Daily News

Posted on Oct. 7: How learning computes

For the approximately 150 McMaster students who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities, balancing academic success with the everyday learning challenges can be an uphill pursuit. Now, a new computer lab equipped with software designed to help those students overcome academic obstacles could help level the playing field. The ATLAS lab (Assistive Technology, Learning and Academic Support Program), which opened for the first time on Oct. 6, is located in the Commons Building (B104) where it will house seven computers available daily for the use of students with learning disabilities. People with learning disabilities are very intelligent but they require certain accommodations to help them succeed as well as others do, says Caroline Cayuga, learning disabilities co-ordinator. Until now, many of the students have coped academically using resources such as books on tape or the help of volunteer readers and scribes.

Posted on Oct. 7: McMaster researchers are Leaders of Tomorrow

Four McMaster researchers being hailed as "Leaders of Tomorrow" are spending the day on Parliament Hill talking up the benefits of research investments to the political, policy and funding communities. The Partnership Group for Science and Engineering (PAGSE) identified 21 "Leaders of Tomorrow" from across the country to participate in their one-day symposium designed to promote research and its potential impact on Canada's future. Of those 21, four of the "Leaders" are from McMaster. Ian Fearon (biology); John Valliant (chemistry); Kari Dalnoki-Veress (physics & astronomy) and David Earn(mathematics & statistics) were selected because they are considered "skilled, committed researchers who will generate research and innovation results well into the future." Each will have the opportunity to discuss his own research while participating in round-table discussions with federal government, granting council and private sector representatives.

Posted on Oct. 6: Disasters waiting to happen: earthquakes, tsunamis and El Nino

Imagine you're sunning yourself on one of New Zealand's beautiful beaches. Suddenly, the sand shifts beneath your body and the ground begins to shake it's an earthquake. Now imagine this. You might have as little as 60 seconds, minutes at most, to escape the coast before a tsunami hits. Tsunamis a series of fast-moving waves generated by large disturbances below or near the sea floor such as underwater earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, meteors have caused massive destruction in many parts of the world. James Goff, adjunct professor of Marine Sciences at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and honorary research associate at the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington , is a leading edge tsunami researcher based in New Zealand. Goff has researched the linkages between earthquakes and tsunamis and the catastrophes that have occured when these disasters are washed down with a dose of El Nino.

Posted on Oct. 6: Marauders defeat Western Mustangs in Homecoming game

McMaster third-year running back Jesse Lumsden scored five touchdowns as the third-ranked McMaster Marauders defeated The University of Western Ontario Mustangs 64-35 in front of soldout Homecoming crowd of 6,949 Saturday. Lumsden's five touchdown performance equaled his father Neil's career day on Nov. 1, 1975 vs. Queens. Neil Lumsden played for the University of Ottawa from 1972-75. Lumsden rushed for 288 yards on 27 carries and five touchdowns on the day to place him in a six-way tie for second with the most touchdowns in a single game with former McMaster Marauder Kojo Aidoo (2001), former Western Mustang and brother of head coach Greg Marshall, Blake Marshall (1985), and Jesse's father Neil Lumsden (1975). Fifth-year running back and first team all-Canadian Kyle Pyear collected 97 yards on the ground.