PNB Social Life

Our Department’s Social Life:

The Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour department at McMaster is home to various receptions, seasonal parties, club functions, and sporting events, which help to generate some camaraderie and informality.

Throughout the academic year, psychology graduate students attend a series of colloquia given by distinguished guest speakers (typically Thursdays 2:30pm). Graduate student preferences mainly dictate the list of invitees, and interested graduate students (but not faculty) are invited to dine out with the guest speaker at departmental expense. (Faculty and indeed all interested people are welcome at receptions held before and/or after dinner.) The colloquium series is considered an important component (albeit an informal and unevaluated one) of graduate education, allowing students an opportunity to exchange ideas with leading researchers in their area of interest while also establishing social contacts that may be of importance to their postgraduate careers.

We also offer a weekly graduate seminar (Fridays 3pm) at which our graduate students present their research to the department. On Fridays we offer an informal get-together called “Friday Social” following the graduate seminar, where students and faculty relax and socialize at the end of the week.

Softball is virtually the only game on campus during the summer months, so "What's your favourite position?" is often the first question an incoming PNB graduate student is asked. The department fields several teams in University leagues, ranging from the genuinely recreational to the humourlessly competitive. The department also sponsors a softball tournament and barbecue every July. Graduate students also organize other sporting events such as soccer, volleyball, and ice-hockey (for non-skaters), and squash and racquetball challenges. You don't have to be talented to participate and have fun.