Fall 2020
On Campus
A semester like no other
In the midst of a global pandemic, the usual playbook for a semester gets tossed aside. COVID-19 forced the University's instructors to rethink how they teach and some of the lessons learned will influence the way McGill courses are taught for years to come.
People
The Super Bowl champ who tackled the coronavirus
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, MDCM’18, was celebrating a Super Bowl victory in February. Back then, he thought he would be playing in the NFL right now, looking for a second championship. But COVID-19 forced him to make a wrenching decision.
À la une
La grande séduction
Le nouveau Campus Outaouais de la Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé de l’Université McGill à Gatineau, c’est un peu comme le remake du film La Grande Séduction. (This story is also available in English.)
From Making the case for Canada in Washington
“You have to understand what it is you’re here for, what your objective is. And you have to be willing to fight – disagree and disagree strongly and not be put off by people disagreeing with you very strongly.”
Kirsten Hillman
Canada’s ambassador to the United States
Discovery
The dangers to democracy in a digital age
Disinformation, online security, attacks on democracy - there is no shortage of things for McGill's new Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy to examine. "There is definitely an appetite out there for the expertise and research we have to offer."
People
Finally getting the attention he deserves
When former McGill music student Beverly Glenn-Copeland released his seminal new age album Keyboard Fantasies in 1986, it only sold a handful of copies. Today, it's regarded as a cult classic and Glenn-Copeland's fans include Robyn and Courtney Barnett.
On Campus
Principal’s perspective: Staying connected
With classes being primarily delivered remotely, the 2020-21 academic year has been unlike any in McGill’s history. Principal Suzanne Fortier, BSc'72, PhD'76, recently reflected on some of the challenges, successes and lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discovery
Can a copper spray combat the coronavirus?
While masks and hand sanitizers have become part of most people's daily arsenal against the coronavirus, McGill researchers are working with a material with less well-known anti-viral properties: copper.
Discovery
Bringing “the sensation of being there” to music in video games
Schulich School of Music professors Wieslaw Woszczyk and Richard King are collaborating on an ambitious project that could change the way video games sound. “We want to reconstruct, as much as possible, the sensation of being there.”
Discovery
A “search engine” for mining the mysteries of malware
Computer viruses, spyware and other forms of malware cause billions of dollars in damage. "Malware is so complex that observing all its behaviour is almost impossible," says McGill's Benjamin Fung - but Fung's new anti-malware tool could be a game-changer.