The Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship is hosting a virtual workshop on pitching fundamentals on Tuesday, March 25, from 12:00-2:00 pm with world-renowned pitch coach Permjot Valia! Participants will learn tools, tips, and tricks around executing a business pitch effectively, efficiently, and engagingly! 

This event is part of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program, but anyone from the public is welcome to attend! Please note: AI notetakers will be prohibited from joining the session. 

Register to attend the virtual workshop here!

Permjot Valia (he/him) is co-founder at Nava Develop Inc., a business development firm serving innovation focused corporates, startup organizations and academic institutions. A globally recognized mentor, facilitator and business coach, he has led strategic planning successes for organizations throughout Canada’s innovation ecosystem. He founded MentorCamp and was Lead Mentor of Cape Breton’s Navigate Startup House. He is an expert pitch coach with companies he has coached winning over $10m in prize money. Permjot serves on Boards of several startups, works with Dal Innovates, and lectures globally on business modelling, strategy and leadership. He is passionate about contributing to Canada’s economic development and cultural success. 

Join the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship for an engaging session on risk mitigation delivered by Permjot Valia! This virtual workshop will provide insight on what types of risk exist, how startups and organizations can categorize and prioritize risks, how risks can be perceived as opportunities, and what tools can be used to demonstrate risk to external stakeholders. 

This event is part of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program, but anyone from the public is welcome to attend! Please note: AI notetakers will be prohibited from joining the session. 

The workshop is taking place virtually on Tuesday, March 25 from 4:00-6:00 pm. 

You can register to attend the virtual workshop here!

Permjot Valia (he/him) is a globally recognized mentor, facilitator and business coach. He founded MentorCamp and was Lead Mentor of Cape Breton’s Navigate Startup House. He served as a Mentor-in-Residence at the University of Arkansas Sam Walton School of Business and has helped multiple researchers commercialise their research. This work continues through the 3 day Lab2Market program he delivers across Canada to researchers. He is an expert pitch coach, with companies he has coached winning over $10m in prize money. Permjot serves on Boards of several startups, works with Dal Innovates, and lectures globally on business modelling, strategy and leadership. 

Title of the Thesis  “Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Properties of Peptide-modified Surfaces”

Abstract:

Macrophages are critical regulators of immune response, inflammation, and tissue repair. Modulating macrophage behavior by physical (nanopatterned surfaces) and chemical methods (host defense peptides, HDPs) offers significant therapeutic potential, particularly in controlling infections, inflammation, tissue regeneration, and cancer immunity. In this study, HDPs and nanopatterned surfaces are combined in a single approach to modulate macrophage polarization and antimicrobial efficacies. mCA4, an HDP developed in Ahmed laboratory at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) was evaluated for its mechanism of immunomodulation upon macrophage treatment, and was found to trigger intracellular signaling pathways, including (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) (PI3K)/ protein kinase B(Akt), extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). To improve peptide stability and bioavailability, mCA4 was immobilized on thermally cross-linked PVA and poly (MAAc) cicada wing-inspired nanopatterned surfaces, via a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) deposition method demonstrating controlled peptide release over time.
The antimicrobial properties of untreated nanopatterned surfaces showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity due to their topographical features. However, immobilization of mCA4 on the surfaces, had detrimental effects on antimicrobial properties, likely due to peptide release dynamics and enhanced bacterial attachment, preventing direct mechanical damage by nanopillared surfaces to the bacterial membranes. Furthermore, macrophages polarization studies revealed on anti-inflammatory profile of bare surfaces and mCA4-modified surfaces shifted macrophage polarization towards a pro-inflammatory state, as a function of peptide concentration deposited on the surface. This study demonstrates the potential of integrating both chemical and physical strategies to modulate macrophage response and enhance antimicrobial activities for inflammatory disease treatment.

Friday March 21, 2025, 1:00 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.

