Daily News

Posted on Nov. 15: McMaster’s Stephen Collins, Canada’s top gastroenterologist, named University Professor

He is considered among his peers to be the pre-eminent gastroenterologist in Canada and among the top two or three in the world. His research and scholarship have helped to make McMaster's intestinal disease research unit the top clinical and investigative gastrointestinal group in the world. In his 21 years at McMaster, Stephen Collins has been a scholar of the highest calibre, earning an international reputation for excellence in research and scholarship in the field of gastroenterology. McMaster is honouring his career and lifetime achievements and contributions with the title University Professor, which he will hold for his lifetime. The title is the highest honour McMaster can bestow on its faculty and the designation is awarded to professors who demonstrate exceptional achievement by distinction in research, scholarship and education such that the work has made a major impact on a given field of study, and/or the work has had a major impact across disciplinary boundaries.

Posted on Nov. 14: Chancellor’s Gold Medal winner demonstrates passion for humanity

She spent a summer herding goats in Europe to improve her French. She travelled to Honduras to help children at an orphanage. She teaches music as a volunteer for a local community group and she has helped an international student with his English. Next fall, the talented and accomplished fourth-year linguistics major heads to Queen's University to attend medical school. Roxanne Lai, the winner of this year's Chancellor's Gold Medal, has a bright career and future ahead of her. Her resume reflects leadership and influence among her peers and within the broader community, and excellence in scholarship. Lai says she's astounded to have won the medal. "I can't even take in the idea of it and the full university recognition that goes with it. I can think of a million people who deserve it more than me." The Chancellor's Medal is given to an undergraduate student in their final year of study who ranks highest in scholarship, leadership and influence.

Posted on Nov. 14: McMaster officially opens Downtown Centre

McMaster University officially opened the doors to its campus expansion in Hamilton's downtown core today. President Peter George welcomed the Honourable James Bartleman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, and Hamilton Mayor Bob Wade to conduct the official opening of the McMaster University Downtown Centre. Approximately 200 people attended the event including McMaster staff and faculty, representatives from the City of Hamilton, local elected officials and the Hamilton community. In 2001 Hamilton-Wentworth regional council agreed to lease the former Wentworth County courthouse to McMaster for a 10-year period, as a leadership gift to the Changing Tomorrow Today campaign. The former courthouse, now renamed the McMaster University Downtown Centre, houses 17 administrative departments and offices including the Centre for Continuing Education. "The Downtown Centre project is a win-win initiative for the City of Hamilton and McMaster," said McMaster President Peter George. "Use of the former courthouse provides McMaster with much needed space to expand our growing campus. There are 200 McMaster employees travelling to the Downtown Centre daily and thousands of people per year coming into the downtown core for continuing education programs. We are pleased that our partnership with the city allowed the McMaster University Downtown Centre to become a reality and we are proud to be part of downtown Hamilton."

Posted on Nov. 13: McMaster awarded two new Canada Research Chairs

Two new Canada Research Chairs have been awarded to McMaster University, bringing the University's total to date to 35. The two newest chairholders will focus on research that will develop novel interventions for treating obese people and study complex chemical systems to improve the design of new medicines and catalysts. Professor Arya Sharma is the Canada Research Chair in Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management. Sharma, who comes to Canada from Germany, will use basic and clinical research to determine the genetic causes of obesity and an evidence-based approach to managing cardiovascular and metabolic problems in obese patients. Sharma, a senior Tier 1 researcher based in the Faculty of Health Sciences, will receive $200,000 per year for seven years. He has also been awarded a Canada Foundation for Innovation grant for $125,577 for infrastructure such as equipment and lab space related to the research position. Assistant professor Paul Ayers, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Theoretical Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the Faculty of Science, comes to McMaster from Duke University. His research will look at the development of theoretical and computational methods for predicting reactions in complex chemical systems that can eventually add to the improved design of new medicines and catalysts. Ayers is a Tier 2 researcher based in the Faculty of Science and will receive $100,000 per year for five years. He has been awarded $113,715 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation for infrastructure support. McMaster has now filled nearly half of its allotted 73 Canada Research Chairs.

Posted on Nov. 13: Some tickets give wrong start-time for Marauder’s football game

Another overflow crowd of 7,000 plus is expected back at McMaster University's Les Prince Field on Saturday as the Ontario university champion McMaster Marauders face Atlantic conference winners Saint Mary's Huskies in the Churchill Bowl. Tickets, which went on sale Monday, are selling briskly, leaving McMaster officials expecting another wall-to-wall crowd. One glitch, however, could result in a late crowd. Tickets sold at McMaster erroneously list game time at 1 p.m., one hour later than the actual kickoff. The game will be broadcast live on radio station CFMU 93.3 and nationally by TSN. "It's going to be packed," confirmed Robert Hilson, manager of marketing and communications for the Mac athletics department. "Ticketmaster called today and said they needed another block of tickets. "Our student numbers should go up. People went last week and had a good time and told two of their friends," he said, referring to the 7,000 plus crowd that watched McMaster win the Ontario championship over the Queen's Golden Gaels last Saturday. Click here for the complete story in today's Hamilton Spectator.