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Posted on March 13: Pierre Berton, teller of tales

Hunched over a table in an army hut, exhausted from hours in a brigade obstacle course, Pierre Berton tapped away on his portable typewriter. He had a need to write. It was an urge that had been with him for as long as he could remember. Many years later, speaking to a 200-plus audience of aspiring, professional and hobby writers, Berton spoke of the years he served with the army and about the letters he wrote to family and friends, even when it was torture, even in despair, but mostly, because he couldn't stop. "The urge to write was there almost from the beginning," he said in his characteristic booming voice. Reading from his latest book The Joy of Writing in the McMaster University Student Centre this week, Berton reflected on his career as a writer, broadcaster, journalist and a teller of tales. He offered several pointers to successful writing such as, know and understand your audience, do not write down to your readers, don't use a $10-word when a 5-cent one will do, dig deeper, don't neglect the obvious, always describe the people and places, always check the weather and don't read reviews, measure them.

Posted on March 12: McMaster Libraries’ response to the double cohort

Thanks to the digital age, McMaster students can visit the library without ever leaving their dorm room. But even the most tech-savvy student will go to the library to find the books they need, says Sheila Pepper, assistant university librarian, Mills Memorial Library. "The book is not disappearing," she says. "Library staff will always welcome users who want to access services and assistance in person. However, staff are aware that our students, particularly undergraduates, live in a digital age with increased expectations for online service." As a result, McMaster Libraries has introduced a number of new services in response to the digital bent of today's student. "The library has tried to make as much of its information and resources as possible available on a self-help and at-point-of-need basis, so that students can complete efficient research wherever and whenever they need to," says Pepper. "With the impending double cohort, the library has had to find creative ways to accommodate the additional students on campus," says Pepper. But, she adds it is difficult for the library to respond to the double cohort in specific ways due to an uncertainty of where enrolment will be increased the most. "However, there are a number of general things we have done to try to improve the situation." The libraries have worked on an extensive reorganization of the combined libraries' Web site in order to make information on library services and resources easy to locate. "An integral part of the project was the provision of an electronic resources database (ERD) through which students can more efficiently select the appropriate electronic resource." With funding from McMaster's one-time academic priority fund, library staff developed DOT@MAC, an online self-paced tutorial that students can use to develop research skills. Both DOT@MAC and the ERD can be accessed through the libraries' homepage at: http://library.mcmaster.ca.

Posted on March 12: Genome Canada awards McMaster scientists $2.9 million for genomics research

A team led by McMaster scientists is exploring the genomics of a soil bacterium that is associated with many Canadian crops in research that could eventually help the environment and improve agricultural practices. Professors Turlough Finan and Brian Golding are leading the team that has been awarded $2.9 million from Genome Canada. Their project, Genomics Analysis of Soil Microorganisms, has a $5.8 million budget. Officials from the Ontario Genomics Institute, one of five genomic centres affiliated with Genome Canada, were at McMaster Wednesday to celebrate the award and promote the research project. Genome Canada is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to developing and implementing a national strategy for genomics and proteomics research in Canada. To date, it has received $375 million from the federal government to fund genomics and proteomics research in environment, agriculture, fishery, forestry and health sectors across the country. To date, it has invested more than $294 million in 56 innovative projects across Canada. Ronnie Gavsie, president and CEO of the Ontario Genomics Institute, congratulated the researchers. "The research team led by Dr. Finan and Dr. Golding is bringing credit to Ontario and Canada for the brilliance of their work," said Gavsie. "They are creating the basic knowledge that will spark the development of new globally-competitive products and processes, thereby generating tomorrow's employment and income." McMaster President Peter George said the McMaster community, in particular students, reaps the benefits of such leading edge research. "McMaster is home to exceptional talent people like Drs. Finan and Golding who motivate and inspire our students through their approach to scientific discovery."

Posted on March 11: High school students explore McMaster

During March Break this week, countless high school students are giving their brains a time-out by hitting the beach or skiing the slopes. But at McMaster, you may have noticed many still have academics on the brain. More than 3,500 students and their parents are visiting McMaster this week, partaking in one of several campus tours offered through Student Liaison. And if numbers are any indication, students are showing a heightened interest in McMaster. Approximately 1,500 more visitors than last year are expected to tour campus this week. "Taking a campus tour remains to be one of the best ways to find out what a university has to offer and March Break is the perfect opportunity for many of our applicants to visit campus," says Patricia Harris, associate registrar for student liaison. "For most students, the campus tour is their first visit to the University. It allows them to get a sense of the size, layout and personality of the campus." Regular student tours take place Monday through Friday, at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and on Saturday at 9:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. This week they begin in the lobby of the McMaster University Student Centre. Students can register for a tour online at http://registrar.mcmaster.ca/external/tours, or by phone 905-525-9140 ext. 23650.

Posted on March 11: Lecture examines fallout and rise of information technology

Carol Stephenson, recent president and chief executive officer of Lucent Technologies Canada, will present the 19th annual J.W. Hodgins Memorial Lecture tonight (March 11). Presented by the Faculty of Engineering, the lecture "After the Bust: Rebuilding the Trust", takes place at 7:30 p.m. in the McMaster Information Technology Building, Lecture Hall, Room 137. Stephenson, who has an extensive background within the telecommunications industry, will discuss the evolution of the information technology industry and where she sees it heading in the future. She recently led Lucent's Canadian team in providing sales, marketing, installation, maintenance and other services to the company's growing service provider customer base across Canada. She has a range of expertise in marketing, operations, strategic planning, business development, regulatory affairs, alliance management, technology development and financial management. Prior to her position at Lucent, Stephenson was president and COO of BCE Media Inc., a startup company offering leading edge satellite services for corporate business customers throughout the Americas. Before that, she was president and CEO of Stentor Resource Centre Inc. where she led the national marketing and technology development centre for Canada's nine telecommunications companies. In 1995, she was named Woman of the Year by Canadian Women in Telecommunications and in 1998 was named Woman of the Year by Wired Women. She is currently chair of the Board of Directors of the Information Technology Association of Canada as well as a director for Queen's University School of Business Advisory Board, Ottawa-Carleton Economic Development Corporation, Women's College Hospital Foundation Board, Ottawa Airport Authority and ING Canada. Stephenson is a graduate of the University of Toronto and has successfully completed the executive program at the Graduate School of Business Administration, University of California at Berkeley, as well as the advanced management program at Harvard University.

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Posted on March 13: Pierre Berton, teller of tales

Posted on March 12: McMaster Libraries’ response to the double cohort

Posted on March 12: Genome Canada awards McMaster scientists $2.9 million for genomics research

Posted on March 11: High school students explore McMaster

Posted on March 11: Lecture examines fallout and rise of information technology

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