On Saturday, January 13, at 7:30 pm, the UPEI Department of Music will present a Faculty Recital featuring Magdalena von Eccher on the SDU Stage, Dr. Steel Recital Hall, UPEI.

This solo piano recital will feature a diverse program of works ranging from W. A. Mozart to Kelly-Marie Murphy, centering around a group of works by Clara and Robert Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn and her brother Felix, and Johannes Brahms. Steeped in lyricism and poetry, the recital will be a vivid portrayal of Magdalena's broad range of musical interests.

Admission is $30 for adults and $10 for students, payable by cash at the door. Accessible parking is available, and the theatre has an accessible entrance via elevator.

Welcome to 2024 and the winter term!  

Writing Centre appointments are now available for anyone looking for some support getting started early on writing assignments or with any other writing-related matters. Appointments provide up to an hour of one-on-one time with a friendly, knowledgeable tutor in the Writing Centre (RL 274).  Online appointments are also available.

To see our schedule and make an appointment, go to https://upei.mywconline.com/

Reaching zero inbox in 2024: Instead of processing all the messages in your email inbox to clear it, make a folder and label it "2023 & older." Select all your inbox messages and move them to that folder. If you don't like the results, move the messages back to your inbox. But at least you get to see what having a clear inbox is like. You might like it.

This is a 45-minute drop-in session where we will look at some basic slide design principles and then spend time redesigning one of your own slide decks.

What to bring: A set of slides and a device to work on

Schedule:  

• 10-minute presentation on slide design 

• 30 minutes to work individually on your own slides; the host is present for questions 

• 5 minutes to reflect on how it went and ask more questions 

Contact Kristy at kmckinney@upei.ca if you have any questions.

Presenter: Olivier Philips

Title: "Exploring the Functions of Metabolites Downstream of the Serine Biosynthesis Pathway"

Abstract:

This study explores the serine biosynthesis pathway's (SBP) significance as a potential therapeutic target in specific breast cancers. While the SBP's importance in these cancers is acknowledged, its full functions remain unclear. Investigating downstream pathways associated with the SBP aims to shed light on its role, potentially uncovering new treatment targets, and addressing a critical research gap. Using the SBP inhibitor NCT-503, we effectively curbed cell proliferation and impeded serine biosynthesis in SBP-dependent breast cancer cell lines. Metabolomics analysis with NCT-503 revealed significant alterations in vital metabolites like creatine, taurine, glutathione, and GABA. Minimal variations in metabolite abundance were observed across different media types, and interventions involving creatine and its precursor, guanidinoacetic acid, rescued cell growth alongside NCT-503 in SBP-dependent lines. Exploring protein interactors of creatine identified potential targets such as TNPO3, TPP1, MGAT4B, HEATR5B, NPAT, and WDR46, advancing our understanding and uncovering potential therapeutic avenues for breast cancer.

Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 2:00 pm, via web conference

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome.

IT Systems and Services is preparing virtual student computer lab applications for the Winter 2024 semester. We kindly ask that all faculty and/or lab facilitators who require access to virtual lab applications for their courses please submit their requests via the form provided on the myUPEI portal.

Please complete this form if you are facilitating a course in the upcoming Winter 2024 semester and your students will require virtual lab access to complete their course.

Please note that any virtual lab access previously provided for courses will be removed by January 5, 2024. If your students still require access during the Winter 2024 semester, please re-submit the above form.

In some specialized cases, there may be costs and approvals associated with provisioning virtual labs, and in these cases, ITSS will contact you to discuss the next steps.

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment will hold a building emergency plan session for chief wardens, floor wardens, and guardians on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 1:30 pm, in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall (AH), Room 142.

Please email hse@upei.ca if you are interested in attending.

Based on his new book, Time Flies: An Aerial History of Coastal and Ribbon Development on Prince Edward Island, Dr. Joshua MacFadyen will show that development in the coastal zone and along rural roads is accelerating on Prince Edward Island, just as the province is experiencing sustainability challenges in both areas. The talk will offer a unique combination of aerial photographs, historical maps, and more traditional sources, as it describes the province’s journey into modernity.

The call for proposals for the 26th annual Dalhousie Conference on University Teaching and Learning (DCUTL) is now open. This year’s conference will take place in-person on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in the Rowe Management Building, Dalhousie University, and virtually on Thursday, May 2. The annual DCUTL promotes the importance of university teaching and learning among faculty, staff, and graduate students. It is a showcase for current research and practices and provides opportunities to foster new ideas and projects. 

This year’s theme is “Transforming the Curriculum to (Re)Imagine the Future.”

They invite proposals on topics that might include but are not limited to the following areas of interest:

• redesigning curriculum
• processes of curriculum work
• designing curriculum via components/themes
• bigger ideas in curriculum design

For more information on the call, along with submission procedures and proposal format details, visit the conference website: https://www.dal.ca/dept/clt/events-news/annual-events/DCUTL.html

The call for proposals closes on January 22, 2024.

 Keynote Speaker

They are excited to welcome Dr. Nadine de Gannes as the keynote speaker for the 2024 Dalhousie Conference on University Teaching and Learning. Dr. de Gannes is the faculty director of Ivey Business School’s Honours Business Administration (HBA) Program at Western University. She is also a faculty member in Accounting and Sustainability, and a member of Ivey’s EDI Advisory Council. She holds a master's degree and a PhD in Accounting from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an HBA from Ivey Business School.

