Daily News

Posted on July 19: Lessons from McMaster’s ‘troll in the hole’

Somewhere, amid more than two kilometres of shelving that's teeming with boxes of historical records, large and small artefacts and rare books, there is man at a small desk that's piled high with new archival donations to be filed. He's the self-proclaimed "troll in the hole," working to organize, preserve, and amass McMaster University's archival history along with the Canadian Baptist Archives, deep within the belly of Divinity College. An instructor at both Divinity College and Toronto's Tyndale Seminary, part-time archivist, pastor at a church in Toronto, and author, Mark Steinacher says he likes to keep busy. He can be found in the archives three days a week, orchestrating a great reorganization of existing files and finding space for recent additions that donors often bequeath to the collection, which is also the third-largest Baptist Archives in the world. "People who come to the archives need to understand it'll take them some time to sort through boxes of information, and that nothing is internet-ready," says Steinacher. "But that's my favourite part about archives the Easter eggs or interesting tidbits you discover even when you're not looking for them."

Posted on July 16: McMaster professors inducted into Royal Society of Canada

Whether they are investigating the formation of the universe or developing new medical devices, McMaster University's newest members of the Royal Society of Canada, John Brash and Bill Harris, are improving our understanding of both our world and ourselves. John Brash of McMaster's Department of Chemical Engineering is recognized internationally as a pioneer in the science and technology of biomaterials. Over the past four decades, his studies have contributed directly to the development of advanced medical devices, such as artificial arterial grafts, blood pumps, and heart valves. Through his personal research, service on policy and granting agency committees in Canada and abroad, interaction with collaborators, and innovative role as an educator, Brash has played a major role in defining the discipline of biomaterials. William Harris, a professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at McMaster, is the world's leading expert in the study of globular star clusters in galaxies. The oldest remaining visible entities in galaxies, stars in these clusters formed 13 billion years ago, and their properties yield unique clues to the early state and evolutionary history of large galaxies. Harris' investigations of the properties of individual globular clusters in our galaxy are among the most exacting and widely used studies in the field. This work is having a growing impact on scientists' understanding of stellar populations and galaxy formation.

Posted on July 16: MiniShad brings more bright young minds to McMaster

If you're one of Canada's brightest young students, how do you spend a Saturday on your summer vacation? For a select group of students from across Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, and the greater Toronto area, the answer to that question is at university. On Saturday, July 17, 150 Grade 9 and 10 students will travel to McMaster to participate in the University's annual MiniShad Day. The day-long program provides participants, their teachers, and parents with an opportunity to learn more about the academic programs available at McMaster and to experience a day in the life of a Shad student firsthand. The award-winning Shad Valley Program began two weeks ago when 52 exceptional young high school students from across Canada arrived at McMaster for a month-long immersion into university life. Shad -- or MacShad as it's known at McMaster -- is an elite science, technology, mathematics, and entrepreneurship summer camp for senior high school students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, recreation, leadership, entrepreneurship, and community involvement.

Posted on July 15: McMaster launches career services for employees

McMaster employees will soon have career planning advice at work with the introduction of a new career services initiative to be offered by the Career Planning & Employment Centre (CPEC). A one-year pilot project will offer a variety of career services to McMaster employees, including sessions on career decision making, planning for professional development/training and employment applications. "Offering career services to employees is an emerging trend in the field of human resources development," says Lisa Boniface, director of CPEC. "By offering this service, it will further enhance our ability to be an employer of choice."