Daily News

June 20, 2002

McMaster University Faculty Association librarians and the University have successfully negotiated a three-year compensation contract. The agreement was approved by the Board of Governors at . . .

June 19, 2002

Moyez Ladhani, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics, has been described as a gifted educator who makes academic learning fun and exciting, and is highly praised . . .

June 19, 2002

Twenty university grounds managers from across Canada have planted themselves at McMaster. Spotlighting common university grounds issues, such as snow removal and pest management, the . . .

June 18, 2002

Colleagues and educators across the country have honoured a McMaster professor for his contributions to teaching and learning. Professor Richard Butler,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades from McMaster's students and administration. On June 13 in Hamilton, he was honoured again, this time by colleagues and educators nationwide. Butler is the recipient of one of this year's prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowships. The 3M Teaching Fellowships were created through a partnership between 3M Canada Inc and the Society for Teaching Learning and Higher Education (STLHE). Since the program began in 1986, more than 160 educators across Canada have been recognized. These awards are given to individuals who not only excel in the teaching of their own courses, but also demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of leadership and commitment to the improvement of university teaching across disciplines. Butler does just that. In the classroom, Butler's aim is to make students think. One of McMaster's pioneers in problem-based teaching, he incorporates a problem-based, self-directed approach to all of the courses he teaches. As an instructor in both the Faculties of Health Sciences and Science, he helps students develop their knowledge and understanding, and stimulates them to strive to reach their potential.

June 18, 2002

GlaxoSmithKline Inc. today announced a $1-million investment to establish a McMaster University research chair in pediatric asthma at the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. The creation of this chair is part of the GlaxoSmithKline Pathfinders Fund for Leaders in Canadian Health Science Research, a $10-million initiative to help fight the brain drain in Canada by providing opportunities for leading medical researchers and scientists. The GlaxoSmithKline Chair in Pediatric Asthma will enable the Firestone Institute to create a permanent position, allowing the recipient to conduct research that will improve the understanding of this chronic disease and potentially lead to pioneering new treatments for Canadian children with asthma. "This is an important research investment into a disease that has a tremendous impact on all segments of the population, but especially children," said Paul Lucas, president and CEO of GlaxoSmithKline Inc. "As a company, we have been a leader in the treatment of asthma for more than 30 years, working with organizations like the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health to improve the understanding and management of asthma in Canada. This investment is part of our longstanding commitment to asthma research." "The work being done in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University rivals any in Canada, and this chair will expand that reputation," said Peter George, President of McMaster University. "It will allow us to continue to attract leading scientists and provide an enriching environment to encourage world-class research, and also affirms our strong partnership with St. Joseph's Healthcare and the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health."

June 17, 2002

Students are the beneficiaries of Monday's provincial budget announcement that will see more money for matching bursary programs and operating funds to help pay for higher enrolments due to the double cohort class. McMaster University President Peter George welcomed the provincial government's pledge to commit more money to student assistance, fund new spaces for the double cohort graduates and continue research grant and infrastructure programs like the Ontario Innovation Trust and the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund. "Access to a university education is critically important to students, their parents and the province's future," said President George. "The government has demonstrated that it understands the role universities play and has followed through on its commitment to put students first. The support for the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund, increased funding for higher enrolments and renewed support for research are the essential elements to building a stronger university system for Ontario." President George said he will update the University community on how the budget will affect McMaster once the specific budget details are known. Last week he told the Board of Governors meeting that the University's budget committee would reconvene to deal with any additional funding that is forthcoming from the province. To read more about the budget delivered by Finance Minister Janet Ecker, click on Ontario Budget 2002. (End of story)

