Daily News

Posted on Nov. 26: All eyes on ALMA

McMaster astronomer Christine Wilson wants to see what others don't. To do that, she needs high-tech tools such as a complex telescope that uses radio waves to clearly uncover cold gases and dust between stars research that will help her learn more about the universe. The McMaster astrophysicist's ability to conduct research on how stars, planets and galaxies formed received a boost Wednesday with the announcement of a $7.9 million investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) in the Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) in Chile. Wilson is the Canadian project scientist for the international $550 million (US) ALMA project, considered the most important development in radio astronomy in this decade. ALMA will be the highest altitude, full-time ground observatory in the world. This investment in ALMA is very important for the Canadian astronomy community, said Wilson. Not only will it help with infrastructure costs, such as buildings and access roads on the site in Chile, but it will also allow us to help develop the software for translating the raw data from ALMA into the images that scientists analyze. ALMA will be a single instrument made up of an array of 64 radio antennas (each 12 metres in diameter) that will work together as one telescope to study millimetre and submillimetre radio waves from space. The antennas can be repositioned so that the telescope can function as a giant zoom lens. The antennas must be kept cool and dry so the lab' for this research is Chile's Atacama Desert, a flat area located 5,000 metres above sea level in the Andes that hasn't had rain in years.

Posted on Nov. 26: The great house hunt

Although many first year students have not yet completed their first term at McMaster, they're already planning for next year. As they think about writing exams and going home for the holidays, many students are thinking of a home of another kinda home to live in next year at McMaster. Many of the 3,389 first-year students who this year called one of the on-campus residence home are now looking for housing off-campus. And it's not a simple search. For Lindsay Fidler, a first-year resident of Moulton Hall, location, cost, and housemates are some of the key concerns. She admits that she doesn't understand a lot about leases, and she's not sure where to begin her search for a house. For students like Fidler, the Off-Campus Resource Centre will help find with their hunt. p>Beginning Thursday, Nov. 27 at 9:30 a.m. in the McMaster University Student Centre, Room 309 and continuing Monday, Dec. 1, 2003 at 1:30 p.m. in the same location, the OCRC is offering sessions on The 5Ws of Finding a Home Off-Campus Next Year. These free information sessions tell students when, how and where to look for housing, what questions to ask landlords, what their rights are as tenants, and other valuable information.

Posted on Nov. 25: Mary E. Keyes opening marks a new residence tradition

A luxury suite with air conditioning, two washrooms and a stone's throw from fine dining isn't the typical first home-away-from-home experience for most students. But the 280 residents 168 of them first-year who secured a room in McMaster's new Mary E. Keyes residence this fall are discovering that the typical campus residence experience is undergoing some changes. Today the residence officially opens, with speeches from Cathie Miller, director of Housing & Conference Services, Peter George, President and Vice-Chancellor, and members of the Keyes family. The residence is the namesake of the late Keyes, who dedicated 38 years of service to the University in faculty and administrative roles, putting students' interests and concerns at the forefront of any initiative. "Dr. Keyes initiated the vision for this new student residence," says George. "Reflecting her respect for the needs of the students, she insisted that the building needed to provide an environment that would be comfortable for living, learning, working and socializing. I am proud that her vision has become a reality."