Daily News

Mac grads named to top federal government posts

Two graduates of McMaster University have been named to key positions in Stephen Harper's new government. Kevin Lynch (PhD '80) was appointed Clerk of the Privy Council yesterday. Lynch, who studied economics at McMaster, was former deputy minister in the Department of Finance and executive director for Canada at the International Monetary Fund. He takes up his new position on March 6. Sandra Buckler (BA '95) is Harper's new director of communications. A native of Hamilton, Buckler previously worked as a lobbyist for De Beers Canada, Rogers Wireless, and Coca-Cola, and as communications advisor to Preston Manning, Kim Campbell and Tom Long. She has been a long-time strategist in Conservative backrooms at both the federal and provincial level.

Deborah Cook receives ACCM distinguished investigator award

Deborah J. Cook, MD, has received the American College of Critical Care Medicine's (ACCM) highest honor, the 2006 Distinguished Investigator Award. The award honors a clinical researcher for meritorious and pioneering research in critical care and for significantly contributing to the understanding of diseases and treatments of critically ill and injured patients. A well-known scientific researcher, "Dr. Cook's research focused on the risk factors for critical illness, prevention of ICU-acquired illness and complications, life support technology, ethics and end-of-life choices for critically ill patients," said Stephen Pastores, MD, who nominated Cook for the award.

McMaster is buzzing about the Brain Bee competition

McMaster's third annual "Brain Bee" will be held this afternoon, (Tuesday, Feb.21). The "Brain Bee" is open to all Hamilton and surrounding area high school students in grades 9 to 12 and this year, there will be more high school students visiting McMaster to compete in it than ever before. The "Brain Bee" competition is modeled after a spelling bee, with students taking turns answering questions about the brain and neuroscience on topics such as intelligence, memory, emotions, movement, stress, aging and sleep. All questions and answers for the local competition will be selected from a single document, a 65-page primer on the brain and nervous system, published by the Society for Neurosciences(available for free download online).