Brighter World News Stories
McMaster scientist Marek Smieja receives prestigious national award for infectious disease research
McMaster University scientist Marek Smieja has been awarded the 2026 John G. FitzGerald Award by the Canadian Association for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (CACMID). The award, which recognizes technical, scientific and medical leaders who have made significant and sustained contributions to the field of medical microbiology, is CACMID’s highest honour, and grants recipients a lifetime membership to the […]
Meet the honorary degree recipients of Spring 2026
Thought leaders, innovators, scholars, philanthropists and above all, change makers. Seven remarkable individuals will receive honorary degrees at the Spring Convocation ceremonies in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their discipline and communities. Here are this year’s honorary degree recipients, in order of presentation: Mary Heersink Faculty of Health Sciences | May 21, 2026 Mary Heersink is an internationally […]
Everyday air pollution linked to poorer brain function, study finds
The air pollution we breathe daily could be harming more than just our lungs and hearts. New research from McMaster University suggests that fine particles from traffic, industry and wildfire smoke is linked to worse cognitive function. The study, published online in the journal Stroke on May 13, 2026, found that people living in areas with higher air pollution scored worse on tests of memory, understanding and […]
From lightbulb moments to instilling a sense of wonder in students
People of McMaster celebrates the incredible people who help make McMaster a great place to work, learn, teach and conduct research. Click here for the rest of the series. Hollywood blockbusters need gaffers, grips and line producers. Rock bands and pop stars rely on roadies. Formula One drivers depend on their pit crews. And the Department of Physics & Astronomy counts on […]
New McMaster-made drug candidate shows promise as a brain cancer treatment
A next-generation cancer therapy being developed at McMaster University has shown early promise as a treatment candidate for glioblastoma, the most aggressive and most common type of primary brain cancer in adults. In preclinical research, published today in Science Translational Medicine, scientists showed that the newly developed drug candidate can eliminate deadly glioblastoma tumours, which […]
Moo-ving research: Student projects combine agriculture and AI
Six engineering capstone projects this year had one big, bovine thing in common: they all focused on cows. Specifically, dairy cows – and the practical applications of AI to improve their health and welfare while streamlining farm management. The projects came about through a partnership with CATTLEytics, an agri-tech company that was founded by a McMaster Engineering grad and veterinarian Shari van de Pol. CATTLEytics provided pre-approved […]
Ten McMaster researchers named Canada Research Chairs
Ten researchers from three faculties have been named Canada Research Chairs as part of a national strategy to attract and retain a diverse cadre of world-class researchers. Eight McMaster researchers are newly named CRCs and two have had their chairs renewed. Their research is helping to build sustainable businesses, protect ecosystems from climate change, develop new wearable devices for […]
McMaster employees get together to build a more connected and collaborative university
More than 500 employees from across McMaster University gathered at the second annual Operational Excellence Forum to share ideas, learn from one another and explore how collaboration can drive transformational change across the institution. Bringing together staff and faculty from nearly every area of the university, the forum focused on building a more connected institution where knowledge, expertise and improvements […]
Tohid Didar named Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering
Tohid Didar, Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering and Canada Research Chair in Nano-biomaterials, has been named a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional recognitions accorded to Canadian engineers. Didar’s work, which tackles global challenges in food insecurity, antimicrobial resistance and women’s health, places him at a unique threshold between engineering and health sciences. In addition to his […]
Nobel laureate Donna Strickland is working to ‘put the fun back in physics’
May 11: This article has been edited to correct the names of the event organizers. “Physics is a team sport.” That wisdom comes straight from someone who has earned the biggest gold medal there is in thisvsport: Nobel physics laureate — and McMaster Engineering grad — Donna Strickland. Working in a group and building on […]