June 14, 2002

Phil Wood will assume the role of associate vice-president, student affairs on July 1. McMaster's Board of Governors confirmed the appointment June 13. Currently McMaster's associate dean in the Faculty of Engineering, Wood brings almost 20 years of experience at the University to his new role. "We're fortunate to have found such a great candidate who is not only familiar with McMaster but also has clearly demonstrated his commitment to students. He is an award-winning teacher and a dedicated administrator and researcher," says provost Ken Norrie. Wood says it didn't take long for him to decide to apply for the position. "It's a unique opportunity to make a real difference in the quality of experience students have at McMaster." Wood believes that "while it is important to focus on the academic part of a student's time at the University, we sometimes forget that every experience a student has is a potential learning opportunity. That includes his or her time in residence, participation in athletics, and the campus social environment. Students don't only learn from faculty; they also learn from one another. The focus of my job will be to make sure those opportunities are the best that they can be." Wood assumes the AVP student affairs position for a five-year term. Mary Keyes was due to leave the position this month but passed away in February, four months before she was expected to retire.

June 14, 2002

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/GeorgeNipissing2crop.jpg” caption=”President George and Chancellor Redpath”]McMaster President and Vice-Chancellor Peter George, who helped establish Nipissing University as an independent institution, received an honorary . . .

June 13, 2002

The University is going to the capital markets to help finance its largest capital expansion in more than 30 years. The planned private bond issue, which could raise up to $120 million, will help to complete construction of new classrooms, labs and research space. These capital projects will help to ensure McMaster maintains its place as one of Canada's leading teaching and research universities. The Board of Governors approved the financing strategy at its meeting today(June 13). The Board previously approved all of the projects that would benefit from the bond issue. These include expansion of the Health Sciences building, renovations to the Arthur Bourns Building, General Sciences, Hamilton Hall, and the School of Business, and construction of the parking structure. "This form of financing is a prudent, carefully thought out undertaking that lets us maximize our flexibility in managing our financial position and continue to build on the University's strengths," said Ed Minich, chair of the Board of Governors. "It will also help ensure that we continue to provide the highest possible quality education for our students, research opportunities for faculty and a positive working environment for employees." Minich said the bond issue is a solid solution for the University's short-term funding needs but stressed that continued support from the provincial and federal governments and the private sector are critical to the University's future success. Details of the capital financing strategy should be complete this fall. In the past year, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia and York University have floated successful bond issues that raised more than $450 million. See related Q and A

June 13, 2002

In a scientific review of the best available studies, a team of McMaster researchers has demonstrated that adolescent pregnancy prevention programs fail to delay the initiation of sexual intercourse, improve use of birth control, or reduce pregnancy rates. "The studies we summarized were all randomized trials,the highest quality evidence, " said Alba DiCenso, who led the research team. "The prevention strategies evaluated in these studies - sex education, abstinence programs, family planning clinics, and community based programs - did not achieve their intended effect." The situation is even worse for abstinence programs. "Not only do abstinence programs not delay initiation of sexual intercourse or reduce pregnancy rates," continued DiCenso "but an analysis of five studies, four of which evaluated abstinence programs and one of which evaluated a school-based sex education program, was associated with an increase in the number of pregnancies among partners of young males." The good news from the study comes from the finding that, contrary to the claims of sex education critics and advocates of abstinence programs, sex education programs did not result in higher rates of sexual intercourse. The results leave a big, unsolved problem. Pregnancy rates among young women aged 15 to 19 years, are among the highest in the world in the United States (93 per 1,000 young women), England (61 per 1,000), and Canada (43 per 1,000).

