Daily News

July 8, 2002

Ten new McMaster researchers are celebrating after receiving a total of $1.8 million to build labs and acquire machinery to help them do their research. The research awards are from the New Opportunities Fund distributed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation. The New Opportunities program is designed to help launch the careers of new and talented faculty members. The faculty members have to be at the University less than 18 months to be eligible for the funding. Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president research & international affairs, welcomed the investment for cutting-edge infrastructure support. "Recruiting excellent faculty is a high priority for McMaster and this program has allowed us to do just that," said Shoukri. "This investment will help our new faculty to expand their research programs and build their research capacity." For assistant professor Alison Sills in the physics & astronomy department, her $174,422 award means she can get a rare hybrid teraflop supercomputer - one of a handful in the world - for her research into the dynamics and evolution of globular clusters (dense groups of 100,000 stars). "This will help me study the oldest objects in our galaxy, which constrain the age of the universe and trace how our galaxy was formed," said Sills. "This is amazing really. It will put me in the forefront of computational stellar astrophysics."

July 8, 2002

Med Students, a new 13-part documentary series featuring McMaster's medical students and residents, airs tonight on the Life Network at 9 p.m. The series provides audiences with a behind the scenes look at the innovative style of learning in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Filmed by Breakthrough Productions, each episode chronicles the diverse experiences of medical students as they work alongside faculty and hospital staff within McMaster Health Sciences and its affiliated teaching hospitals. The distinct environment in which these future health care professionals are educated and trained will be portrayed along with the perspective of staff participants who facilitate this unique process. By allowing viewers to witness McMaster's self-directed and problem-based learning styles, the series places a human face on McMaster's rigourous academic programs. "The film series offers important opportunities for all of us in Hamilton," says John Kelton, dean and vice-president of McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences. "First, it will help support our students since all profits will be used for student scholarships and bursaries. Second, the series will enhance the image of our city, our University, our hospitals, our students and all of our dedicated health care providers." The series also raises McMaster's profile nationally while highlighting the University's many attributes and innovative learning style, Kelton says. The series focuses on individuals as they experience real life challenges on their journey to becoming doctors. A range of stories will showcase the spectrum of challenges unfolding at McMaster as well as the contribution students offer to the health care system. Students experience first-time exposure to a trauma, a birth, surgery and everyday emergencies. The documentary series will air every Monday on the Life Network at 9 p.m. beginning tonight and again on Discovery Health this fall.

July 8, 2002

McMaster University Library has acquired the papers of distinguished journalist, humorist, and McMaster alumnus, Gary Lautens '50. Born in Fort William, Ontario, Lautens moved with his family to Hamilton in the early 1930s and completed his high school education at Hamilton Central Collegiate Institute in 1946. He graduated from McMaster with a bachelor's degree in history. Lautens' apprenticeship as a journalist also occurred at McMaster. Editor of the Silhouette from 1948 to 1950, he joined the staff of the Hamilton Spectator after graduation and worked there for a dozen years. His newspaper work as a columnist continued at the Toronto Star from 1962 to 1982. He was executive managing editor of the Toronto Star from 1982 to 1984 and editor emeritus and columnist at the same newspaper until his death of a heart attack in 1992 at the age of 63.

July 5, 2002

McMaster's Department of Athletics & Recreation has appointed Tim Louks as its new manager of athletics. Louks has worked for the Department of Athletics and Recreation since 1988 and has held various positions including: women's volleyball coach; co-ordinator of intramurals; co-ordinator of clubs and the director of the McMaster Sports Fitness School. Louks was a recipient of the prestigious McMaster President's Staff award in 1998 for his outstanding commitment and service to the University. Louks brings valuable experience to his new role having represented McMaster at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canadian Interuniversity Sport meetings for the past four years and serving on the OUA Sport Technical Committee for the past three years. Despite his new position, Louks will continue to coach the women's volleyball team. He has coached volleyball at McMaster since 1984, spending three years coaching the men's team (1984-87) and the last eight years coaching the women's volleyball team (1988-present). In his tenure, he has twice been named the OWIAA (now OUA) coach of the year (1990-91 & 1997-98). Louks holds two degrees from McMaster University and as a student-athlete was a two-time Most Valuable Player in men's volleyball. "We are pleased that Tim will be taking on this role at McMaster," said director of athletics and recreation Therese Quigley. "Tim is an excellent leader, and wonderful ambassador of the university." Robert Hilson is manager of marketing and communications, athletics and recreation