Overview: The Certificate in Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being is designed for individuals who endeavour to maintain a strong sense of well-being and good mental health among colleagues and themselves throughout these challenging times. This certificate program will involve three one-day courses that will examine topics such as signs and symptoms of weakening mental health, strengthening mental health and well-being, supporting others struggling with mental health and well-being, building resilience, psychological health and safety in the workplace, preventing and managing burnout, and managing time and productivity in order to reduce stress. At the end of the program, participants will be able to improve their mental health and well-being for themselves and others around them.

Designed for: People who want to monitor and/or improve mental health and well-being at home and at the workplace, among themselves and with co-workers and colleagues.

Duration: Three (3) courses for a total of eighteen (18) hours

Facilitator(s): Jodi LeBlanc, Kailea Switzer

Courses:

• Mental Health Awareness
• Managing Stress, Time and Productivity
• Maintaining Mental Health

For more information/register

Since the release of the University of Prince Edward Island Review (UPEI Review) in June 2023, UPEI has undertaken a consultation process with members of the campus and broader community. The preliminary draft of the UPEI Action Plan, which is a work in progress, reflects the candid input and feedback gathered through consultations over a six-month period. To contribute to further developing the plan, we encourage you to read the draft and provide feedback until January 17:

Preliminary Draft – UPEI Action Plan

Feedback Consultation Form 

For more information, visit the Action Plan Community Consultation web page on upei.ca.

This is a 45-minute drop-in session where we will look at some basic slide design principles and then spend time redesigning one of your own slide decks.

What to bring: A set of slides and a device to work on

Schedule:  

• 10-minute presentation on slide design 

• 30 minutes to work individually on your own slides; the host is present for questions 

• 5 minutes to reflect on how it went and ask more questions 

Contact Kristy at kmckinney@upei.ca if you have any questions.

Presenter: Olivier Philips

Title: "Exploring the Functions of Metabolites Downstream of the Serine Biosynthesis Pathway"

Abstract:

This study explores the serine biosynthesis pathway's (SBP) significance as a potential therapeutic target in specific breast cancers. While the SBP's importance in these cancers is acknowledged, its full functions remain unclear. Investigating downstream pathways associated with the SBP aims to shed light on its role, potentially uncovering new treatment targets, and addressing a critical research gap. Using the SBP inhibitor NCT-503, we effectively curbed cell proliferation and impeded serine biosynthesis in SBP-dependent breast cancer cell lines. Metabolomics analysis with NCT-503 revealed significant alterations in vital metabolites like creatine, taurine, glutathione, and GABA. Minimal variations in metabolite abundance were observed across different media types, and interventions involving creatine and its precursor, guanidinoacetic acid, rescued cell growth alongside NCT-503 in SBP-dependent lines. Exploring protein interactors of creatine identified potential targets such as TNPO3, TPP1, MGAT4B, HEATR5B, NPAT, and WDR46, advancing our understanding and uncovering potential therapeutic avenues for breast cancer.

Date/Time/Location: Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 2:00 pm, via web conference

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome.

Let's Talk Science Outreach is a national, community-based program connecting educators and youth with outstanding volunteers to deliver a wide variety of meaningful science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) activities for children as young as three years old and youth up to Grade 12.

Join us for an information session to learn more about Let’s Talk Science outreach!

When: January 11, 2024, 4:30–5:30 pm

Where: Robertson Library, Classroom 209

To RSVP, email us at upei@outreach.letstalkscience.ca

All ready for the next semester?  Have you given thought to how you might help your graduate students build their own mentoring constellation? The folks at Elon University have--and they share some ideas in this article, Strategies to Improve Mentees’ Ability to Build Their Own Mentoring Constellations.

Are you running complex computational processes that your computer is struggling to handle? Are you having trouble managing large datasets? Join us for a lunch and learn session on Friday, January 12, from noon to 1:00 pm, UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230, about the free research computing tools, resources, and training that ACENET offers. These services can help you more quickly and efficiently run large-scale simulations and analyses, host web-based applications, and run calculations that regular computers can’t handle.

This session is open to all researchers and their teams, including faculty and students. For more information, contact Kaitlin Newson.

REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCWGrAXVSYriClguYLmiFEjncy5dvJvNdaLI9L3mFoLYfYuA/viewform

IT Systems and Services is preparing virtual student computer lab applications for the Winter 2024 semester. We kindly ask that all faculty and/or lab facilitators who require access to virtual lab applications for their courses please submit their requests via the form provided on the myUPEI portal.

Please complete this form if you are facilitating a course in the upcoming Winter 2024 semester and your students will require virtual lab access to complete their course.

Please note that any virtual lab access previously provided for courses will be removed by January 5, 2024. If your students still require access during the Winter 2024 semester, please re-submit the above form.

In some specialized cases, there may be costs and approvals associated with provisioning virtual labs, and in these cases, ITSS will contact you to discuss the next steps.

UPEI Health, Safety, and Environment will hold a building emergency plan session for chief wardens, floor wardens, and guardians on Friday, January 19, 2024, at 1:30 pm, in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall (AH), Room 142.

Please email hse@upei.ca if you are interested in attending.

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last THREE draws, the total pot has grown to more than $9,500, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panthers app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

Are you running complex computational processes that your computer is struggling to handle? Are you having trouble managing large datasets? Join us for a lunch and learn session on Friday, January 12, from noon to 1:00 pm, UPEI Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230, about the free research computing tools, resources, and training that ACENET offers. These services can help you more quickly and efficiently run large-scale simulations and analyses, host web-based applications, and run calculations that regular computers can’t handle.

This session is open to all researchers and their teams, including faculty and students. For more information, contact Kaitlin Newson.

REGISTRATION: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCWGrAXVSYriClguYLmiFEjncy5dvJvNdaLI9L3mFoLYfYuA/viewform