Blog

By McGill Reporter Staff

McGill graduate Dr. Andrew P.W. Bennett has been named Ambassador to the Government of Canada’s newly created Office of Religious Freedom.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the establishment of the new Office within the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which will be dedicated to promoting freedom of religion or belief around the world, as well as the appointment of Dr. Bennett.

On Friday, Feb. 22, from 8-9 p.m., the Morgan Arboretum will be hosting a talk by Dr. David M. Bird, professor of Ornithology and Wildlife Biology in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences. Ever wonder how birds are equipped to produce those warm, fuzzy chicks in the nest? Not all is as it seems. Join Dr. Bird as he takes you on a humorous “bird’s eye-view” of the seemingly indecent world of avian reproduction involving the “Mile-High Club,” incest, homosexuality, sex changes, divorce and infidelity. It puts television soap operas to shame. You may never look at birds the same again.

Don’t miss out on the new Islamic Manuscript Exhibit hosted in the McLennan Library Lobby. In addition, the Institute’s Calligraphy Series is hosting two master calligraphers, Dr. Hilal Kazan (Turkey) and Mr. Haji Noor Deen Mi Guang Jiang (China) who will be giving free public workshops over the course of two weeks (Feb. 13-20) as well as giving a public demonstration and lecture at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. Learn more here.

Are you new to website management? Have you attended WMS training in the past and now want to take your knowledge to the next level? IT Customer Services (ICS) offers regular WMS training courses on site editing, site management and creating Channels items to all McGill staff. Or come with your own questions to one of the drop-in labs. Even if you’ve taken WMS courses in the past, new tools and functionalities are constantly added, so come brush up on your skills. Visit the IT Customer Services Training Menu.

Debates on Higher Education have made headlines recently, yet many issues remain unexplored. Even when they find themselves the subject of debate, universities remain a forum where it is possible to take a step back, reflect and discuss all points of view with openness and respect. This is the goal of Global Reflections on Higher Education, a new webpage where we publish a weekly selection of articles from various sources, as well as opinion pieces by guest contributors about higher education around the world.

Sign up now for R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense), a self-defence course for women taught by McGill Security Services. The one-and-a-half day training course is offered to all female students, faculty and staff downtown at a cost of only $20. The course will take place March 22-23. Once you have signed up you will receive more information on course time and location. For more information or to register go here.

The McGill Women’s Networking Group presents “The Aging Eye: Off the Radar Screen,” a lecture by Dr. Shawn L. Cohen, Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at McGill. Dr. Cohen’s presentation will cover various eye diseases such as glaucoma, dry eye and diabetic retinopathy. There will be a discussion of solutions that extend beyond our usual understanding of the diseases. The event takes place Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 12 p.m. in Room 425 of Bronfman Building, 1001 Sherbrooke St, W. Admission is free to members and $3 for non-members: $3 to cover expenses. Dessert and Refreshments are included.

McGill Rez Life is offering Free French Conversation groups for students who live in Rez. These groups meet Mondays, Tuesdays & Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. At present there is a long waiting list of students wanting to participate, but organizers are short handed on volunteer conversation group leaders. If you are fluent in French and interested in helping lead a conversation group filled with enthusiastic Rez students who want to improve their verbal French skills, they need your help.

The Department of Physics’ Astrophysics and Cosmology Group presents another Public Astro Night, Thursday, Feb, 21, in Room 103 of the Rutherford Physics Building, 3600 University St. (7:00 p.m.). The event will feature a public lecture by Prof. Robert Brandenberger called “What was before the Big Bang?” It will be followed by a lab tour and night sky observations (weather permitting). For more information about the event and Astrophysics and Cosmology Group, go here.

Are you looking for healthier food options? Then look no further, McGill Food and Dining Services’ new Get the Good Stuff logo is a simple, easily identifiable nutrition way-finding brand to help guide you towards the healthier, more sustainably sourced choices in MFDS facilities. From Feb. 12-13h, stop by one of the Get the Good Stuff Booths and sample some of the healthier selections from the new Get the Good Stuff menu. Look for prizes to be won, free samples, and more information.