Daily News

Posted on Nov. 13: New Delhi defeats Hamilton to host 2010 Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games Federation selected New Delhi, India today as the host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The final vote tally by the members of the Commonwealth Games Federation members at its General Assembly was New Delhi 46 and Hamilton 22. "From the beginning this process has been about collaboration and teamwork," said McMaster University President Peter George. "Although today's outcome is not what we had hoped for, I know I speak for everyone involved in the bid from McMaster that we are proud to have been a full partner in this exciting process. I want to congratulate all of our partners -- the federal and provincial governments, the City of Hamilton and The Hamilton Spectator -- for their commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication to producing an excellent bid. McMaster continues to be committed to creating a community of discovery and learning that continually strives for excellence."

Posted on Nov. 12: McMaster launches United Way campaign with $175,000 target

For $5 a month, you provide 10 hours of respite for caregivers of a family with a severe disability. For $7.83 a month, you provide two hours of counseling to families in crisis. Every year, the United Way makes a significant impact on people's lives. This year, it hopes the impact will have a $6-million tag on it, with $175,000 of that from McMaster University. McMaster United Way co-chairs Dorothy Pawluch and Mary Lynn Taylor stress the importance of the national fundraising initiative. "In our role as co-chairs, we have had the chance to see just how vital a role the United Way plays, extending its hand of caring to so many organizations and individuals in our community. McMaster not only leads the pack in the educational sector, but is one of the largest contributors in the community. We're proud of our association with the United Way, and prouder still of our co-workers at McMaster for being such strong and abiding supporters of the United Way."

Posted on Nov. 12: Origins Lecture explores definition of life

In the second in a series of five public lectures concentrating on origins research, Stuart Kauffman, a biologist specializing in the theory of complex biological systems, will discuss Molecular Autonomous Agents: a possible physical definition of life. The free lecture, scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. in Rm. 137 of McMaster's Information Technology Building, will cover topics from Kauffman's third book, Investigations, which explores the requirements for the emergence of a general biology that will govern biospheres anywhere in the cosmos. During the talk he'll develop a definition of an "autonomous agent", or a living organism that appears to act to promote its own survival. Kauffman says even simple organisms such as bacteria are able to sense and move towards nutrients in their environment, but that action alone doesn't mean it's autonomous.