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Posted on Sept. 6: Museum of Art features aspects of everyday life

Car lot tinsel, unraveled sweaters, discarded snapshots and a fense post is art in the eyes of the latest exhibitor at the McMaster Museum of Art. The museum presents Canadian artist and independent curator Germaine Koh, who brings unnoticed aspects of everyday life into sharp focus. In her exhibit, Open Hours, Koh has created a new site-specific installation which will be complemented by her piece Knitwork and various interventions within the museum building and on the University campus. Among the eight works in this exhibition, which runs from Sept. 1 to Oct. 20 are: 4w 2d a/c -- a dense pattern of silver car lot tinsel is strung beneath the gallery ceiling to reveal the hidden currents of air. This work is inspired in part by the museum's intensive overhaul of air filtration systems last year Knitwork -- a growing length of knitting (now at 60 meters), reknit from discarded sweaters, serves as a sublime and absurd monument to everyday tasks and an index of time Sightings -- a series of postcards created from snapshots found by the artist in public places commemorates individual experiences Counter -- a numerical counter embedded in a wall can be pushed at will to record a history Since 1990, Koh has exhibited extensively across North America. She is currently featured in an exhibition at the Power Plant in Toronto. As a complement to Open Hours, weaving stations will be installed in the museum so that visitors may contribute their own handiwork to the exhibition. The museum is also hosting beginners knitting classes for adults and children in September and October. This program is presented as a complement to the Germaine Koh exhibition. Classes will take place on Sept. 29, Oct. 6, 20 and 27 from 2 to 4 p.m. There is a daily, nominal fee. A lunchtime talk will take place Sept. 11 and 25 at 12:30 pm and a public reception will be held Oct. 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. (Artists will be in attendence). For free parking and an invitation, contact the museum at 905-525-9140 ext. 23081 or e-mail: museum@mcmaster.ca

Posted on Sept. 6: Practice makes perfect at McMaster’s new clinical learning centre

Health sciences students starting school this week at McMaster University will have a unique set of simulated clinical experiences at their disposal in a new Clinical Learning Centre, where they can practice everything from interview skills to minimal access surgery without going near an actual patient. "Just as airline pilots practice over and over with flight simulators, our students will be able to repeat and practice their clinical skills in a risk-free environment," says John Kelton, dean and vice-president of the Faculty. "McMaster is known for having its students work with real patients from the very beginning of their program, and that's not going to change. But at the Clinical Learning Centre, for instance, a medical student can practice laparoscopic suturing 20 times in a row if necessary -- something that's not possible with a live patient." The $1.1-million Clinical Learning Centre (CLC) will be used every day, providing approximately 840 health sciences students with the opportunity to train in programs such as medicine, nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. The centre, a 4,700-square-foot facility located in the lower level of McMaster's Health Sciences Centre, includes 12 examination rooms equipped with two-way glass for observation by instructors and other students. It also includes a lab where computer simulation will be both developed and tested, forming the basis of electronic problem-based learning - the next generation of the world-famous McMaster method.

Posted on Sept. 5: Shoppers Drug Mart commits $750,000 to McMaster University research chair

Shoppers Drug Mart today announced a $750,000 donation to McMaster University to endow a research chair in molecular medicine. Arthur Konviser, senior vice-president, corporate affairs, Shoppers Drug Mart, announced the creation of the John Bienenstock Chair in Molecular Medicine at a news conference at McMaster University. Contributions from the University and other donors bring the total funding for this chair to $2 million. The health and well being of the community has always been an integral component of the Shoppers Drug Mart philosophy. "As members of the community healthcare team, we are pleased to support a healthcare initiative of this magnitude," said Konviser. "By working together, Shoppers Drug Mart and McMaster University will make a difference in lives of others suffering from debilitating diseases. The 30 Shoppers Drug Mart stores in the Hamilton area were instrumental in helping us make this responsible contribution." McMaster University is well positioned to lead the world in the development of important biotechnology inventions. The John Bienenstock Chair in Molecular Medicine allows for the continuation of research into the development of gene-based medicines that will be used to treat acquired diseases such as cancer, inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and asthma, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. Jack Gauldie, chair of McMaster's Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, is the inaugural chair holder. Gauldie is a world-renowned expert in the field of molecular regulations of inflammation and immunity. He coined the term "gene therapeutics" to describe his innovative combination of immunology and gene therapy that is used to stimulate the immune system and fight diseases. Gauldie's team is the first in Canada to use this approach.

Posted on Sept. 5: Couple charged in connection with theft at McMaster

Hamilton's central division detectives believe two burglars caught with $60,000 worth of stolen audio-visual equipment at McMaster last Wednesday night may be part of a ring stealing high-end hardware from Ontario colleges and universities. Campus police responding to a silent alarm surprised a man on a stepladder in Kenneth Taylor Hall disconnecting a multimedia protector from the ceiling. A woman stood on the floor holding the ladder. Another man got away. Two large knapsacks on the floor contained a wide variety of tools and a couple of two-way radios. Investigating Hamilton police detectives found a car parked at the loading dock behind Kenneth Taylor Hall. Inside was the multimedia equipment stolen from the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business nearby. "(The intruders) were well prepared, had the tools and knew the value and location of the equipment," police spokesperson Sergeant Gary Ostofi said. A 25-year-old man from Varna, Ont. southeast of Goderich, and a 26-year-old woman from Stratford have been charged with breaking and entering, theft and possession of burglary tools. (The Hamilton Spectator, Aug. 30, 2002)

Posted on Sept. 4: Classrooms ready for the return of students

When classes resume Thursday, some students will find themselves sitting in new and newly renovated classrooms. "McMaster has worked extremely hard to prepare for the first students of the double cohort," says Karen Belaire, vice-president administration. "And it shows." In the Refectory, the dining area has been converted into a lecture hall. Renovations to this 250-seat room include flooring, lighting, electrical, audio/visual, and window treatments. Writing palettes for the seats have yet to be delivered. McMaster's largest and most heavily used classroom on campus is Room 120 in Togo Salmon Hall. "It has been completely renovated over the summer. I believe students will be pleasantly surprised when they see it," says Ken Norrie, provost and vice-president academic. Arthur Bourns Building Room 102 and Burke Sciences Building Room B135/B136 also have new seating and lighting upgrades. Three classrooms are available in the AIC Wing, an e-commerce annex constructed on the southwest corner of the Michael G. DeGroote building. This two-storey addition houses three new classrooms, labs, and office space and includes a link to the current building in the basement. The temporary classroom, located on the southeast tennis court, west of the Ivor Wynne Centre, will help accommodate much of the increased student enrolment. This facility will be ready for classes on Monday. Students with classes in this building on Thursday and Friday are instructed to go to the facility (Building T-28) where they will be provided with additional information. Some classes are being relocated and others will be cancelled.* "Construction crews were racing to put the finishing touches on it. In fact, people were working on it through the Labour Day weekend trying to get everything completed in time," says Belaire. *Note: Click here for T28 Classroom information

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Posted on Sept. 6: Museum of Art features aspects of everyday life

Posted on Sept. 6: Practice makes perfect at McMaster’s new clinical learning centre

Posted on Sept. 5: Shoppers Drug Mart commits $750,000 to McMaster University research chair

Posted on Sept. 5: Couple charged in connection with theft at McMaster

Posted on Sept. 4: Classrooms ready for the return of students

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