Daily News

Posted on July 24: Museum of Art welcomes new acting director and curator

She brings a familiarity of Canadian institutional art collection, a strong understanding of modern art and is skilled in research, display and dissemination. Alexandria Pierce started her first day on the job Monday as the new acting director and curator of the McMaster Museum of Art. "I am really excited about being part of such an extraordinary facility that is renowned for its collection and state-of-the-art exhibitions," said Pierce. "The art museum is the jewel in the crown of a knowledge-based, research-oriented university. Our role is to guide and teach in the cultural sphere." Pierce comes from Montreal where she recently obtained her Ph.D (History in Art). Her past experience includes assistant curator at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria and curator at the Gallery III (University of Manitoba). She also has a strong background in research and teaching at the university level.

Posted on July 23: Trish Chant named director of games at Commonwealth Games Canada

McMaster's Trish Chant has been named director of games at Commonwealth Games Canada (CGC). The position takes effect in mid-October. Chant has been part of the McMaster University Advancement and Athletics & Recreation team as an advancement officer for the past five years. Her responsibilities include managing annual fundraising programs, generating private and public support and strengthening alumni affinity and commitment to the University and the department. She has also served as the co-ordinator of communications and media relations for the department. Director of Athletics and Recreation, Therese Quigley says, "Trish has contributed tremendously to our athletic and recreation program and we will miss her immensely. She is a dear friend to so many of us and we wish her continued success and happiness as she takes on new adventures with Commonwealth Games Canada and married life in Ottawa." As a member of the Hamilton Bid Corporation for the 2010 bid to host the Commonwealth Games, Chant has been intricately involved in all aspects of the bid process from the preparation of the bid documents and hosting of international delegations, to behind the scenes operational and logistical tasks over the past 10 months.

Posted on July 23: Temporary generators installed on campus

Starting this week, three temporary generators installed on the northwest corner of campus will supply up to 80 per cent of the peak energy demand at McMaster. The low-sound, natural gas fired generators will produce 23.7 megawatts of power to all of campus. The generators will operate between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Monday to Friday for a maximum of four hours a day. McMaster will use all of the power in the summer months, while in the cooler months, the excess power will be fed into the Hydro One grid, with cost savings from this going to McMaster. The Ontario government awarded Ontario Energy Management (OEM) a contract through the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation to provide three 7.9 megawatt generators (a total of 23.7 megawatts) of firm peaking capacity and energy located at the NF91 substation over the next seven to nine months.

Posted on July 22: Biophysicist uses laser optics to study the dynamics of cells

The Swiss and French Alps are what physics professor Cecile Fradin misses the most since coming to McMaster 20 months ago. Hamilton's infamous mountain just isn't the kind of rugged terrain Fradin, a native of France, considers a challenge. Instead, Fradin's new challenges are found in a newly renovated research lab in the Arthur Bourns Building where she is conducting research into cellular dynamics. Her field of study, biophysics, is an amalgamation of biology and physics. Fradin, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Molecular Biophysics, was always drawn to the area of optics in her studies that have taken her from the heart of Paris, to Pisa, Italy, New York and Israel. "I've always liked experiments that involved optics," she says. "I like to be able to see things with my own eyes instead of reconstructing them."