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Lindens and pines and burs — oh my! Whether you’re in Gilmour Hall, the hospital, or across Cootes in the Campus Services Building, a quick peek out of the nearest window will no doubt showcase a handful of the many different tree species that call McMaster University home. Inspired by that, the Arts & Science […]
Glaciers in the tropics? While one might not associate glaciers with tropical climates, these giant ice formations exist in abundance throughout places like South America. In fact, the country of Peru holds approximately 70% of the world’s tropical glaciers. These glaciers are defined as having two very distinct seasons — a dry one and a […]
Did you know that up to 25% of Arts & Science students spend all or part of their third year studying abroad? In any given semester, you’ll find Artscis far afield — Japan, Singapore, Australia, or New Zealand; Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, or the Netherlands; Israel, Lebanon, Colombia, or Uruguay. And while the benefits of […]
From poplar and tamarack to white birch and cedar, a handful of tree species that grow in Ontario’s boreal forest produce wood types that have an underdeveloped commercial market. As a result, many forest management companies elect not to harvest these trees, despite the important role harvesting plays in suppressing wildfires, maintaining habitats, and preventing […]
McMaster University’s Arts & Science Program and School of Interdisciplinary Science (SIS) enjoy teaming up to offer students a series of “Interdisciplinary Experiences” courses. These courses guide students through experiential and self-directed learning opportunities that range from local excursions to international explorations. In the past few months alone, students have embarked on two marquee modules […]
On the surface, creative fiction and research might seem like polarizing concepts — one is steeped in imagination, myth, and mystery, while the other is associated with facts, data, and clearly defined boundaries. But ask Anton Piatigorsky, a professor in the Arts & Science Program, and he’ll tell you that the two concepts are not only […]
In an era of rapid climate change and potential environmental crisis, new questions about the viability of the earth’s future seem to arise every day. That’s why, through its Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainability, McMaster University has spent the past five years preparing the next generation to think more holistically and systematically about social and environmental […]
Last week, Arts & Science faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and students of all levels gathered together for the Program’s 2019 Winter Lecture. A tradition nearly as old as Arts & Science itself, this year marked the 32nd Winter Lecture in the Program’s 37-year history. This year’s speaker was Dr. Bonny Ibhawoh, Professor of History and […]
They may be small, only about six inches long, but they’re having a big impact. Since the early ’90s, the round goby, a fish species native to the Black and Caspian seas, has been invading waterways and threatening aquatic species throughout the Great Lakes, including Hamilton Harbour. It’s a species that thrives in rocky habitats […]
If you ever stumble upon a group of 40-something students staring intently at University Hall, don’t be alarmed. What you’re seeing is likely just one of the many field tours offered in one of the Arts & Science Program’s most unique courses. Taught by Dr. Brian Baetz, Professor Emeritus in McMaster’s Faculty of Engineering, Technology & Society […]