Title: "Integration of Machine Learning and Remote Sensing Data for Evaluating Climate Extremes in the Agricultural Production System of Prince Edward Island"

Abstract: 

Climate change threatens global agriculture by altering weather patterns and intensifying extreme events, posing challenges for Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, where rainfed potato farming is crucial. Potatoes, highly sensitive to climatic variability, require precise monitoring to enhance resilience. This study utilizes high-resolution satellite remote sensing to assess climate impacts on PEI potato crops across four fields (2021–2022). Multispectral data from Landsat 8, PlanetScope, and Sentinel-2A estimated evapotranspiration (ETc), soil moisture, drought conditions, and yield. Sentinel-2A showed strong correlations between NDVI and crop coefficient (Kc), with ETc peaking at 4.0 mm/day (2021) and 3.7 mm/day (2022). Soil moisture indices derived from Landsat 8 and MODIS correlated well with field data, confirming reduced moisture under high temperatures. Long-term drought analysis (2012–2022) identified 2020 as the most severe drought year, with significant seasonal droughts in June 2021 and 2022. Machine learning models, particularly gradient tree boosting (GTB), effectively predicted yield (R² = 0.71–0.78, RMSE = 2.82–5.96 t/ha). This study underscores the value of remote sensing and ML in optimizing water use, managing drought, and improving yield prediction for sustainable agriculture in PEI.

Friday March 21, 2025, 9:00 am, AVC 278N

Everyone is welcome.
 

Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at Tim Horton's in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Friday, March 21 from 8:00-8:45 am.

These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.

Stay tuned for future "coffee chat" dates!

Mark your calendar to join colleagues to discuss How Humans Learn: The Science and Stories behind Effective College Teaching on Friday March 21, 2:30 pm at the Fox and Crow. Teaching is challenging. One way to make it easier is to know more about the ways students learn. This book lets us take a look behind the curtain, bringing together research from many fields with insights into the science behind learning. Read about curiosity, sociality, emotion, authenticity, and failure in higher education (there’s a chapter devoted to each) and the practical takeaways for busy professors. You can access the ebook for free through the Robertson library. How Humans Learn is also available as an audiobook. 

Workshop #3 in the monthly Lunch and Learn Library series for UPEI graduate students will take place on Wednesday, March 26, 12:00 noon-1:00 pm Atlantic. In this session, we will cover different online tools for showcasing your publications such as ORCID and Google Scholar, as well as discuss open access publishing, including author processing charges (and discounts), publishing in your institutional repository, and predatory journals.

The workshop is virtual. Register for the link at https://forms.gle/qkWLfFR9UMF7Cjxz6

The facilitator is Keri McCaffrey, UPEI One Health and Scholarly Communications Librarian.

For more information, please contact: Kendra Mellish, FGS Graduate Programs Officer, at kmellish@upei.ca

Consent is a key part of all social interactions and healthy relationships. This is true for friends, family, sexual partners, acquaintances, coworkers, classmates, and people we don’t know yet! Making consent a priority is about respect and safety for each other and building a healthy community. 

Let’s make collages! This event will take place on March 25 at 11:00 am in McMillan Hall, W.A Murphy Student Centre! You will have the chance to be creative as you share your perspectives on consent, boundaries, and respect across campus. What does consent look like to you? How does it manifest in class, at parties, in residence, at the library, at the gym, online? Why is consent important to you and to the UPEI community?

Choose a part of campus life and consider what roles consent can play. Create a collage on your theme using any materials you wish!

All art supplies will be provided. Everyone is welcome--students, staff, and faculty! 

The event is hosted by the UPEI Student Union Student Wellness Coordinator and the UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office. 

The Asian Studies and the new Centre for Korean Studies are pleased to invite everyone to this special academic event, Asian Studies International Seminar: Korean Studies Speaker Series 2025.

Speaker: Dr. Jin Y. Park, Chair and Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion, American University, Washington D.C.

Title: "The Contemporary Buddhism: A Guide To Good Life”

Date and location: Thursday, April 3, 2:15-–4:00 pm, Faculty Lounge, Room 201, SDU Main Building.

Reception and healthy refreshments from 2:15-–2:30 pm.

