Daily News

Posted on Aug. 16: Summer research projects open doors

Tim van Boxtel has learned a lot this summer. The third-year engineering physics student was one of more than 80 students presenting summer research posters in the lobby of the Information Technology Institute Thursday. "Never have I learned so much in one summer," he says. His confidence level has increased as a result of the program that provides research-oriented summer jobs for first- and second-year students. "You gain so much confidence and it's great to be among people who do the research every day," says the summer student in the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). Van Boxtel worked on chemical vapor deposition with Peter Mascher, professor and William Sinclair chair in optoelectronics, engineering physics. Students in the UROP, Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research (BIMR) and students in science and engineering, presented their summer-long research projects in poster format at the symposium.

Posted on Aug. 15: MMRI expands into Ancaster

McMaster's Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) is burgeoning beyond the borders of campus. Just months after celebrating its first birthday, the MMRI, one of the largest university manufacturing research institutes in Canada, is expanding into the Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) facility on Sandhill Drive in Ancaster. "The expansion into the Ancaster facility is because of some growth that has happened and because of some great opportunities," says Andy Hrymak, director of the MMRI. Four recent successes partly attribute to the growth. Since the institute took up three labs in the John Hodgins Engineering building in May 2001, faculty members in the institute have received three New Opportunities Fund distributed by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, with additional funds from the Ontario Innovation Trust and industrial in-kind support. The awards went to Philip Koshy, assistant professor, Mechanical Engineering ($844,000), Mukesh Jain, associate professor, MMRI ($989,000) and Michael Thompson, assistant professor, Chemical Engineering ($341,335). MMRI also was recently awarded a $4.3-million CFI grant in micro manufacturing with Mo Elbestawi, dean of engineering, as principal investigator. "With these four new projects we needed more space," says Hrymak. The space will also open opportunities to work with industrial partners, he says. "The kind of research we're doing at the manufacturing end, especially in the development of products and improvements of processes, required us to have equipment that was similar to what industry had. One of the key requirements was that we needed space and facilities to house this equipment so that we could tackle more complex projects." Obtaining the Ancaster location, which has 5,000-square-feet of shop floor space and about 9,000-square-feet of office space, is a win-win situation, he says. "McMaster is able to use the Ancaster facility for activities that support academic and research objectives within the Faculty of Engineering and at the same time it gives us ready access to shop floor and office space so that we can get up and running quickly with these new CFI projects."

Posted on Aug. 14: Student leaders on the ‘horizon’

More than 100 incoming McMaster University students will have a chance to learn first hand what it means to be a student leader at the University during the Horizons conference Aug. 16 to 18. The McMaster Students Union (MSU) organized the conference to give incoming students exposure to the leadership opportunities and issues facing students before they arrive at McMaster. "As student leaders we are always looking for new ways to involve first-year students in decision-making and to increase their participation in student leadership opportunities on campus," says Adam Spence, MSU vice-president education. "Horizons offers students interested in becoming student leaders a chance to be exposed to the many opportunities and issues that otherwise may have taken them a year or two to discover."

Posted on Aug. 12: McMaster puts out its ‘welcome mat’

McMaster welcomed thousands of future students and their families with open arms on Friday. "Students and their families were given a warm welcome to campus," says Gina Robinson, director of student services. "It was very positive and really well-attended." Students, their parents, families and friends visited campus to get an insider's look at what the University has to offer. It was an opportunity to tour campus, residences, libraries, participate in information sessions, and for some, stay overnight in one of the residences. "The purpose of the day was to orient students to the campus and all of the various services available to them," Robinson says. "It's intended to be a fun and relaxing day for all." There was a lot of interest in the new university student centre, she adds. For the first time this year, all booths were set up in the atrium of the McMaster University Student Centre. "Every time I walked into the atrium it was packed," says Robinson. Welcome Day benefits both students and their parents, she says. "For students it provides them with answers to their questions and assures them that the necessary supports are there." It also allows parents to ask questions, adds Phil Wood, associate vice-president of student affairs. "Parents had an opportunity to see the campus and see where their children are going and see the classrooms, residences and libraries," he says. "It also allowed them to get information about security, safety, health and risk management." Normandy Savelli, who stood outside of Gilmour Hall on Friday to answer questions and assist with directions, was impressed by the turnout. "It was a very successful day," says the administrative assistant in student affairs. "Everyone was really upbeat and enjoying themselves."