This semester, McGill joined the ranks of MIT, Harvard, and other leading universities with the opening of registration for its first ever Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) Chem181x. The course, known as “Food for Thought,” will be offered by professors David Harpp, Joe Schwarcz, and Ariel Fenster starting this January[Read More…]
Other News
SSMU votes to advocate non-compliance with Charter
SSMU advocates for a stance of non-compliance with Bill 60 The Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) will advocate that the university adopt a policy of non-compliance towards the Parti Québécois’ proposed Charter of Values, following a motion passed at the Dec. 5 Legislative Council meeting. If implemented, the Charter[Read More…]
Remakes vs. originals
For every cover like Jimi Hendrix’s rendition of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watch Tower” that gives a classic song a fresh and worthy interpretation, there are efforts like HIlary Duff’s take on The Who’s “My Generation” that should be banned from the airwaves. Here’s how some of 2013’s prominent[Read More…]
Delving into the laser lab
Enclosed within the Wong building is a laser lab—and in between homework and classes, this is where Luke Matus spends the majority of his time. “I’m in chemical engineering, so I had no experience in lasers or surface engineering,” said Matus, a U2 engineering student. “I was just interested in[Read More…]
2013 Technology: a year in review
1. Wearable computing Between Google Glass and the smart watch—including the models Galaxy Gear and Pebble, wearable computing is a rising trend. Pebble was founded by Eric Migicovsky and released in 2013. Originally, Migicovsky wanted a device that would allow him to use his smartphone without crashing his bicycle; from[Read More…]
First malaria vaccine en route for 2015
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Malaria causes an estimated 660,000 deaths each year worldwide. Presently, there is no available vaccine for this mosquito-borne disease—only preventative measures, such as bed nets, insecticides, and anti-malarial pills, which have had a limited effect. However, in a considerable step forward, the British[Read More…]
Graduates criticize Leacock restructuring project
Graduate students expressed concerns about the People, Processes, and Partnerships (PPP) plan to restructure the administrative organization of Leacock Building at the Dec. 4 Council meeting of the Post-Graduate Students’ Society of McGill University (PGSS). The project was introduced in Fall 2012, but has seen various revisions over the past[Read More…]
Senate approves revision to university sexual harassment and discrimination policy
On Dec. 4, McGill’s Senate approved revisions to the university’s sexual harassment and discrimination policy, which aim to clarify the procedures that follow a submission of a complaint. In addition, Provost Anthony Masi presented the university’s financial planning for the 2015 fiscal year, which considers the possibility of the provincial[Read More…]
Panelists debate effectiveness of voluntary ethics policy in mining industry
The policies and ethics of the Canadian mining industry were at the forefront of a Nov. 21 debate co-hosted by McGill’s Research Group Investigating Canadian Mining in Latin America (MICLA), McGill’s chapter of Journalists for Human Rights, and McGill’s chapter of Amnesty International. Panelists debated Canada’s current policy of Corporate[Read More…]
Board of Governors condemns Charter of Values
Members of McGill’s Board of Governors (BoG) voted unanimously to condemn the Parti Québécois’s proposed Charter of Values last Thursday. The bill, which aims to restrict public sector employees from wearing visible religious symbols, was tabled by Quebec’s National Assembly on Nov. 7 with modifications that would no longer allow[Read More…]
