McMaster University

And with that, our Spring 2024 Convocation season comes to a close. Congratulations graduates. It was an honour to celebrate your hard-earned achievements!

Welcome to the McMaster Alumni community. We can’t wait to see what you do next!

More 📸 photo highlights: https://ow.ly/5WNp50SjfHo | 🎓

"This is an hour of opportunity. We don’t know how much or how little time we have, but the window to act is very small and the stakes are enormous." To prevent catastrophic pandemics, starting with avian flu, we need to focus on preventing human spread, not responding to it, writes Matthew Miller from Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research | McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences

Now is the time to take action on H5N1 avian flu — the stakes are enormous Our approach to combating pandemics must shift to preventing human infection, rather than rapid response once human infection is widespread, writes Matthew Miller.

Convocation season goes into full swing this week as we celebrate the resilience and achievements of thousands of graduates who are set to cross the Convocation stage. Marauders, you make us proud and we can’t wait to see what you do next!

Learn more: https://ow.ly/H56c50ScIOV | 🎓

Congratulations Spring 2024 McMaster graduates Your one-stop shop for stories, videos and highlights from Spring 2024 convocation ceremonies and graduation celebration events.

The underrepresentation of racialized, or non-white, people in clinical trials is a serious and largely unrecognized problem that needs more scrutiny, writes Sonia Anand. Otherwise, these trials will continue to fail to reflect the communities that stand to be most affected by the outcomes of that research. | McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences

Analysis: The diversity deficit in clinical trials Diabetes trials are leaving out people who are most affected by diabetes, creating a series of problems, writes expert Sonia Anand.

Five years ago, Charles and Margaret Juravinski forever altered the health-research landscape in Hamilton by establishing the Juravinski Research Institute (JRI), a partnership between Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster and St. Joseph's Healthcare and Foundation.

We are celebrating this milestone with a new $5.1-million gift to the JRI from the Juravinski Foundation and by dedicating a tree at each of our sites in the Juravinskis’ memory – a living tribute to their enduring legacy.

Learn more about how the continues to improve the health of Canadians by advancing groundbreaking research.

Rooted in research: New $5.1-million gift commemorates fifth anniversary of the Juravinski Research Institute The gift will support research focused on cancer and brain health, and will incorporate artificial intelligence, diagnostic imaging and biobanking.

Here's how you can donate your glasses so they can be redistributed for use in future solar eclipses. 🔗https://ow.ly/rOJm50ReaOV

Donate your solar eclipse glasses to be recycled Community members are invited to drop off their used glasses at locations on campus until April 30th.

Acknowledging and supporting carer-employees not only demonstrates compassion and humanity, but also makes good business sense, because unpaid care work is the backbone of the health-care system, writes Allison Williams from McMaster Faculty of Science. https://ow.ly/WTUG50RcGln

Analysis: Canadian organizations need to better support carer-employees in the workplace Acknowledging and supporting carer-employees not only demonstrates compassion and humanity, but also makes good business sense, writes Professor...

Play is critical for children’s well-being and learning. In fact, kindergarteners’ literacy and active play are both grounded in the science of learning, writes expert Jean Clinton from McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences. https://ow.ly/lhOL50RcGbc

Analysis: As a child psychiatrist, I know it’s critical for kindergartens to embrace playful learning Kindergarteners’ literacy and active play are both grounded in the science of learning, writes Professor Jean Clinton.

That was electric! It was a day — and for 96 seconds, a night — to remember. Thousands of people gathered at Ron Joyce Stadium to experience a stunning total eclipse.
📸 highlights here: https://ow.ly/MaEN50RaYz1

Total solar eclipse: A once-in-a-lifetime experience at McMaster It was a day — and for 96 seconds, a night — to remember. Thousands of people gathered at Ron Joyce Stadium to experience a stunning total eclipse.

Meet Nicole Mulyk. The graduate student is part of a team of eclipse ambassadors that have been sharing their love of science and astronomy with community members ahead of Monday’s rare celestial event. https://ow.ly/cMYh50R9CYL

A total solar eclipse, while an amazing thing to see, can cause serious damage to your eyes. Learn more about how to protect yourself. 🔗https://ow.ly/NuRm50R8OKZ

How to watch a total solar eclipse safely Looking directly at the Sun with the naked eye or through any device or filter other than ISO 12312-2:2015 certified eclipse glasses may cause...

Global warming is making the oceans more acidic. A new electrochemical technology could de-acidify the oceans — and even remove carbon dioxide in the process, says McMaster Engineering researchers Charles de Lannoy and Bassel A. Abdelkader, and University of Toronto’s Jocelyn Riet. https://ow.ly/3LOv50R6ATn

Analysis: New electrochemical technology could de-acidify the oceans – and even remove carbon dioxide in the process Global warming is making the oceans more acidic. A new electrochemical approach could reduce this acidity and remove carbon from the atmosphere in...

More than the retouched photo, it's the silence surrounding the Princess of Wales' health that spawned the latest royal brouhaha. A better communications strategy would have protected her privacy and fostered trust and transparency with the public, write Terry Flynn and Alex Sévigny from McMaster University Faculty of Humanities. https://ow.ly/eAbP50QTpvn

Analysis: The PR silence around Princess Kate’s well-being fuels frenzy about photo mishap Sound, strategic communications about the Princess of Wales' condition would have helped protect her privacy while fostering trust and transparency with the public.

