WhatsApp is one of the worlds most downloaded apps in the world, but most users don't know you can search your messages like Google. For iOS versions, there’s a search bar; for Android, there’s a search icon. Either way, find words unique to a specific conversation to narrow down the exact message you’re looking for.

UPEI has developed and implemented a comprehensive Hearing Conservation Program (HCP).

Fortunately, noise exposure can be controlled. Every effort should be made to use quieter processes, machinery, or equipment.

As part of the UPEI HCP, audiometric testing will take place the morning of July 5, 2021 and the afternoon of July 8th, 2021 at the Kelley Memorial Building Room 313. These tests take approximately ten minutes to complete.  It is important to have your hearing tested annually. All are welcome to attend.

Please pre-register for audiometric testing by contacting Shelly Kavanagh at shkavanagh@upei.ca  or 902-566-0901.

Learn more about UPEI's Hearing Conservation here.

The Government of Prince Edward Island is looking at options for establishing a rural transit service for the province. Part of this work involves conducting a public survey to gather feedback on what Islanders expect out of a service like this, what the uptake will be, and what features it should include.

Members of the UPEI community are invited to participate by visiting: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/input-wanted-from-islanders-on-rural-public-transit

The feedback from this survey will ultimately help shape how the service looks and functions and will be integral in ensuring that a solution is developed that meets the needs of those who will use it. The survey will be open until June 21.

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is damage to the brain occurring after birth and not related to a degenerative or congenital condition. The two type types of ABI are traumatic and non-traumatic.

Traumatic:  caused by something outside the body (e.g. assault, sports injury, fall, etc.).

Non-traumatic:  caused by something inside the body (e.g. aneurysm, tumor, ischemic stroke, opioid overdose, etc.).

Did you know there is a Concussion Clinic at UPEI?  If you have had a concussion (ABI) and continue to have concussive symptoms (physical, cognitive, or emotional) this clinic may be for you.  For more information or to request an appointment, contact concussionclinic@upei.ca

Have you heard? Summer hours at the Campus Foodbank are Wednesdays 2:00 - 7:00 pm for June, July and August. New volunteers can read this How to Guide for easy step by step directions.  

Check available spots here for every Wednesday this summer. Monthly tabs are at the bottom of the page.  

Thanks to the many who have supported the Campus Food Bank this year.  

Have you ever been impacted by extreme weather or natural disasters on PEI? Were you able to get the information and the help you needed at the right times? 

We are looking for interview study participants who will share their experiences about how they prepare and respond to these types of events. The information you share with us feed into a design process to create new interactive technologies to help citizens during storms, flash floods or other types of disasters that we increasingly need to respond to in 2021.

We are looking for people who are: fluent in English, 18 years of age or older, live or have lived on PEI  and have experienced an extreme weather or natural disaster event on PEI they would be comfortable speaking about.  Participants for this study also must have reliable internet connection as interviews will be conducted online.  

Interviews will take about 30 minutes to complete and participants will be compensated with an 8Gb USB key worth approximately $12 for their time.  Participants will also be given the opportunity to join in future community co-design sessions for the new technology!

If you would like to improve preparedness and response of Islanders to natural disasters, please contact Choyce Chappell (cachappell@upei.ca) or Christopher Power (cdspower@upei.ca) to set up an interview between 1 June 2021 and 15 July 2021.

CHANGE is a lifestyle intervention developed by Metabolic Syndrome Canada for individuals living with or at risk of Metabolic Syndrome. This year-long program supports people who have 2-3/5 of the following conditions: diabetes (or prediabetes), high blood pressure, carry excess weight in their abdomen, have low "good" cholesterol (HDLs) or high "bad" cholesterol (LDL's).  The program is being offered across communities in PEI and is free. You will spend 2.0 hours per week initially with a registered dietitian and kinesiologist. After the first 12 weeks, you will meet bi-weekly for 12 weeks, tri-weekly for 12 weeks, and then every 4 weeks until the program is completed at week 52. At 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months you will have detailed assessments including a walk test, strength/flexibility tests, diet scores, measurements of biometrics such as blood, weight, BMI and mental health questionnaires. The program focuses on your individual level of health and supports you to adopt a healthy Mediterranean Diet as well as incorporate exercise into your routine.