June 13, 2002

The McMaster Summer Drama Festival opens for it's 11th season today with a performance of William Shakespeare's As You Like It on the open-air stage in Faculty Hollow. The student-run festival, which integrates student actors from many Faculties, as well as the surrounding community, offers up free entertainment and culture for a few brief weeks in June. The 2002 season of the McMaster Summer Drama Festival includes: As You Like It, Shakespeare's blithe comedy about the corruption of the court and the chaos it causes when two young noblewomen and their fool flee to the pastoral Forest of Arden The Student scripted Commedia Crew, developed as an original Commedia dell'Arte scenario into an improvised performance, complete with the raucous physical comedy and masks that characterize Commedia High Tea and Poetry readings of different plays and poetry related to the Ffestival's theme, The Summer of Love. As You Like It stars Sara Burdulis as Rosalind, Brian Hood as Orlando, Jordan Hall as Celia, and Steff Bishop as Jaques. Dave Barclay and Matt T. Sheahan take on the roles of the merchant Pantalone, and his dim-witted servant Arrlechino respectively, in Commedia Crew. This week's High Tea and Poetry will be Christopher Marlowe's Hero and Leander as read by Meaghan Stovel and Carm Iachelli. Performance Schedule Thursday, June 13 As You Like It by William Shakespeare, directed by Rachel Baker University Club Hollow, 7 p.m. Friday, June 14 Commedia Crew, Original Commedia del'Arte, facilitated by Krista MacIsaac Chester New Hall Courtyard, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15 As You Like It University Club Hollow, 2 p.m. Poetry and High Tea featuring tea, cookies and readings of famous plays and poetry, University Club Hollow, 4 p.m. Commedia Crew, Chester New Hall Courtyard, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 20 Commedia Crew, Chester New Hall Courtyard, 7 p.m. Friday, June 21 As You Like It University Club Hollow, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 22 As You Like It, University Club Hollow, 2 p.m. Poetry and High Tea University Club Hollow, 4 p.m. Commedia Crew Chester New Hall Courtyard, 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27 As You Like It University Club Hollow, 7 p.m. Friday, June 28 Commedia Crew Chester New Hall Courtyard, 7 p.m. Saturday, June 29 Commedia Crew Chester New Hall Courtyard, 2 p.m. Poetry and High Tea University Club Hollow, 4 p.m. As You Like It University Club Hollow, 7 p.m. Please note that all evening shows begin at 7 p.m. and afternoon performances at 2 p.m. Under rainy conditions, all performances will move into Robinson Memorial Theatre. Admission is free, however, donations will gladly be accepted.

June 13, 2002

McMaster Bond Issue Capital Financing Strategy 1. Why does the University need to raise money through a bond issue? McMaster is one of Canada's leading . . .

June 11, 2002

The Faculty of Health Sciences has graced its educational environment with the works of a well known Hamilton artist. E. Robert Ross, a celebrated artist in Hamilton for more than 25 years, unveiled his most recent work, En Trance, at a celebration in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The painting is of the entrance to the City of Hamilton over the McQuesten Bridge. Two other pieces of Ross's art, Cootes Paradise and Blue Shadows, are currently on view in the Faculty. Ross's work is in addition to 13 other paintings on loan to the Faculty from the private collection of Wynne and Bill Benson. The work enriches the Faculty's physical environment, bringing art and culture to the learning and working experience of students, staff and faculty. Ross's realistic landscape paintings are in many private, corporate and public collections such as those of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Dofasco, Stelco and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. (End of story) Photo: E. Robert Ross with his painting En Trance, a depiction of the High Level Bridge (McQuesten Bridge)in Hamilton. Burlington Bay and Hamilton are on the left, and Princess Point and Cootes Paradise are on the right. The Niagara Escarpment and Hamilton Mountain are in the distance. The acrylic-on-canvas piece was completed in May 2002. Photo credit: Hank Balfoort.

June 11, 2002

Come see this special collaborative exhibition featuring images of sacred women from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance period selected from the Museum of Art . . .

