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Graduate Student Highlights & News Graduate students in the Department of Chemistry continue to maintain the impressive record of achievements that have distinguished McMaster's graduate program over the years. Numerous M.Sc. and Ph.D. level students have received distinctions for their outstanding oral and poster presentations at national and international chemistry meetings. Many competitive scholarships, from both internal and external funding sources, have been awarded to students for academic accomplishments and contributions made to research. Most recently, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships have been accepted by John Valliant (1997/98; for tenure at Harvard University), John Pezacki (1998/99; for tenure at University of Toronto) and Nic LeBlond (1998/99; for tenure at Gerhard-Mercator Universität-Duisburg, Germany). Postgraduate level NSERC-PGSB scholarships for third and fourth years of graduate school have been awarded to Maggie Austen, Mark Stradiotto (1997/98) and David Lavorato, Paul Venneri, Stacey Brydges and Krista Barfoot (1998/99). Recipients of NSERC-PGSA scholarships include Tracy Morkin (1997/98) and Scott Clendenning (1998/99). Ontario Graduate Scholarships have been earned by Michael Gerkin, Stacey Brydges, Giselle Amow, David Bayles (1997/98), as well as David Stachera and Mario Bieringer (1997/98). The latest recipient of the Imperial Chemical Industries Scholarship for outstanding achievement in the publication of chemical research was Mark Stradiotto (1997/98). The list of bursaries and scholarships awarded by McMaster University to chemistry graduate students is also extensive. Two of these awards are of particular note because of their close association with the department. The James A. Morrison Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry was presented in 1997/98 to Lorne Fell and Paul Hazendonk. This scholarship was established in 1987 in memory of the late James A. Morrison, a member of the department (1969-1987) and founding Director of the McMaster Brockhouse Institute for Materials Research. Kim Gracie was the first graduate student to receive the Manske-MacLean Bursary in Chemistry, which was instituted in 1997. The initial funds for these bursaries were realized through the sale of alkaloid natural products, donated from the research collections of Professor Emeritus David B. MacLean and his mentor, Dr. Richard H. F. Manske (1901-1977). Stacey Brydges
McMaster Chemistry Graduate Student Society The 1997/98 academic year marks the inauguration of the McMaster Chemistry Graduate Student Society (MCGSS). While graduate students have always played an active role in the department, the formalization of a society was intended to establish an elected body that would: serve as a voice for chemistry graduate students; provide an educational and recreational outlet for students; and foster the relationships among graduate students, undergraduates, faculty and staff. With the goal of maintaining a spirit of fellowship within the Chemistry Department, the executive was instrumental in organizing numerous social events, including a beginning of term "Meet the new grad students" at the Phoenix, a Halloween Party, a Christmas Dinner and Dance, and a golf tournament and barbeque. The MCGSS was also responsible for instituting a new multi-departmental science lecture series, selecting topics that bridge science and our everyday lives. The first lecture, entitled "Teaching Science for Understanding", was given by Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, the National Director of Let's Talk Science. As this new series progresses, the MCGSS hopes to promote other educational activities, such as internet workshops and resume writing and interview skills sessions. In the meantime, the Society (under the artistic direction of Lena Andrew) has created a website http://www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/mcgss/, with useful links to reference databases and various catalogues. Financial support for this year's events has been graciously provided by CIBA Specialty Chemicals, Titles Bookstore, and McMaster's Department of Chemistry.
The 1997/98 MCGSS executive consists of: Tracy Morkin (President), Stacey Brydges (Vice-President), Chris McCrory (Treasurer), Lena Andrew (Secretary), Suzanne Ackloo, Anna Trikoupis, Nadine Merkley, and John Kaldis (Social Coordinators). The club may be contacted by email, mcgss@mcmaster.ca. Stacey Brydges |
