A Serbian mandible, gold-digging bacteria and can colours taste like broccoli?

McMaster is known for making a positive impact on the local, national and international stages. Each week, The Office of Public Relations highlights a few of the many McMaster stories making the news.

Research:

National Geographic.com , CBS News, Huffington Post and Scientific American were among the media outlets reporting on research by Nathan Magarvey (Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences) showing that a bacterium changes ions into tiny amounts of gold.

The National Post, Ottawa Citizen, Regina Leader-Post, Vancouver Sun, Montreal Gazette, Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald were among those covering new findings by Jack Rink (Geography and Earth Sciences), Jeroen Thompson (Medical Physics and Applied Radiation Sciences) and other members of a team of international researchers who determined that a fossilized fragment of human bone found in Serbia was much older than previously thought, and possibly vital to the understanding of the movements of early humans during a critical time in their development.

The Globe and Mail interviewed Daphne Maurer (Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour) about her research into synesthesia – the phenomenon of cross-sensory perception such as tasting colours or seeing sounds. The piece is part of a major Globe series on the brain.

Community engagement:

The Globe and Mail published an interview with Mohit Bhandari (Orthopedic Surgery) who recently visited Mumbai, and since returning has established a forum on domestic abuse.

The Toronto Star highlighted a McMaster research effort called the Reasons To Go On Living Project, initiated by Jenn Brash (Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences) in a feature on suicide prevention.

The Hamilton Spectator published a story about a presentation by Parrish Offer (Athletics and Recreation) at the McMaster World Congress, where Offer discussed the department’s success in marketing the Marauders.

The Hamilton Spectator carried a story and photo previewing an upcoming lecture by Christina Grant (Pediatrics), who is to speak to children about dealing with bullies, as part of McMaster Children and Youth University, now in its second year.

Expert Opinion:

The Globe and Mail cited Alex Sevigny (Communications) in a feature on parliamentary civility.

Maclean’s magazine quoted Paul O’Byrne  (Respirology) and Susan Waserman (Clinical Immunology and Allergy) on the lack of scientific evidence supporting the popularity of “salt rooms” among patients seeking relief from asthma symptoms.

The Toronto Star quoted Chris Bart (Business) on CP hiring a senior executive from its rival, CN.

The Hamilton Spectator quoted Luke Chan (International Affairs) on the significance of Chinese New Year.

CBC Hamilton quoted Marvin Ryder (Marketing) on the potential impact of Target’s arrival in Canada.

Teaching, learning and student success:

The Globe and Mail published a story about McMaster’s decision not to renew the five-year contract of the Confucius Institute.

CBC Hamilton columnist Paul Wilson featured Walter Peace (Geography and Earth Sciences) in a piece on the changing role of maps, in advance of a public lecture Peace was to deliver on the topic.