About Mel Thistle MEL THISTLE was for many years on the staff of the NRC, and is the author of The Inner Ring, an early history of the council. He is now Professor of Journalism at Carleton University, Ottawa. Books by Mel Thistle The Inner Ring The Early History of the National Research Council of Canada by (author) Mel Thistle The Mackenzie-McNaughton Wartime Letters edited by Mel Thistle epilogue by C.J. Mackenzie