Learning Centres

The McMaster University Bat Lab is a dynamic, innovative and well-equipped environment for a variety of studies on mammalian auditory electrophysiology, animal bioacoustics, neuroethology, and animal behaviour. People in my lab conduct both laboratory-based and field-based experiments.

One of only four elliptical labs in North America. The elliptical design encourages greater engagement between teachers and students. The lab will be used for teaching engineering design and graphics, and engineering computation. The outer ring of student seats is raised to allow the teacher to see and be seen by all. The lab contains 55 computer work stations and 28 instruction monitors displaying a video signal from the instructor. The video signal can display slides, images from a document camera, or images drawn with a special pen. Instructors are able to project directly on the students’ displays for demonstration purposes. The use of a client-server model and thin-client technology makes the system more resource efficient and environmentally friendly.

he Biology Greenhouse is a teaching and research facility in the Biology Department. While many plants are grown in the short term for research studies, the permanent collection is used in plant biology classes offered by the Biology Department and for outreach to local schools and the public. The Biology Greenhouse, with its 780 square meters under glass, houses a richly diverse collection of live plants encompassing in excess of 217 species in 150 genera from over 77 plant families. The plant collection contains bamboo, insect-eating cobra plants, a chocolate tree, a coffee tree, a palm tree, sugarcane, cycads, bananas and more! Our collection and plants on display are always changing and increasing, so drop in for a visit often to see what’s new on display.

McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) is an award winning, premier research and innovation park located approximately 2 kilometers from the internationally recognized McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. McMaster Innovation Park is an important part of the innovative ecosystem in Hamilton by supporting startups, business, research and offering collaborative space for each sector to co-locate, connect and commercialize; a place to transform ideas from vision to commercial reality. Entrepreneurs, firms, researchers, industry partners, business mentors and support facilities can connect and facilitate commercialization. MIP is committed to using sustainable design principles, transforming former brownfields into a premier research park at a LEED silver or higher level.

The LIVE (Large Interactive Virtual Environment) Lab is a unique 106-seat Research Performance Hall designed to investigate the experience of music, dance, multimedia presentations, and human interaction. The space includes Active Acoustic Control; Sound Recording Equipment; and measurement of Behavioural Responses (96 tablets), Movement (motion capture), Brain Responses (EEG), Muscle Tension (EMG), Heart Rate, Breathing Rate, and Sweating Responses (GSR).

The McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) opened for business in May 2001. The MMRI is one of the largest university based manufacturing research institutes in Canada, supporting academic research and education programs spanning many manufacturing processes. The institute’s core focus is on enhancing productivity, quality and product/process innovation while helping companies reduce cost. Founded by Dr. Mo Elbestawi and currently directed by Dr. Stephen Veldhuis, the 15,000-sq.-ft. facility has a core group of technical experts and houses a wide range of industrial scale production equipment instrumented to meet the sophisticated research and development needs of leading manufacturers in the polymer, light metals, tool, die/mold, automotive, aerospace, energy and medical device industries.

The McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) first became operational in 1959 and was the first university-based research reactor in the British Commonwealth. Originally designed to operate at a maximum power of 1 MW, MNR was upgraded during the 1970s to its current rating of 5 MW. MNR is classified as a medium flux reactor and it is by far the most powerful research reactor at a Canadian university – the handful of so-called “Slowpoke” reactors at other institutions typically operate at a power of 0.02 MW. McMaster Nuclear Reactor is also involved in public outreach activities such as Doors Open Hamilton, providing opportunities for McMaster students and members of the public to participate in guided tours of the reactor facility. More than 1,500 visitors each year visit MNR to lean about nuclear sciences and observe “the blue glow” of the reactor core first-hand.

The McMaster Accelerator Lab has been active in research and experimentation for over 34 years. Located on central McMaster University campus in Hamilton, Ontario, the lab has been operational since 1969 and over the past 5 years has had a revitalization in both facilities and equiptment. There are a total of 8 beamlines running to 3 experimental target rooms. Experimental work is done in many fields including accelerator mass spectroscopy, nuclear science, material science, nuclear medicine and most recently, In Vivo Neutron Activation Analysis:(IVNAA).

As a premier academic and research healthcare organization, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) is committed to making a difference in people’s lives and creating a lasting future for our community through integrated health services and internationally recognized programs. Our threefold mission is to provide dynamic research, revolutionary methods in health sciences education, and the highest standard of clinical care in a spirit of compassion, innovation and commitment.

The Forge is Hamilton’s startup incubator and McMaster University’s on-campus entrepreneurship initiative (The Forge@Mac). The Forge supports new tech companies and students interested in entrepreneurship by providing co-working space across two locations (at McMaster Innovation Park and in downtown Hamilton), training, resources and a network of alumni and mentors.