June 11, 2002

It is Canada's premier conference for higher education. It draws premier minds in post-secondary education and it is coming to McMaster. The 22nd annual Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) Conference begins tomorrow and runs till Saturday. Co-chairs of the organizing committee, Dick Day and Sylvia Riselay, from the Centre for Leadership and Learning, hope that this year's theme will be particularly memorable and relevant. Explains Day, "All of the conferences have themes, but they haven't related strongly to conference events." McMaster's theme, Fostering the Spirit of Inquiry, shapes many of the presentations being given over the four-day event. Organizers have encouraged participants to submit proposals that address the theme of inquiry. Along with the sessions, this STHLE conference is offering a new experience for certain participants - a chance to participate in the inquiry experience first hand. Applicants had the opportunity to sign up to participate as inquiry students. "Inquiry students will be meeting together in groups based on their primary interest in education, and they will form an important question about an issue in education, and will use conference sessions and lecturers to answer that question," Day explains. "We're showing, not telling. It's hands-on experiential learning at its best."Nearly half of the conference's participants, 177 people, signed up for the inquiry experience. When McMaster University last hosted a STLHE conference in 1988, 234 people participated. This year, more than 400 people are registered to attend, and there are nearly 200 sessions.

June 11, 2002

Two gold. One silver. Two bronze. Not Canada's medal count from the last Olympics, but McMaster's medal count from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) Prix D'Excellence annual awards program. The Prix D'Excellence is an Olympic event of sorts for the CCAE, honouring "outstanding achievement in alumni affairs, public affairs, development, student recruitment and overall institution Advancement." The Prix D'Excellence awarded medals in 33 categories this year and McMaster's tally of five medals placed the University's Advancement team among the top six universities in the country. "Winning the Prix D'Excellence awards only confirms what I've always known to be true about the group of people who work so hard to advance McMaster University. Our University is known for its innovation and commitment to excellence and the University Advancement team reflects this commitment in the communications we produce, the events we host and our Web innovations," says Roger Trull, vice-president, University Advancement. McMaster garnered medals in the following categories: Gold Best E-Innovation in Public Affairs, Marketing and Communications Daily News Electronic Calendar of Events Best Brochure Alumni Stories Silver Best Alumni Event Alumni Day (2001) Bronze Best Alumni or Volunteer Recognition Profiles Best Special Event Changing Tomorrow Today Campaign Celebration

June 10, 2002

McMaster and five other universities (Lakehead, Laurentian, Ottawa, Toronto and York), will receive $2.1 million over the next six years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) to develop and evaluate an Ontario training centre for health services and health policy researchers. The funding is part of a $88-million investment in this area which was announced today by CIHR. Health services research develops knowledge that assists in policy development and decision-making concerning the organization, funding, delivery of health services, and the allocation of resources dedicated to improving the health of Canadians. Using a consortium approach, the training centre will draw on faculty and research expertise at the six universities to build a critical mass of skilled health services researchers. Students will be trained to conduct research that meets the needs of health services policy makers, planners and managers, including those in rural, remote and northern communities. Students enrolled in the centre (faculty, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and health care managers) will have access to highly experienced researchers and health services decision makers through collaborative research, distance education, summer institutes, and field placements. Lead McMaster faculty include Alba DiCenso, professor of nursing and clinical epidemiology & biostatistics, Christel Woodward, professor of clinical epidemiology & biostatistics and a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, and Brian Hutchison, professor of family medicine and director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis.

June 7, 2002

McMaster's 2002 engineering and science graduands will receive their degrees today at two ceremonies in the Great Hall, Hamilton Place. Engineering will award bachelor degrees in technology, engineering, engineering & society, engineering & management; master's degrees in science (materials science), applied science, engineering; and doctorates in philosophy. At the afternoon ceremony, science graduands will receive doctor of philosophy, master of arts (geography), master of science and bachelor of science degrees. Receiving honorary degrees at these ceremonies are Art Heidebrecht, George Stephanopoulos, Stephen Jarislowsky and Leslie King. Science student Leila Salehi will receive the President's Award of Excellence in Student Leadership at the afternoon convocation. Valedictorians Monique Bergeron (engineering) and Gregory Restivo (science) will address their fellow graduands and guests. To view honorary degree recipient bios,