July 4, 2002

McMaster University has received $1 million from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to create and test an information service, McMaster Plus, for physicians in isolated areas. "McMaster Plus: Harnessing Digital Libraries for Better Health Care" will find out what medical information northern Ontario doctors need, provide them online with the best evidence-based health literature available and then test to see if and how doctors are using the service. "Rapid changes in medical knowledge have made it very difficult for physicians to keep up with breakthroughs in health care," says John Kelton, dean and vice-president of McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences. "We see McMaster Plus as the first step in gathering new medical knowledge and making it available in an easily digestible form to doctors and, in the future, to patients as well." "It used to be that northern Ontario physicians struggled most with getting up-to-date information when they were so far away from a big medical library," says Brian Haynes, chair of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences. "The development of digital libraries has in some ways solved this problem, but created a new challenge in sorting through the overwhelming array of information available to find what's most relevant and most reliable. "A doctor might do a literature search on arthritis and get 1,000 articles. Only a tiny fraction of this literature is high quality and relevant to clinical practice," Haynes says. "Our role at McMaster will be to help doctors find that therapeutic needle in the information haystack. We predict our new service will be an enormous time-saver and lead to better practice." "McMaster pioneered the concept of evidence-based medicine," Kelton said. "As a result, we are well-equipped to take on this project. We are very grateful to the government of Ontario for supporting this very significant innovation."

July 3, 2002

Pam Wilson has a golden pin in the ring. The McMaster wrestler and second-year kinesiology student claimed gold in the 72-kg event at the fifth World University Wrestling Championship at the University of Alberta, pinning American Samantha Branka. She also won the bronze medal in the 72-kg event at the Canada Cup last weekend defeating Alma Izquierda of Mexico. The judo artist-turned-wrestler was drawn to the sport when she arrived at McMaster in 2000. Wilson, who competed in judo for 14 years prior to joining the McMaster's women's wrestling team (led by coach Nick Cipriano), won the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) gold medal in her first year of wrestling. Wilson is also a star in the classroom. She received the 2001 Dr. Mel Hawkrigg Scholarship, awarded to a kinesiology student who has demonstrated outstanding academic, community and athletic achievement. She was also a 2000-01 Marauder Scholar and a finalist for the 2002 McMaster Female Athlete of the Year Award. Wilson qualified for the World University Championship by placing first in her weight class at the University Trials held in Alberta in January. She concluded her winter season by capturing the silver medal at the CIS Wrestling Championships. In between, she won the Ontario University Athletics gold medal in the 76-kg weight class. Wilson also captured the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Association Senior Women's National Championship gold medal this past spring in the 72-kg event and was named Wrestler of the Meet. This fall she will compete at the World Championships.

July 3, 2002

The Physical Plant Department has recently undergone a reorganization in an effort to achieve efficiencies and improve customer service. With valued input from customer feedback sessions, focus groups and department staff, the reorganization allows the department to focus on priority service areas and improve overall service levels. Through the leadership of director Tony Cupido, Physical Plant provides a wide range of services including custodial, construction and building renewal, technical services, utilities, parking and transit, and operations, which includes waste removal and recycling. "Research for the Physical Plant reorganization included a series of focus groups that were held in the fall of 2001," explains Cupido. "The groups specifically reviewed custodial operations, trade operations and customer service issues within the department. They also developed valuable suggestions for improvements in each of these areas. This input was combined with that of other research conducted for the reorganization, and the outcomes identified that the priority tasks for the department are: (1) to maintain a clean campus; (2) preventative maintenance; and (3) air quality. I am pleased to report that as a result of the reorganization, Physical Plant now has specific programs focused on each of these three priority issues to serve the McMaster community most effectively." One of the primary benefits of the reorganization is that there is now one easy point of contact for any Physical Plant service instead of having to know which of six Physical Plant service teams to call as well as their respective contacts and telephone numbers. The newly reorganized department provides one-stop shopping and a more efficient response system to all of its customers.

