More from McGill in the Headlines
- In the Headlines
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The joys of a brainy society
Antonia Maioni, Director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, writes that "nothing beats the privilege of exchanging ideas with the fascinating young adults who are part of an extraordinary student scene in Montreal."
Engineer donates $12M to alma mater
Lorne Trottier, a 58-year-old engineer and inventor, is donating $12 million to McGill. The gift will allow the University to fund research chairs in two fields dear to Trottier's heart: astrophysics and cosmology in the science faculty, and aerospace engineering in the engineering faculty.
Where are the Canadian media headed?
Marc Raboy and Darin Barney are among seven authors from across Canada who address this question in a six-article series published by the Toronto Star. The series will also be published by La Presse later in the month.
The new genetics - DNA is not your identity
The November issue of Discover magazine includes a story on how "the new science of epigenetics rewrites the rules of disease, heredity and identity." McGill's Moshe Szyf, featured prominently in the article, is a pioneer in linking epigenetic changes to the development of disease.
'It's a matter of constant creativity'
The challenge for McGill is to keep its present as impressive as its past. Global competition and the battle for funding make that a tough bid, but as Ingrid Peritz reports, the university is finding ways to stay ahead.
Study rejects girls' excuse for smoking
In the first detailed study of the practice, McGill researchers have found that smoking and non-smoking teenage girls gain weight at exactly the same rate. Dr. Louise Pilote headed the study, whose findings were presented at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Vancouver.
'Solve this agony'
Five million Canadians are in chronic pain. A cure has long eluded scientists, but now researchers are starting to unravel the mystery -- and offer hope. McGill's Dr. Jeffrey Mogil, considered one of the world's leading experts on the genetics of pain, offers his views to the Globe and Mail.
Cardio experts gather to chew the fat
Dr. Jacques Genest of the McGill University Health Centre says evolution has left humans ill-equipped to deal with modern diets full of sugars and fats. Genest, one of Canada's foremost cardiovascular experts, joins 3,500 delegates gathering in Vancouver for the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress.
Drug-induced delivery raises risk of complication
Drug-induced labour increases the risk for a very rare -- but often fatal -- delivery complication known as amniotic-fluid embolism, a new study confirms. McGill's Dr. Michael Kramer, one of the study's researchers, says anyone considering elective labour induction should be aware of the risk.
Our future: A public dialogue
In a speech at McGill, former Quebec premier Lucien Bouchard urged Quebecers to pull together on a vision of the future that addresses Quebec's economic weaknesses and takes into account its financial and demographic realities. He said Quebec doesn't have to settle its constitutional questions before tackling its high taxes, debt and lagging economy.
Let's dance
A new study suggests that the link between music and movement is essentially hardwired into the human brain. McGill researcher Robert Zatorre and grad student Joyce Chen presented their findings at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Atlanta. The new findings might also aid in the treatment of movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis.
Intellectual property policy
"Canada should develop an intellectual property policy that lowers the cost to those conducting research and creation in Canada, making Canada an attractive location for investment in high technology industries," E. Richard Gold, director of McGill's Centre for Intellectual Property Policy, writes in the October issue of Policy Options.
The Golden Violin
With great fanfare, Seymour Schulich unveiled the $100,000 gilded fiddle and presented a cheque for $20,000 to student Emmanuel Vukovich, the first recipient of the Golden Violin Award. "Go shock the bank," Schulich said to Vukovich as he handed the 25-year-old violinist the cheque.
'There's a shortage of space in space'
Ram Jakhu, associate professor of law at McGill, says that the increasing number of satellites orbiting the planet is creating headaches for lawyers.
Tops in the THES
McGill took top place among Canada's universities in the Times Higher Education Supplement's survey of the world's best universities, ranking 21st, three spots higher than last year. The University of Toronto was 27th, while the University of British Columbia tumbled 12 spots to finish in a tie for 50th.