For more information email CHANGE@upei.ca or telephone 902-620-5156.

UPEI Research Services is hosting a virtual grant writing webinar on June 17, 2021, from 1 - 3 pm.  This webinar is open to all UPEI researchers across all disciplines. In addition, the 2019-2023 UPEI Strategic Plan outlines UPEI’s commitment to identifying resources and supports to enhance institutional support to assist researchers in effectively identifying and pursuing research funding.

Dr. Nicole St. Denis of High-Fidelity Science Communications (https://www.hifiscicomm.ca/) will present this session. Topics covered will include choosing funding opportunities, planning the proposal, writing each section of the proposal, and revising and improving the draft proposal. Dr. St. Denis has been editing professionally since 2017. Since then, she has edited hundreds of manuscripts and has demonstrated success assisting clients obtain research funding.  

For those interested in attending, please pre-register by email: researchservices@upei.ca.

This presentation provides a high-level overview of how mood impacts work.  it takes a particular focus on depression in the workplace and guides participants through the Mental Health Works 3-gear method of addressing it.  By the end of this sessions, participants will:

- Be exposed to an accessible and evidence based introduction to mood and depression

- Begin to see mood and depression in terms of balance and barriers

- Start to understand how to talk openly about depression.

Facilitators Amanda Gallant-Squires and Sarah MacEachern, Canadian Mental Health Association

Thursdays, June 17, 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm

Location:  By zoom or  AVC Lecture Theater A 201N

To register: Please contact Sondra Gantner  at sgantner@upei.ca or Angela Marchbank at amarchbank@upei.ca.  Session provided by the Healthy Campus Committee via UPEI Employee Wellness Strategy.

Ethics protocols that involve ‘more than minimal risk’ must be reviewed by the full UPEI Research Ethics Board (REB).  The next deadline for submitting these protocols is Friday June 25, 2021.

Other ethics protocol submissions, including new applications that do not involve ‘more than minimal risk’, renewals, and amendments may be submitted at any time. They will be sent for delegated review as soon as all necessary forms are received.

All research compliance applications, including Research Ethics Board application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal. This online system is paired with electronic approvals to replace the hard-copy signatures process.

Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researcherportal@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal.

For more information about the REB review and approval process please contact Joy Knight (Compliance Coordinator) at mknight@upei.ca

The next deadline for submitting Biosafety applications including new applications, renewals and/or amendments is Friday June 25, 2021. These applications will be reviewed at the July 2021 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including Biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal. This online system is paired with electronic approvals to replace the hard-copy signatures process.

Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researcherportal@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal.

For more information about the IBC review and approval process please contact Joy Knight (Compliance Coordinator) at mknight@upei.ca

UPEI Research Services is hosting a virtual grant writing webinar on June 17, 2021, from 1 - 3 pm.  This webinar is open to all UPEI researchers across all disciplines. In addition, the 2019-2023 UPEI Strategic Plan outlines UPEI’s commitment to identifying resources and supports to enhance institutional support to assist researchers in effectively identifying and pursuing research funding.

Dr. Nicole St. Denis of High-Fidelity Science Communications (https://www.hifiscicomm.ca/) will present this session. Topics covered will include choosing funding opportunities, planning the proposal, writing each section of the proposal, and revising and improving the draft proposal. Dr. St. Denis has been editing professionally since 2017. Since then, she has edited hundreds of manuscripts and has demonstrated success assisting clients obtain research funding.  

For those interested in attending, please pre-register by email: researchservices@upei.ca.

Did you know that 90% of young vapers in PEI (aged 16-24) began vaping using flavoured vape juice? 75% of young vapers in PEI use products with the highest available nicotine content (50-60 mg/ml). 1 vape pod = 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine.  