Welcome address by Dr. Greg Naterer, UPEI Vice-President Academic and Research

Thank you and farewell address by Dr. Sharon Myers, Dean of Arts

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn and discuss the contemporary Buddhist way of “good life,” together with Prof. Park’s international and comparative insights.

Bio: Dr. Jin Y. Park (BA, Yonsei University, Korea; MA, NY University; PhD, SUNY-Stony Brook, New York) is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at American University, Washington DC. An internationally renowned scholar in Korean (East Asian) Buddhism, Buddhist and intercultural philosophy, and modern Korean social and political philosophy, she examines issues of gender, violence, and the politics of discrimination. Marginality has been a consistent theme in her scholarship, as her works reveal power structures within thought traditions and amplify marginalized voices. She is the author, (co-)editor, or translator of over 10 books (including "Women and Buddhist Philosophy" and "Buddhism and Postmodernity"), published 60 articles, and presented about 200 keynote speeches, invited lectures, and conference papers in her expertise areas. She has also recently served as President of the American Academy of Religion, the North American Korean Philosophy Association, and the Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy. Everyone is welcome to attend.  See you there!  

For the event poster, e-mail to jbbandara@upei.ca or chung@upei.ca.

Special acknowledgement: This Korean Studies International Speaker Series is funded by Dr. Edward Chung’s Korean Studies Seed Program grant (AKS-2022-INC-2230004) at UPEI, thanks to Korean Studies Promotion Service (KSPS), the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), Ministry of Education, Government of South Korea.

Contact: Jay K. Bandarage, jbbandara@upei.ca, 566-0331 (AST admin Assistant); Dr. Edward Chung (AST Director), 566-0324.

The Faculty of Science Graduate Committee invites the campus community to two student seminars on Friday, March 21, at 12:30 pm in the Duffy Science Centre, Room 204.

Tayah Sommer (MSc-HB, Murphy's Lab, Biology), will be presenting "Investigating the role of 3-Hydroxyanthranilic acid in breast cancer metabolism" while Dylan MacLennan (PhD-ESC, Feneque's Lab, SCCA) will be presenting "Achieving energy sovereignty in First Nations".

Everyone is welcome. 

The UPEI Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, voice majors as soloists, Department of Music alumni, a professional instrumental ensemble, and pianist Leo Marchildon will perform on March 28, at 7:30 pm on the SDU Stage, Dr. Steel Recital Hall. Under the musical direction of Sung Ha Shin-Bouey, the ensembles will perform Mozart's Requiem, a variety of choral gems, and Professor Shin-Bouey's new arrangement of the traditional Korean folk song Sae Ta-Ryeong (Bird Song).

Admission, payable by cash at the door, is $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available in advance at upei.universitytickets.com. 

Accessible parking is available, and the recital hall has an accessible entrance via elevator.

The UPEI Philosophy reading group will meet on Thursday, March 20, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in downtown Charlottetown (the exact location is TBD). All are welcome.

During this gathering, we will discuss Mark Fisher's Capitalist Realism: Is There No Alternative? The following passages capture the spirit of the book: 

"It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism"

"Capitalist realism insists on treating mental health as if it were a natural fact, like weather (but, then again, weather is no longer a natural fact so much as a political-economic effect). In the 1960s and 1970s, radical theory and politics (Laing, Foucault, Deleuze and Guattari, etc.) coalesced around extreme mental conditions such as schizophrenia, arguing, for instance, that madness was not a natural, but a political, category. But what is needed now is a politicization of much more common disorders. Indeed, it is their very commonness which is the issue: in Britain, depression is now the condition that is most treated by the NHS. In his book The Selfish Capitalist, Oliver James has convincingly posited a correlation between rising rates of mental distress and the neoliberal mode of capitalism practiced in countries like Britain, the USA and Australia. In line with James’s claims, I want to argue that it is necessary to reframe the growing problem of stress (and distress) in capitalist societies. Instead of treating it as incumbent on individuals to resolve their own psychological distress, instead, that is, of accepting the vast privatization of stress that has taken place over the last thirty years, we need to ask: how has it become acceptable that so many people, and especially so many young people, are ill?" - M. Fisher

If you would like to attend, please reach out to Dr. Max Schaefer at mschaefer@upei.ca for more information.

