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News Tid-Bits: NASA, Science Coverage, Footbag, Golf, Funding
August 6 , 2009
Here's a mixed bag of summer news items involving students, staff and
alumni, as well as a few more serious items that may help with Fall planning.
NASA Picks Staff Photo as Astronomy Photo of the Day
A photo taken by Barry and Noemi Diacon has captured an optical
rarity ... a triple sunset. The uniqueness of the image and its beautiful
composition caught the attention of NASA officials who posted it as the
Astronomy Picture of the Day on August 4, 2009. Barry is Laboratory Coordinator in the Department of Engineering
Physics. To
view the image, and for a full description, click
HERE. While
you're there, it's worth clicking Archive to see other amazing images of
space and our planet.
Science and Media Coverage: What does the Future Hold?
Mainstream media are letting go of their top science writers. Their
insights are being replaced by science snippets that tend more to conflict
than clarity. What does the future hold for media coverage of science and
engineering developments, mainstays to our economic and social well being? What
does this mean for researchers and faculty looking to share their findings
with the broader public? Chris Mooney and Sheril Kirshenbaum address
these questions and provide insight into how media coverage of science,
health and engineering is changing in Unpopular Science published
by The Nation (www.thenation.com)
on July 29.
Footbag Competitor Back from World Championships
Jay Boychuk, a third-year mechanical engineering student at
McMaster, was one of only two Canadians to qualify for the
30th Annual World Footbag Championships held in Berlin, Germany at the
end of July. He
represented the country well earning top-10 finishes in three
events. Footbag
uses a hacky-sack-like bag that is juggled with the feet and
choreographed to music. Competitors perform in front of judges in
a variety of events. This is Jay's third trip to the World Championships,
where he's finished better each year. Read The Independent & Free
Press (Guelph, Ontario) story about his performance HERE and
his results HERE.
Credit & Copyright: Barry & Noemi Diacon
Alumnus Makes the Rules for US Golf Equipment
Matt Pringle, who earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from McMaster, is
senior research engineer with the equipment standards section of the United States
Golf Association (USGA). That means he's involved in the testing and
regulating of equipment used in competitive golf as well as the playing environment. He's
developed a method of testing the co-efficient of restitution (COR) in titanium
drivers, conducted groove research on golf clubs, and designed a device to measure
the firmness of putting greens. And yes, he has met Tiger Woods. To read
more about Matt Pringle, visit the articles in NovaNewsNow.com HERE and
ScoreGolf HERE.
Ontario Launches New Emerging Technologies Fund
The Government of Ontario has announced the creation of a new funding source
for eligible high-growth companies in clean tech, life sciences, digital media
and ICT. The $250-million fund was designed to address the lack of venture
capital activity. It will co-invest with qualified venture capital funds
and other private investors. It complements the $205-million Ontario Venture
Capital Fund created previously. Read more by visiting: www.ocgc.gov.on.ca
