations to this floor include minor asbestos abatement, demolition to some interior partitions and floor tile removal, Medeiros said. New partitions, ceilings, lighting, floor tiles, mechanical upgrades and electrical systems will be installed. As well, fresh paint will be added throughout. The replacement of the waste stacks (sanitary drains) for the building will be the most challenging part of this renovation, Medeiros said. Some of the stacks are behind drywall and masonry units that will have to be removed to gain access to the stacks. Some of this work may continue even after most of the renovations have been completed on the third floor. Users in this building may be inconvenienced by some of this work and building occupants may notice extra noise and vibrations. Concerns about the construction should be directed to Medeiros who can be reached by e-mail at medeiro@mcmaster.ca or by phone at 905-525-9140 ext. 27789. Bestco Construction Corp. is the general contractor for this project and will work with all the users to ensure this project runs smoothly, Medeiros said. Bestco is already on campus working on two other projects and is familiar with the University's protocol.

July 11, 2001

Three McMaster researchers have been awarded grants totalling more than $618,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for facilities required for their research. The awards are part of an announcement yesterday by CFI president David Strangway that 29 universities, including McMaster, received $14.6 million for the latest round of projects eligible under the New Opportunities Fund and the University Research Development Fund. (The three McMaster projects came under the New Opportunities Fund.) CFI has funded a total of $4,109,294 to McMaster to date under the New Opportunities Fund and under the Innovation Fund program, CFI has given McMaster a total of $29,719,389 to date. Samir Chidiac, an associate professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, was awarded $60,000 from CFI for a project called Acquisition of Automated Cementitious Materials Characterization System for Workability and Durability. Kari Dalnoki-Veress, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, received $304,929 for facilities related to his research on a project titled Mechanical properties and morphology of thin polymer films. Bernardo Trigatti, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, received $254,043 for his work on a project titled Molecular mechanisms of receptor mediated lipid uptake in atherosclerosis. The CFI is an independent, not-for-profit corporation set up by the federal government in 1997 to help the national research community build state-of-the-art facilities where researchers and scientists can conduct their research. The foundation covers 40 per cent of the eligible costs of projects, with the research institutions such as universities and hospitals contributing 60 per cent of the costs.

July 10, 2001

July 10, 2001

The University's 2001-02 operating budget reflects an investment in institutional priorities that fit with McMaster's academic mission. The University is expecting to receive $13 million more in revenue this year and almost half of this new funding will go to support scholarships for both graduate and undergraduate students and Faculty priorities and recruitment needs. The funds will also be used to prepare the campus facilities for an expected growth in enrolment. At its June 15 meeting, the Board of Governors approved an operating budget of nearly $200 million for 2001-02. The University anticipates income from research overhead, grants and tuition will total $196,796 million for the operating year, enabling McMaster to meet its expenses with a projected surplus of $88,000. (Click here to view the 2001-02 budget framework.) The budget also reflects the increased costs of doing business -- the University expects its utility bill to increase by $2.3 million this year. That's due in part to the costs of heating, lighting and cooling a campus that is growing both demographically and geographically and, like businesses and institutions everywhere today, is facing rising utility costs. Expenses totalling $196,708 million are outlined in the Budget Committee document presented to the Board for approval. In a letter to President Peter George, committee chair Brian McCarry discusses the challenges for the committee in determining budget priorities and allocations, and explains the increases in expenditures as follows: graduate and undergraduate scholarships (up by about $2 million over last year); increases to Faculty envelopes (up almost $4 million); facilities maintenance (an increase of $2.3 million); and establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund ($2.4 million)for campus expansion projects to meet the University's commitment to programs such as Superbuild and the Canada Research Chairs.