Daily News

Posted on Dec. 2: Grappling for gold

Lulu Bursztyn a dean's list chemical engineering student, playing varsity and intramural sports, and serving in student leadership positions never backs down from a challenge. Her decision to pursue chemical engineering was driven by a desire to integrate one of the most academically challenging programs on campus with becoming part of the dynamic social culture that's long been associated with engineering students at universities across the country. "Usually when you hear about engineers at University it's because they're the ones who are 'doing things,'" she says. "It's a really fun experience and I wanted to be part of that." Bursztyn's propension for 'doing things' earned her the Chancellor's Gold Medal at November's convocation ceremony, which is awarded to an undergraduate student in his or her final year of study who ranks highest in scholarship, leadership, and influence. She's spent her four years at McMaster exhibiting those qualities, through her extensive involvement in academics and extra-curricular activities. And in her final and most demanding year of her undergraduate career, Bursztyn shows no sign of slowing down.

Posted on Dec. 1: Spirit of Giving hits campus

There's a bug going around campus and it's catching fast. It's the "Sprit of Giving" bug, and the 2003 Holiday Hamper Food Drive is one of many ways people can donate to those in need over the next several weeks. Until Dec. 11, food donation boxes decorated in Christmas wrap will be placed around McMaster University and the Hamilton Health Sciences site. "Please be generous in your donation of non-perishable food items," says Jennifer Holland, a co-ordinator of the Holiday Hamper Food Drive. "Your contributions do make a difference to the disadvantaged in our Hamilton community." Senior officials representing the corporation and the Faculty of Health Sciences will present the Holiday Hamper to Joanne Santucci, executive director, Food Share, Greater Hamilton, on Friday, Dec. 12 at 10:45 a.m. in the main lobby of the Health Sciences Centre.

Posted on Nov. 28: From the Big Bang to the Origins of Life

The potential for life in other areas of our galaxy and solar system will be explored in the third in a series of five public lectures tackling origins research. During the free lecture, From the Big Bang to the Origins of Life, in Rm. 120 of Togo Salmon Hall Monday, Dec. 1 at 8 p.m., James Ferris, a chemistry professor and director of the New York Centre for Studies on the Origins of Life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, will discuss the processes that led to the formation of the elements, galaxies, solar systems and planets. Ferris will take the audience through scenarios for the origins of life including the proposal that an RNA world preceded the DNA-protein world, which is the basis of life on Earth today.