June 6, 2002

The Faculty of Social Sciences confers degrees at two Convocation ceremonies today at the Great Hall in Hamilton Place. At the morning ceremony, graduands will receive degrees in anthropology, economics, geography, labour studies, political science, psychology, and religious studies. Gerontology, health studies, kinesiology, social work and sociology degrees will be conferred in the afternoon. Honorary degree recipients for these ceremonies are: Hugh Brody and Enrico Mancinelli (morning) and Ethilda (Tilly) Johnson and Roger Neilson (afternoon). Brody and Neilson will address the graduands. Other awards to be presented at these ceremonies include the President's Award for Excellence in Educational Leadership, which will be given to political science professor William Coleman. The valedictorians for these ceremonies are Franka Prce (a.m.) and Nicholas Armstrong (p.m.). To view honorary degree recipient biographies,

June 6, 2002

Representatives of the government, private sector, and the University came together Thursday (May 30) to celebrate SHARCNET(Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network), a network that brings together high-performance academic computers across southern Ontario. Working in parallel, the primary computer clusters at the University of Western Ontario, the University of Guelph, and McMaster University, along with smaller development clusters at the University of Windsor, Wilfrid Laurier University, Sheridan College, and Fanshawe College, "give researchers the tools to perform high-speed calculations they only dream about" stated Greg Chappell, vice-president of Hewlett-Packard Canada. The SHARCNET infrastructure enables forefront computational research in critical areas of science, engineering, medecine, and business. A $42 million project, SHARCNET is "the greatest example of the kind of powerful partnership that can flourish among the industrial, academic and government sectors," explained Mamdouh Shoukri, vice-president research & international affairs. David Bogart, executive director of the Ontario Innovation Trust, declared, "SHARCNET brings together the best scientific and research minds in Ontario." In contrast to the past where individual groups applied for funding independently, SHARCNET is a multi-university, interdisciplinary institute partnership, which allows for the establishment of a world-leading site for High Power Computing (HPC). Shoukri noted, "With the seven institutions involved in this partnership, it's incredible what we can accomplish by pooling our resources - not only our financial resources but our intellectual resources." In November 2001, McMaster's super computers ranked 315th on the Top 500 List , a list of the 500 most powerful computer systems in the world. The other primary SHARCNET computers ranked 183 (University of Western Ontario) and 280 (University of Guelph). Respectively, the SHARCNET computers are the third, sixth, and ninth most powerful computer systems in Canada. Peter Sutherland, dean of the Faculty of Science, explained that SHARCNET's "systems represent 27 per cent of all of the supercomputing power available in this country, and half of the supercomputing capability operated by universities in Canada. The possibilities that SHARCNET brings to research are endless." Astrophysicist Hugh Couchman uses McMaster's SHARCNET computers to simulate galaxies in a cosmic three-dimensional environment in order to understand how they formed billions of years ago. Sutherland stated, "Since coming to McMaster three years ago, Hugh has been instrumental in developing and enhancing McMaster's ever-growing reputation as a leader in supercomputing." Couchman used to have to book time on British and German computers for his experiments, but with the creation of the SHARCNET, he can conduct his work here in Canada, instead of going abroad. "Moreover, we can actually attract foreign researchers, as SHARCNET acts as a magnet for research excellence," noted Shoukri. Erik Sorensen, the first chair appointed through the SHARCNET Research Chair Program, came to McMaster from the University of Toulouse in France. He describes himself as the "end result and the end user of SHARCNET." Instead of the lengthy process of proposals, allocations, and scheduling he experienced working with many different computers on many different continents, Sorenson is able to easily access McMaster's Idra and Typhon computers. The Shared Hierarchical Academic Research Computing Network has made its mark on the University since the province-wide launch in November 2001. "SHARCNET has already had a significant impact on the scope and scale of science here at McMaster and we envision that the facility will be a tremendous resource to the province and to the country," said Shoukri.