Building work-integrated learning (WIL) into your courses can help students gain experience, build their network, and learn new skills. Join our lunch and learn with Experiential Education; we'll provide you some examples of what WIL looks like at UPEI and workshop in real time how to build WIL into your programs, courses, and assignments. Learn about what supports are available for planning, programming, and identifying partnerships. Join us on Tuesday March 25 at 12:00 noon in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library, Room 230.

The Department of Economics invites everyone to our seminar on Thursday, March 20, at 2:00 pm in SDU Main Building, Room 115. Dr. Stephanie Thomas from Saint Mary's University will present "Real decisions under virtual impairment: a novel experiment using desktop virtual reality."

Everyone is welcome.

IMPORTANT! All final exam scheduled from April 9-May 2 must be booked by March 26 at 11:59 pm!

Final exams are now available to be booked through accommodate! This deadline is to provide our testing services team with enough time to coordinate rooms, accommodations, and proctors. 

EARLY BOOKING INCENTIVE: Book before March 19 at 11:59 pm to be entered for prize draws. 

FINAL BOOKING DEADLINE: Wednesday, March 26 at 11:59 pm (late bookings will not be accepted.)

Please Note: 

• The 7-day booking minimum DOES NOT apply for final exams (April 9 - May 2). If you have any technical issues, an email must be sent to astesting@upei.ca by March 26 at 11:59 pm at the latest to ensure a seat for your exam.
• Due to the high volume of accommodated exams for finals, late bookings will not be accepted. Please double check in accommodate that you have all your exams booked. If the exam information is not in accommodate, please email astesting@upei.ca immediately. 
• 7:00 pm exams - all 7:00 pm exams are scheduled in accommodate to start at 6:30 pm. 
• Students with an accommodation for more than 1.5x - If you have a time accommodation that is greater than time and a half, you must contact astesting@upei.ca to request accommodations, as we need to manually book your exam. 

How to book a test or exam: Video | Step-by-step guide

PRIZE DRAW BONUS:  If you register for your final exams in accommodate by Wednesday March 19 at 11:59 pm, your name will be entered into a draw to win some prizes! If you do not have any final exams and would still like to enter, please email astesting@upei.ca to let us know, and your name will be entered into the draw. 

Best of luck with your exam preparation, and please reach out if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Accessibility Services Team

Are you or someone you know living with Alzheimer’s disease? We are conducting a research study to explore how physical activity (e.g., walking, jogging) affects mood, thinking skills, social engagement, and quality of life in people with Alzheimer’s disease on Prince Edward Island.

We are looking for adults aged 55 or older with a formal diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease to take part. Participation includes:

• Wearing a small, lightweight device (called an actical) for 7 days to track physical activity levels (not location).
• Answering questions about mood, thinking skills, social support, and quality of life (approximately 1 hour, online, by phone, or in-person).
• An optional follow-up interview (30 minutes) to discuss your experience with physical activity.

Participation will help improve understanding of how physical activity can support dementia care on PEI. All information will remain confidential. Participation is voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Fairouz Gaballa at strongresearchlab@gmail.com or leave a massage at 902-566-0941.

This research is part of a master’s degree in Island Studies with a focus in psychology. Some of the data will also contribute to an honours degree in psychology. This project has been approved by the UPEI Research Ethics Board and complies with tri-council guidelines for research involving human participants. 

Join the Catherine Callbeck Centre for Entrepreneurship for an engaging session on risk mitigation delivered by Permjot Valia! This virtual workshop will provide insight on what types of risk exist, how startups and organizations can categorize and prioritize risks, how risks can be perceived as opportunities, and what tools can be used to demonstrate risk to external stakeholders. 

This event is part of the Harry W. MacLauchlan Entrepreneurship Program, but anyone from the public is welcome to attend! Please note: AI notetakers will be prohibited from joining the session. 