July 3, 2002

Crime prevention is on Cathy O'Donnell's radar screen. McMaster's new sergeant of crime prevention, located in the new student centre, has a proactive approach to campus policing. "It is better to prevent crime than it is to respond to crime or investigate crime after the fact," she says. With a focus on crime prevention and community relations, O'Donnell will provide a number of services in her new role, including offering educational programs, seminars and safety audits. She will also be available to provide a general overview of safety on campus and will liaise with the SWHAT (Student Walk Home Assistance Team) and the EFRT(Emergency First Response Team). "We want to bring about an increased profile about being proactive on campus," says Ron Thorn, director of security. "In preventing crime, we're trying to raise our crime prevention profile on campus. The availability of the office at the student centre also meant that we could have a closer association and communication with students. "My hope is that Cathy will have the opportunity to talk to people at all different kinds of levels to get the message out there that we are trying to enhance the personal safety of people on campus," he says.

July 2, 2002

Mary Keyes' legacy to McMaster is being recognized with the decision to name the new residence after her. The Board of Governors has approved a recommendation from the Campus Names Committee and University President Peter George to name the new facility the Mary Keyes Residence. Keyes dedicated 38 years of service to the University, beginning her career her as an associate professor of kinesiology. She was head of student affairs at McMaster for ten years before her death in February. During this period she worked tirelessly to ensure students' interests and concerns were foremost. She was known for her open door policy and accessibility to students. "Given the depth of this legacy and enormity of Dr. Keyes' contribution to student life at McMaster, I believe it is only fitting that the new student residence be named to honour her memory," wrote vice-president University Advancement Roger Trull in a letter to the committee. The distinction honours Keyes' vision, kindness and generous spirit. END OF STORY

June 28, 2002

McMaster's antivirus software site license is changing from Command to Sophos. License terms permit all employees to use Sophos Anti-Virus software on their home and . . .

June 26, 2002

The transformation from abandoned bingo hall to modern medical facility is complete. McMaster Family Practice, one of three community family practice sites affiliated with the Department of Family Medicine, recently completed its relocation from the McMaster University Medical Centre to the newly renovated West End Clinic at 690 Main Street West. Culminating a year of planning and preparation, the new offices were quietly opened for the first patients on May 21. Official opening ceremonies took place today, with Hamilton mayor Bob Wade, Hamilton Health Sciences chief executive officer Murray Martin, and Hamilton Health Sciences board chair Marvin Ryder in attendance.

June 26, 2002

Three new Canada Research Chairs (CRC) have been awarded to McMaster University, bringing the University's total number of chairs to 33. McMaster will receive $4.2 million from the CRC program over the next seven years to support the work of world-class researchers Paul Higgs(physics) Manel Jordana(medicine), and Tamas Terlaky (industrial engineering). Jordana, who will hold the Canada Research Chair in Immune Biology of Respiratory Disease and Allergy, is a professor of pathology and molecular medicine at McMaster. Terlaky, a professor in computing & software engineering, will be Canada Research Chair in Optimization. Higgs, from the University of Manchester in the UK, recently accepted a tenured position in McMaster's Department of Physics & Astronomy. He will hold the title Canada Research Chair in Biophysics.

June 25, 2002

Four McMaster researchers are recipients in the first round of research grants under the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada's (SSHRC) Initiative on the New Economy (INE). The work of McMaster researchers Stephen Jones, Tony Porter, Mohamed Shehata and Khalid Nainar explores the impact of the new economy on business and society and how it permeates the everyday lives of Canadians. The researchers received more than $250,000 from the new fund.

June 25, 2002

Board approves capital financing plan to address construction boom Board approved a capital financing strategy to cover a shortfall of $120 million in designated funding. . . .

June 25, 2002

McMaster's nuclear reactor has been issued a Class IA Non-Power Reactor License by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). The license was issued following recent . . .

June 24, 2002

Fifty-two outstanding high school students from across Canada will descend upon McMaster Sunday, June 30 for the international Shad Valley Program. The program allows senior high school students, who have demonstrated excellence in academics, recreation, leadership and community involvement, to expand their minds in engineering, science, technology and entrepreneurship at the university level. Established in 1982, the Shad Valley Program combines an academic and recreational portion, that takes place at a host university in July. A work term takes place in August, for about 60 per cent of its participants. McMaster has served as one of the host universities for the Shad Valley Program for the past four years. The event is organized through the central headquarters -- Shad International, located in Waterloo. This year, approximately 860 students competed for 474 spots available at eight campuses in Canada and one in England. Shad Valley's primary goal is motivational -- to give participants an appreciation of their true potential and to encourage them to strive for the highest levels of achievement. A typical day at MacShad commences at 8:30 a.m. with a university-style lecture and an intensive academic workshop followed by an afternoon of academic sessions and a recreational activity. Events feature guest speakers from the community, opportunities for artistic expression, and time to work on collaborative team business projects. The students will design, build, market, and present a product or service to a panel of judges before they leave McMaster. In October, the winning team from each campus will compete against other Shad Valley campuses at the RBC Shad Entrepreneurship Competition in Toronto. On Saturday, July 13, MacShad will host a Mini-Shad Day for local high school students. This will provide an opportunity for prospective Shads and parents to learn more about the Shad Valley program and McMaster University. The event will feature a lecture, a team-building activity, workshops and guest speakers simulating a typical day at Shad. For more information about the McMaster Shad Valley Program or to register a student for Mini-Shad Day, contact Susan Cheng, program co-manager, McMaster Shad Valley at 905-525-9140 ext. 26948 or e-mail macshad@mcmaster.ca.

