Young lovers caught in an embrace. It could be anywhere in the world, but chances are it's France -- Vieux-Boucau to be more specific. The photo in question earned Pierre-Alain Parfond, a photo editor with the McGill Daily, first place in the "people" category of the McGill University Photography Society's annual photo competition. For a glimpse of some of the other winners, see MUPS photo contest.
Photo: Pierre-Alain Parfond

Gambling with their lives
Sylvain Comeau
A new centre promises to probe gambling problems and other high risk behaviours among the young. The latest research on the subject is turning up some disquieting results.

Adding techno to music
Mark Reynolds
As music becomes more intricately connected to evolving technologies, there is a need for specialists with a head for computers and an ear for a finely crafted tune. The new Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology isn't just about producing interesting studies. "It's a stewardship mission," says one of its founders.

Stringing together clues of the universe
James Martin
Invisible matter. Dimensions beyond our grasp. String-shaped particles. Just because we can't see any of it doesn't mean they don't exist, says particle physicist Jim Cline.

The bare bones of calcification
Daniel McCabe
Parts of your body are meant to be hard, like bones and teeth. Parts of your body aren't meant to have hard bits, like blood vessels. With key proteins acting as traffic cops, the process of calcification determines much about how healthy we can expect to be.

Bob Shaw: Man of steel
Stanley Frost
Remembering a funny and formidable administrator, the fellow who might have saved McGill from student radicals in the late '60s.

Louis Dudek: A poet's poet
Brian Trehearne
The late emeritus professor helped launch many a poet's career. Now with his death, maybe he will finally get credit for his own remarkable gifts.

MUPS photo contest
A small sampling of some of the fine photos that earned prizes in the McGill University Photography Society's annual competition.

Putting the civil in society
Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins
It's the International Year of the Volunteer. Meet some of the McGill students doing their part to make the world a better place.

Also in this issue Kaleidoscope Mauro Pezzente: Reluctant rock star; An opera student makes the most of her big break; Taking the prize for caring On campus Montreal hits the books; Job searching in your housecoat; Fenster's a hit with francophones; Engineers aiming to make a difference

With Easter coming up, the Ukrainian Students Association recently held a workshop to show folks how to make authentic Ukrainian Easter eggs. All you need is some wax, colourful dye and an imagination. Science student Taissa Replansky and management student Larissa Momryk were on hand to provide some tutoring. Owen Egan