Thanks to the , researchers at Hamilton Health Sciences McMaster University and St. Joseph's Healthcare and Foundation are gaining new insights into maternal morbidity and developing a new virtual-care software platform.
Learn more about these two new Juravinski Research Institute projects at https://juravinskiresearchinstitute.ca/research-projects/

Underground thermal networks have the potential to revolutionize how Canadians heat their homes while helping to reduce carbon emissions, says McMaster Engineering researcher Jim Cotton. https://ow.ly/bRnC50QM0Xl

Analysis: Thermal networks are the missing infrastructure we need to help enable carbon-free heating Underground thermal networks have the potential to revolutionize how Canadians heat their homes while helping to reduce carbon emissions, writes...

From a co-op placement in Nunavut to an archaeological dig site in Italy, McMaster students share how unique and varied experiential learning opportunities are giving them the skills to succeed. https://ow.ly/K4ul50QJTv2

Confidence and career success: Students, graduate share impact of co-op and experiential learning From conducting research in Nunavut to working at an archaeological dig site to launching a business in the health-care space, co-op placements and...

Five decades after finishing university, Stewart Patch joined McMaster to pursue his second bachelor's degree — this time in Physics. The 71-year-old, who is volunteering as a student ambassador ahead of the total solar eclipse, shares what it’s like to be an undergrad again all these years later.

Meet Stewart Patch, 71-year-old undergrad and eclipse ambassador Five decades after finishing university, Stewart Patch joined McMaster to pursue his second bachelor's degree, this time in Physics.

Human societies produce huge amounts of excess heat. Turning it into electricity could play a key role in achieving a net-zero society, says McMaster Faculty of Science postdoctoral fellow Chun-wan Timothy Lo.

Analysis: Thermoelectric technologies can help power a zero-carbon future Human societies produce huge amounts of excess heat. Turning it into electricity could play a key role in achieving a net-zero society.

It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, and McMaster and Hamilton will be one of the few places in North America to experience the total solar eclipse on April 8th. Free glasses, outreach events and an on-campus viewing party are being held to mark the big day.

McMaster to host eclipse viewing party on April 8 Free glasses, outreach events and an Instagram-worthy eclipse viewing party are being planned to mark the rare celestial event.

Congratulations to John Whitney from McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences on being recognized with the Canadian Society for Chemistry's 2024 Melanie O’Neill New Investigator Award. Whitney is being honoured for his cutting-edge research into the molecular mechanisms of antibacterial toxins. | Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research https://ow.ly/b30N50QE7g0

Ontario schools were not major transmission sources of COVID-19 when effective measures like masking, vaccinations, and 'test-to-stay' policies were in place. Find the new findings from McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences researchers in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

Masking, vaccinations, and test-to-stay policies in Ontario schools and daycares effectively curbed COVID-19 spread, review finds The two-year review provides a strong foundation on how to properly deal with significant outbreaks caused by future variants or other infectious diseases.

"Feminists know what they want in bed and are more likely to feel empowered to ask for it," writes sociologist Tina Fetner, author of S*x in Canada. Her findings show that not only do feminists have s*x just as often as non-feminists, the s*x they have is often loving and pleasurable. | McMaster Faculty of Social Sciences

Analysis: Do feminists have better s*x? Yes, they do Research shows that feminist women are more likely to have s*x that is more loving and pleasurable, writes sociologist Tina Fetner.

"It seems trite, in 2024, to suggest that the Black population in Canada is diverse." Professor Alpha Abebe from McMaster University Faculty of Humanities explains why the unifying identity of "Black Canada" deserves a far closer look so we can appreciate its rich tapestries and multifaceted connections. https://ow.ly/88kA50QAICV

Analysis: The diversity within Black Canada should be recognized and amplified While “Black Canada” is a useful blanket term and important organizing identity, a closer look reveals a detailed tapestry of communities that also deserves visibility, writes Professor Alpha Abebe.

Happening today in MUSC from 11am to 4pm! at Mac begins with live music, dance, poetry, local Black-owned vendors and community tables. https://ow.ly/F1Ap50QwAEa

When employees are able to reconceptualize jealousy as a motivating force, it opens up new venues to address, overcome and capitalize on the feeling, says DeGroote School of Business - McMaster University researcher Meena Andiappan and TMU’s Lucas Dufour.

Analysis: The green-eyed monster: How embracing jealousy at work can make you more productive When employees are able to reconceptualize jealousy as a motivating force, it opens up new venues to address, overcome and capitalize on the feeling.

Fibre isn’t just associated with colon health; it’s associated with overall health and brain health through the gut-brain axis. But as McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences PhD candidate Mark Wulczynski explains, not all fibres are created equal.

Analysis: Dietary fibre affects more than your colon: How the immune system, brain and overall health benefit too Fibre helps with overall health and brain health through the gut-brain axis. But not all fibres are created equal, Mark Wulczynski writes.

The implementation of central bank digital currencies around the world has prompted serious questions around privacy, security, accessibility and trust, says Ori Freiman, a researcher in McMaster's Digital Society Lab 🔗

Earning trust: The path to central bank digital currencies The implementation of central bank digital currencies around the world has prompted serious questions around privacy, security, accessibility and...