Daily News

June 8, 2000

Three members of the McMaster community were named today to a new 18-member Ontario Science and Innovation Council. The creation of the new body was announced in Toronto by Jim Wilson, minister of energy, science and technology. Doug Barber, Chair of the University's Board of Governors, Russell Joffe, dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and Ron Yamada, a board member of the Networks of Centres of Excellence at McMaster, will sit on the council. Barber will serve as vice-chair of the council. Suzanne Fortier, vice-principal, academic at Queen's University, will chair the council. The OSIC will offer advice to the government on strategic planning and policy initiatives. The ministry awards about $240 million annually for research grants. A fourth member of the McMaster community, Stephanie Atkinson,a professor of pediatrics, has also taken up a post on a government board. Atkinson has been named a member of the new Canadian Institutes of Health Research governing council. CIHR was officially launched yesterday. It replaces the Medical Research Council of Canada. To view the ministry's release on the science and innovation council,click here

June 8, 2000

McMaster University is one of 38 area organizations participating in the Hamilton-Wentworth Commuter Challenge. Other participants include: For all five days: 7 Canada Centre for . . .

June 8, 2000

Two projects that involve the creation of Web-based educational tools and further the inquiry- and problem-based learning objectives of the University are among 11 McMaster projects that have received funding this year from a special academic priorities fund. The University Library will receive support for its digital online tutorial project, DOT@MAC, a high-quality, online skills tutorial that will enable students in all disciplines to enhance their information-literacy skills and to do so at their own pace. The Library project is aimed at addressing the increasing emphasis on inquiry-based learning and an increasing tendency for students to access resources remotely. A prototype of the tutorial will be available this fall. The second project, submitted by John Lavis, Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, calls for the development of a Web-based searchable database and a resource library to support students and faculty associated with the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program, and the development of new and revised curricula for the program. The new curricula will include the development of a third-year course in population health and a fourth-year course in health-policy analysis. The two projects received funding from a one-time, $300,000 academic priorities fund announced in February by University Provost Harvey Weingarten.

June 7, 2000

During the International Children's Games Millennium Festival, July 1-7, the City of Hamilton and McMaster University will play host to 2,200 athlete's aged 12 to 15, from 77 cities representing 32 countries from around the world. Athletes will compete in nine sports, enjoy a three-day cultural festival, participate in the Festival Parade, have the opportunity to visit the Olympic Museum - all the way from Lausanne, Switzerland - and celebrate Canada Day at a spectacular opening ceremonies at Copps Coliseum.

June 7, 2000

This week several hundred students and scholars will gather at McMaster University for a "Math 2000" extravaganza, the largest joint meeting ever of mathematical societies in Canada. In an effort to promote the public image of mathematics as a key to social and economic development, UNESCO has declared 2000 as World Mathematical Year. The McMaster gathering of mathematicians is one of several math events taking place around the world. Activities at McMaster, which commenced on Tuesday, June 6 with the Canadian Undergraduate Student Conference, and continue through Tuesday, June 13, will bring together more than 250 international scholars from around the world to discuss the latest in mathematical theory, history, philosophy, education, finance, technology and biology.

June 7, 2000

McDonald's has a “hamburger university,” the Body Shop has a “new academy of business,” British Aerospace has a “virtual university.” Is the trend towards corporate . . .

June 5, 2000

Recommendations contained in four staff work team reports focus on enhancing the work environment at McMaster through better communication and more staff participation. The work teams, established to respond to the 1998-99 Reacon Staff Survey, looked at four areas of concern as documented in the survey: communication, staff involvement, recognition and development. A total of 48 University employees participated on the committees which began meeting in March. The recommendations were presented to the Leadership Team on May 17. It will review the recommendations with each work team and report to the University community as a whole in two town hall meetings scheduled for June 27 and June 28.

June 5, 2000

A team comprised of five engineering and computer science students from McMaster University has qualified to compete in the prestigious Computer Science International Design Competition(CSIDC). . . .

June 2, 2000

A plan by parking & transit services to reconstruct and expand parking in Zones 2 and 3 has been approved by the University's Board of Governors. The plan, presented to and approved by the Board of Governors in April, will create additional spaces to mostly offset lost parking spots due to the construction of the new student centre and the Institute for Applied Health Sciences.