Vaping is not an approved cessation method. If you vape, consider making a plan to quit. If you don’t vape, don’t start. Talk to your healthcare provider about help or contact Smokers’ Helpline at 1-877-513-5333,  #CommitToQuit.

For more information on the 2020-21 Youth and Young Adult Vaping Survey, visit https://pei.lung.ca/2020-21-youth-young-adult-vaping-survey.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, July 2nd for the July meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month.  The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

UPEI Research Services is hosting a virtual grant writing webinar on June 17, 2021, from 1 - 3 pm.  This webinar is open to all UPEI researchers across all disciplines. In addition, the 2019-2023 UPEI Strategic Plan outlines UPEI’s commitment to identifying resources and supports to enhance institutional support to assist researchers in effectively identifying and pursuing research funding.

Dr. Nicole St. Denis of High-Fidelity Science Communications (https://www.hifiscicomm.ca/) will present this session. Topics covered will include choosing funding opportunities, planning the proposal, writing each section of the proposal, and revising and improving the draft proposal. Dr. St. Denis has been editing professionally since 2017. Since then, she has edited hundreds of manuscripts and has demonstrated success assisting clients obtain research funding.  

For those interested in attending, please pre-register by email: researchservices@upei.ca.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, July 2nd for the July meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month.  The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

There are a few changes that Accessibility Services would like everyone to know about.

1. Changes in email addresses

Please note that as of June 4, 2021, all questions about testing with Accessibility Services should be directed to astesting@upei.ca.

The accessibility@upei.ca email address will now only be used for general inquires and booking appointments with Accessibility Services staff.

2. Booking tests and exams over the summer

Accessibility Services students are expected to book their tests and exams using AccessDeck regardless of whether tests are online or in person. Please book tests at least one week in advance to allow time for accommodations to be set up.

For Summer Semester (May-August) ONLY: Please book final exams in the midterms section and note that it’s a final exam in the “Details” section.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to astesting@upei.ca.

The Government of Prince Edward Island is looking at options for establishing a rural transit service for the province. Part of this work involves conducting a public survey to gather feedback on what Islanders expect out of a service like this, what the uptake will be, and what features it should include.

Members of the UPEI community are invited to participate by visiting: https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/input-wanted-from-islanders-on-rural-public-transit

The feedback from this survey will ultimately help shape how the service looks and functions and will be integral in ensuring that a solution is developed that meets the needs of those who will use it. The survey will be open until June 21.

UPEI now has access  to the following resources:

• Scopus (subscription): comprehensive, source-neutral abstract and citation database of academic journals, books and conference proceedings published worldwide in the fields of science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, and arts and humanities 
• Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (subscription): the premier resource for fiction/non-fiction titles, thousands of awards and quality reviews including author/title links, lesson plans and teaching guides related to Children’s and Young Adult books and other media. 
• Sage Research Methods (purchase): ebooks, videos, and podcasts covering the research process, such as grant-writing and publication, quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods methodology, and how research is conducted in various academic disciplines. Also includes:
  • Sage Research Methods: Foundations
  • SAGE Research Methods Video: Practical Research and Academic Skills
• Human Kinetics Library (purchase): ebooks and a range of videos for kinesiology and exercise science disciplines

Strength in numbers

These acquisitions were made possible through participation in the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) consortium, as the Robertson Library benefited from license negotiations that resulted in lower annual subscription costs for its Elsevier (ScienceDirect) journal package. 

Use it or lose it

The Library receives usage data from the vendors, and this helps us choose what products to cut when budgets are tight. That’s almost every year, thanks to vendor price increases, inflation, and exchange rates. If having these subscription databases available is important to you, please use them and encourage your students to use them. Subject librarians can help by providing or arranging training sessions.

If you have questions about using these products, please contact your subject librarian.

The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, July 2nd for the July meeting.

Please note that as of June 1, 2020 all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols select ‘applications’ and for renewal or amendment protocols select ‘events’.

To view any UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice, they can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month.  The Committee requires at least one month for processing applications.