Kara Aaserud

For more than 60 years, the Pollock family has been part of McMaster University’s Faculty of Engineering.

Their influence is woven into its foundation, from their early days in the chemical engineering program to their latest milestone: A collective gift to the Integrated Cornerstone Design Projects Studio, a groundbreaking facility designed to enhance the first-year engineering experience.

The studio is a high-tech space where students can work together and learn by doing, using tools like 3...

Canada’s seniors deserve quality care — but with fewer than 400 geriatricians across the country, increasing demands on family physicians and a rapidly aging population, the system is struggling to keep up. Rebecca Correia, a recent PhD graduate from McMaster University’s Health Research Methodology program, is working to change that.

Correia’s research focuses on family doctors with “Care of the Elderly” certification or a specialized pr...

As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, McMaster University’s Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement is bringing together political experts to explore how the results could redefine Canada’s future.
“The Choice 2024: The U.S. Pre...

Four distinguished McMaster University alumni and a faculty member have been named to the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) 2024 Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, celebrating their remarkable leadership and accomplishments across sectors including higher education, health care, neuroscience and sustainable business.
The WXN Top 100 Awards, a prestigious national honour, recognize women who exemplify resilience, innovation and excellence in their fields. These McMaster-affil...

For most students, the transition from high school to university can be challenging enough without barriers.
But for recent McMaster graduate Nicholas Cocco ’22 who has autism, ADHD and OCD, the transition, at times, seemed insurmountable.
Nicholas’ postsecondary path began after high school when he made the decision to leave his home in Hamilton to attend Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo.
Without the support he was accustomed to, though, he soon found he was struggling with scheduling,...

McMaster graduates and brothers Vladimir Sobot, BEng ’80, and Chedo Sobot, BEng Mgt ’85, have given $500,000 to the Faculty of Engineering to initiate the development of a central design studio aimed at encouraging collaboration and experiential learning among first-year students.
The Design Projects Studio will be the future home base for students in the foundational Integrated Cornerstone Design Projects in Engineering (1P13) course, which requires learners to work in teams to complete four...

McMaster has established itself as a key player in Hamilton’s innovation ecosystem — from fostering experiential learning opportunities in the classroom to hosting a start-up incubator and accelerator, the Forge, and developing countless corporate partnerships for everything from guest lectures to job placemen...

John Bandler was a world-renowned inventor, engineer, researcher and teacher whose service and support over 50 years put Canada at the forefront of microwave technology, and was a pillar of McMaster and its Faculty of Engineering. He died on September 28 at the age of 81.
Bandler joined McMaster’s department of electrical and computer engineering as a professor in 1969 and went on to become Dean of Engineering from 1979 to 1981, and ...

Waguih Ishak is a global leader in optics and photonics research, a recent inductee into the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE), and a valued member of the Faculty of Engineering ‘s Dean’s Advisory Board.
Fifty years ago, he was also a hopeful international student.
“I still remember the joy I felt when I received my acceptance letter and scholarship from McMaster,” says Ishak, who travelled from Cairo, Egypt to Hamilton in 1973 to complete his master’s degree in 1975 and ...

Karen Beattie, a researcher in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University, knows firsthand how challenging it can be to navigate a siloed health care system. She’s been doing it for a decade, since her son Freddie was born at 29 weeks, weighing just under two pounds.
Like many preemies, Freddie was at risk for developing lifelong neurodevelopment complications. As he grew, he struggled with self-regulation and was eventually diagnosed with Developmental Coordination Disorder. Beattie...

When Janet Loebach, BEng Scty ’97, served as McMaster Engineering Society’s inaugural president in 1997, she set her sights on the future. Technology was evolving quickly, and as the world was becoming more fast-paced, she saw a growing need—particularly for new engineers entering the workforce—to be learning with the latest equipment, methods and techniques.
Following the lead of other universities, Loebach pitched the idea that a $50 donation from each McMaster engineering student per year,...

Jack Leon, a practising psychologist and proud McMaster graduate, spent his life helping students find their paths, both at school and in the real world.
After graduating from McMaster’s Faculty of Social Sciences in 1965 with a major in psychology, Leon joined the staff of Hamilton’s Mohawk College as a counsellor. There, he quickly became known for his larger-than-life personality, bottomless candy dish, love of Jim Morrison, and, most of all, for his innate ability to connect with and coun...

The mysteries of our past can offer important clues for tackling today’s most critical health and societal challenges.

At McMaster University, graduate student Adiyasuren Molor believes ancient Mongolian human remains may unearth certain complexities of the bubonic plague that may prevent future plagues. Alessio Amaro thinks human teeth from medieval Italy might reveal the influence breastfeeding and childhood diet has on mortality rates in males and females. And Céline Jacqueroud hopes to be...

Hamilton engineer and entrepreneur Joe Liburdi had a long-standing relationship with McMaster University that was forged on shared respect for research innovation and a desire to elevate the next generation of leaders in engineering.
As a result, dozens of McMaster students have benefitted from his generosity and commitment to the Faculty of Engineering through bursaries, award programs, sponsorship support, lab partnerships and post-graduate opportunities at his company, Liburdi Engineering ...

McMaster graduate Dr. Aquila Islam was a trailblazing physicist, educator and researcher. Pakistan’s first woman to earn a PhD in nuclear physics, she spent her lifetime paving a path for the next generation of women in science. In honour of her legacy, a new fund at McMaster aims to continue to inspire and elevate women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“Islam played a pivotal role in the promotion of physics education among women in Pakistan,” said Dr. Ahmed Khan, ...