The workshop is taking place virtually on Tuesday, March 25 from 4:00-6:00 pm. 

You can register to attend the virtual workshop here!

Permjot Valia (he/him) is a globally recognized mentor, facilitator and business coach. He founded MentorCamp and was Lead Mentor of Cape Breton’s Navigate Startup House. He served as a Mentor-in-Residence at the University of Arkansas Sam Walton School of Business and has helped multiple researchers commercialise their research. This work continues through the 3 day Lab2Market program he delivers across Canada to researchers. He is an expert pitch coach, with companies he has coached winning over $10m in prize money. Permjot serves on Boards of several startups, works with Dal Innovates, and lectures globally on business modelling, strategy and leadership. 

Title of the Thesis  “Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Properties of Peptide-modified Surfaces”

Abstract:

Macrophages are critical regulators of immune response, inflammation, and tissue repair. Modulating macrophage behavior by physical (nanopatterned surfaces) and chemical methods (host defense peptides, HDPs) offers significant therapeutic potential, particularly in controlling infections, inflammation, tissue regeneration, and cancer immunity. In this study, HDPs and nanopatterned surfaces are combined in a single approach to modulate macrophage polarization and antimicrobial efficacies. mCA4, an HDP developed in Ahmed laboratory at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) was evaluated for its mechanism of immunomodulation upon macrophage treatment, and was found to trigger intracellular signaling pathways, including (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase) (PI3K)/ protein kinase B(Akt), extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), via toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). To improve peptide stability and bioavailability, mCA4 was immobilized on thermally cross-linked PVA and poly (MAAc) cicada wing-inspired nanopatterned surfaces, via a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) deposition method demonstrating controlled peptide release over time.
The antimicrobial properties of untreated nanopatterned surfaces showed significantly higher antimicrobial activity due to their topographical features. However, immobilization of mCA4 on the surfaces, had detrimental effects on antimicrobial properties, likely due to peptide release dynamics and enhanced bacterial attachment, preventing direct mechanical damage by nanopillared surfaces to the bacterial membranes. Furthermore, macrophages polarization studies revealed on anti-inflammatory profile of bare surfaces and mCA4-modified surfaces shifted macrophage polarization towards a pro-inflammatory state, as a function of peptide concentration deposited on the surface. This study demonstrates the potential of integrating both chemical and physical strategies to modulate macrophage response and enhance antimicrobial activities for inflammatory disease treatment.

Friday March 21, 2025, 1:00 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.

Title: "Integration of Machine Learning and Remote Sensing Data for Evaluating Climate Extremes in the Agricultural Production System of Prince Edward Island"

Abstract: 

Climate change threatens global agriculture by altering weather patterns and intensifying extreme events, posing challenges for Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada, where rainfed potato farming is crucial. Potatoes, highly sensitive to climatic variability, require precise monitoring to enhance resilience. This study utilizes high-resolution satellite remote sensing to assess climate impacts on PEI potato crops across four fields (2021–2022). Multispectral data from Landsat 8, PlanetScope, and Sentinel-2A estimated evapotranspiration (ETc), soil moisture, drought conditions, and yield. Sentinel-2A showed strong correlations between NDVI and crop coefficient (Kc), with ETc peaking at 4.0 mm/day (2021) and 3.7 mm/day (2022). Soil moisture indices derived from Landsat 8 and MODIS correlated well with field data, confirming reduced moisture under high temperatures. Long-term drought analysis (2012–2022) identified 2020 as the most severe drought year, with significant seasonal droughts in June 2021 and 2022. Machine learning models, particularly gradient tree boosting (GTB), effectively predicted yield (R² = 0.71–0.78, RMSE = 2.82–5.96 t/ha). This study underscores the value of remote sensing and ML in optimizing water use, managing drought, and improving yield prediction for sustainable agriculture in PEI.

Friday March 21, 2025, 9:00 am, AVC 278N

Everyone is welcome.
 

Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at Tim Horton's in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Friday, March 21 from 8:00-8:45 am.

These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.

Stay tuned for future "coffee chat" dates!