June 24, 2002

Highlights from the June 13 McMaster Senate meeting: First-year enrolment will increase this fall University Provost Ken Norrie informed members that McMaster would be prepared . . .

June 24, 2002

The Archives Association of Ontario (AA0) has presented its Institutional Award for 2002 to the Library's William Ready Division of Archives and Research Collections. The . . .

June 21, 2002

Artificial implants, filters for water systems, advanced chips for computers and semi-conductor lasers for telephone transmission. All are familiar, everyday applications of advanced materials research. McMaster's Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research (BIMR) is at the forefront of the scientific advancements that make these technologies possible. The institute recently attracted leading experts from Canada, the US and Europe for an interactive workshop that focused on the convergence of two ongoing scientific revolutions in materials research. John Preston, professor of engingeering physics, explains, "One scientific revolution currently under way is our emerging ability to manipulate, fabricate and utilize structures on the length scale of a few nanometers." These advances in nanotechnology research impact industry's ability to build smaller, smarter devices just nanometres (0.000000001 of a metre) in size. "The second revolution involves our capacity to characterize and understand biological and other 'soft' material systems with the same rigor as conventional materials," continues Preston, who describes encapsulation for improved drug delivery and implants that mimic the response of real bone as examples of biomaterials. Soft materials bend without breaking and in order for this to happen, they are typically made up of long molecules. The intent of the workshop, titled Frontiers in Characterization of Soft and Nanoscale Materials, was to share cutting-edge technologies and the latest research with participants from industry, other academic institutions and McMaster students. Participants came to the Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research to explore recent advances in electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy and applications of synchotron radiation, motivated by the opportunity to access leading experts in the field, including McMaster's highly regarded experts George Weatherly and Gianluigi Botton, both professors of materials science & engineering (experts in atomic and electron microscopy), as well as chemistry professor Adam Hitchcock and physicist Bruce Gaulin (experts in synchotron-based studies). One of the more unique components of the workshop involved the sessions in which 60 students and researchers benefited from hands-on demonstrations from the experts using the research facilities in the institute. A workshop participant noted that, "by seeing and doing we are learning techniques that have never been written down in the literature." The speakers represented the combined expertise of research and industry, and included respected scientists Mick Brown (Cambridge), Richard Spontak (North Carolina State), Peter Grutter (McGill), and from industry, Sergei Magonov (Digital Instruments) and DeTong Jian (Canadian Light Source). The Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research is an interdisciplinary research organization, the largest facility of its kind in Canada, recognized as a leader in materials characterization. The institute is one of two such research facilities in North America - -the other is the Cornell Centre for Materials Research located at Cornell University. The facilities of the institute and its pool of expertise are also available to industry and organizations that require assistance with materials research and development or material analysis. Its membership of 60 faculty members is drawn from eight departments in the Faculties of Science, Engineering and Health Sciences. Photo:Lisa Croll, a McMaster chemistry student, discusses the finer points of atomic force microscopy with Tom Malis of National Resources Canada. End of story

June 21, 2002

Tom Flemming, head of public services in the McMaster Health Sciences Library, won the Canadian Health Libraries Association's (CHLA) Award of Outstanding Achievement. Announced at CHLA's recent annual conference, the award recognizes significant contributions to the field of health sciences librarianship in Canada. The contribution must be more than passing importance, interest or local advancement. The award was presented on Flemming's recent contributions to the health care community. During the past year, he has been recognized for his Web site "Health Care Information Resources ... for patients, their families, friends, and health care workers". The recognition has included at least two citations on the Medical Webmasters Listserv; one for his excellent disclaimer, considered one of the best ever written, and the second for his excellent listing of complementary and alternative medicine information resources.