Daily News

Smog advisory issued: McMaster spares the air

McMaster is doing its part to fight the war on smog. During smog days, Physical Plant puts away lawnmowers and tree trimmers, in an effort to cut down on pollution. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy has issued a smog advisory for the Hamilton region today. Machines with two-stroke motors, generally found in lawn and garden equipment, are avoided on smog days, says physical plant service coordinator Len Van Hoffen. Two-stroke engines produce a lot of pollution, he says. In two-stroke engines, oil mixes with gasoline, resulting in the combustion of oil. This can lead to machines emitting clouds of oily smoke, according to Marshall Brain's How Stuff Works. Conversely, four-stroke motors, commonly found in cars and trucks, do not mix these fuels. On smog days, physical plant staff are assigned to other tasks, such as garbage pick-up and campus clean-up, Van Hoffen says. During a smog alert, there are a number of actions one can take to help spare the air. Air Quality Ontario advises: leave the car at home - walk, cycle, carpool or take public transit tele-conference instead of driving to meetings limit car trips by doing all errands at once, and do not let the engine idle keep car well tuned, check tire pressure and drive at moderate speeds A smog advisory means that there is a strong likelihood that there may be poor air quality within the next 24 hours due to ground-level ozone and particulate matter.

McMaster professor wins 3M Teaching Fellowship

Colleagues and educators across the country have honoured a McMaster professor for his contributions to teaching and learning. Professor Richard Butler,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades from McMaster's students and administration. On June 13 in Hamilton, he was honoured again, this time by colleagues and educators nationwide. Butler is the recipient of one of this year's prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowships. The 3M Teaching Fellowships were created through a partnership between 3M Canada Inc and the Society for Teaching Learning and Higher Education (STLHE). Since the program began in 1986, more than 160 educators across Canada have been recognized. These awards are given to individuals who not only excel in the teaching of their own courses, but also demonstrate an exceptionally high degree of leadership and commitment to the improvement of university teaching across disciplines. Butler does just that. In the classroom, Butler's aim is to make students think. One of McMaster's pioneers in problem-based teaching, he incorporates a problem-based, self-directed approach to all of the courses he teaches. As an instructor in both the Faculties of Health Sciences and Science, he helps students develop their knowledge and understanding, and stimulates them to strive to reach their potential.