There is a certain meme circulating the depths of the Internet with which, by now, many McGillians should be quite familiar. It depicts a triangular model whose vertices point to certain generalizations about college life. “Good grades. Social life. Enough sleep. Pick two!” Though some may not find that their[Read More…]
Tag: research
Safety first: A history of lab mishaps at McGill
Any student who has taken a chemistry lab at McGill is familiar with the infamous “Safety Lecture.” For most students, this means an hour of staring off into space as an overly-dramatic video shows acids inevitably spilled on unprotected eyes. Yet, such unfortunate accidents have such a low probability of[Read More…]
MNI researchers create data model to isolate causes of Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s disease, first described by Alois Alzheimer in 1906, is a progressive brain disorder that causes debilitating cognitive impairments. Today, it is the most common cause of dementia, responsible for 60 to 70 per cent of 47.5 million cases worldwide. Due to its high prevalence, Alzheimer’s disease poses a significant[Read More…]
In appreciation of the McGill Library
When I look at the McGill Library, I am grateful for its extensive variety of academic sources, which have been vital to my studies. Recently, the University of Ottawa decided to cancel thousands of individual journal and database subscriptions in order to make up for a $1.5 million budget shortfall[Read More…]
Dr. Jane Goodall discusses her transition from scientist to activist
At the Young Women’s Veterinary Association International Conference on Sustainable Veterinary Practice on Oct. 6, the animal calls were so life-like there could have been a chimpanzee in the room. “This is me, this is Jane, in chimpanzee language,” primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall said. Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall[Read More…]
Girls rule, boys sleep more soundly: McGill professor finds hormonal differences affect sleep quality
Men and women are constantly compared—whether in sports, academics, or income levels. A new study by Diane Boivin, McGill Medicine and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, highlights how sex can also impact quality of sleep. Many scientists have researched the discrepancy of sleep disorders between men and women. An article by[Read More…]
Event spotlight: McGill’s 22nd edition of Soup and Science
At the 22nd edition of Soup and Science, hosted by the Office for Undergraduate Research, professors took the stage to explain their research. The event, held last week at the Redpath Museum, offered students a chance to hear about professors’ research and meet with them to find out how to[Read More…]
McGill wins $84 million grant for neuroscience program
McGill University reaffirmed itself as one of the top neuroscience research centres in the world when it won an $84 million federal grant to fund the innovative Healthy Brains for Healthy Lives (HBFHL) program for the next seven years. Canada First Excellence Research Fund (CFERF) provided the grant as part[Read More…]
What’s it like getting a chemistry PhD?
“I can’t sleep some nights if I’m thinking about a model,” Rob Harkness said, laughing. Though easy to misinterpret, Harkness, a chemistry PhD student from the Mittermaier lab—who study biological systems primarily using calorimetry and NMR—is in fact talking about science. “I’ve woken up some nights to text my supervisor,[Read More…]
The history of eugenics in Quebec and at McGill
McGill University is known for its cutting-edge scientific research. Many may not know, however, that during the early 20th century, McGill was a communication hub between eugenicists in Britain and Canada. Eugenics has its roots in England—the term was first coined by British scholar Francis Galton in 1883. Galton took[Read More…]