June 2, 2000

An NHL coach, a doctor who helps children traumatized by war, and a columnist for the Hamilton Spectator are among 11 McMaster University alumni who . . .

June 2, 2000

So far, about 35 McMaster faculty and staff have registered for the Hamilton-Wentworth Commuter Challenge. The challenge, part of Canadian Environment Week, is aimed at encouraging a large number of people to leave the car at home and use alternative means of transportation for the week starting today (June 5). The prize is the distinction of being the region in Canada with the highest percentage of commuters. Cycling enthusiast Richard Day, academic director, Centre for Leadership in Learning, was among the first to sign up. Since he rides a bike to campus every day, he admits it's not much of a challenge. He says he registered to raise people's awareness of the value of alternative transportation. "It's all about consciousness-raising, making people think about their life choices." To register for the Commuter Challenge, click here

June 2, 2000

Distinguished guests from Canada, France, Germany and India assembled at McMaster on May 6 to celebrate the 65th birthday of physics & astronomy professor Rajat . . .

June 1, 2000

McMaster University and Eli Lilly Canada today (June 1) announced the creation of the Eli Lilly Canada-May Cohen Chair in Women's Health to further research and education in this field. Eli Lilly Canada is supporting the chair with a $1-million contribution over five years to support research activities. The Eli Lilly Canada-May Cohen Chair in Women's Health will conduct epidemiological research and clinical trials that address the determinants and prevalence of women's health problems. The chair holder will also develop policy recommendations from research findings and educate both the public and health care professionals on women's health. A national search is currently under way to recruit the first holder of the chair.

June 1, 2000

Derek Mitchell admits he does study more than most. But the key to academic success, says the 2000 winner of the Governor General's Academic Medal, is to keep up to date with assignments and stay organized. The fourth-year honours computer science student received the award at the Faculty of Science Convocation on June 1. His average translates into marks of almost 100 per cent, giving him the highest marks of all graduating students in the undergraduate program. It's a very great honour," the 23-year-old says.

June 1, 2000

Art Heidebrecht, former provost and vice-president academic of McMaster University, has been appointed interim principal of McMaster Divinity College commencing Aug. 1. Heidebrecht has a distinguished career in engineering having been elected a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering in 1991. He also has been active in academic administration at McMaster, having served as dean of the Faculty of Engineering as well as provost. He has served the Christian community as a member of the board of directors of Mission Services of Hamilton and as an elder and clerk of session at St. Cuthbert's Presbyterian Church in Hamilton. Heidebrecht will replace Richard Vosburgh, who is leaving the position for health reasons.

June 1, 2000

The 12 alumni to be inducted into McMaster's Alumni Gallery on June 5 are: Ronald Beckett '78 Faculty of Humanities A well-respected composer, Beckett has . . .

June 1, 2000

Five recent McMaster graduates will receive the McMaster Alumni Association Arch Awards at the Alumni Gallery Induction Ceremony on Saturday. The 2004 Albert Lager Student . . .

May 31, 2000

Members of the Canadian Brass donned maroon-coloured shiny patent shoes, complete with white soles and shoe laces, to show their support for McMaster and to celebrate their honorary doctorate of letters degrees. The quintet thrilled an appreciative audience at the Faculty of Humanities and Arts & Science Convocation at Hamilton Place yesterday. Left to right are: Jens Lindemann (trumpet), Ronald Romm (trumpet),Christopher Cooper (French horn), Eugene Watts (trombone) and Charles Daellenbach (tuba). An honorary doctorate was also awarded to Toyoshi Yoshihara.

May 31, 2000

A memorial service for Andrew Talalla, professor emeritus, Faculty of Health Sciences, will be held on June 20 at 7 p.m. in Alumni Memorial Hall, . . .

May 30, 2000

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/rehabcentre.jpg” caption=”K. Martin, N. McCartney, A. Hicks and J. Starkes”]With the snip of scissors, representatives from the Department of Kinesiology and various stakeholder . . .