The Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering is interviewing two candidates for a 21-month term position. Each candidate is invited to provide a public presentation and everyone is welcome to attend. Dr. Veluchamy Chitraichamy will present on July 27, 2022, at 2 pm, in FSDE 128B, and Dr. Shakirudeen Salaudeen on July 29, at 2 pm, in FSDE 202.

Below is information about the candidates and their respective presentations:

Dr. Veluchamy Chitraichamy:

Dr. Veluchamy Chitraichamy is currently a Post Doctoral Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Guelph (UoG) Ridgetown Campus. Dr. Chitraichamy graduated from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), India (B.Tech. Agricultural (Bioresource) Engineering -2014). In 2018, he earned his Doctorate from the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG) in Civil Engineering with specialization in Environmental Engineering. He received a Shastri Indo-Canadian Research Student Award, allowing part of his PhD research to be conducted at UoG. As a postdoc at UoG, Dr. Chitraichamy received the Webster Postdoctoral Award, which is given for “ground-breaking environmental science research toward making a better planet”, from the School of Environmental Sciences.  During his PDF, he gained industrial experience in operations of a 250-kW commercial scale on-farm anaerobic digester which uses a combination of agricultural residues and industrial organic waste streams to generate renewable electricity for the Ontario grid. His research is focused on biochemical conversion of organic wastes into biofuels and bioenergy production. He has expertise in pre-treatment of lignocellulosic waste materials for development of value-added by-products, bioreactor designs, kinetic studies, modeling of biochemical reactions, evaluating techniques including empirically screening feedstock to estimate energy potential, waste valorization, profiling microbial communities, determining the fate of pathogens during anaerobic digestion, monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and developing decision support guidance. Dr. Chitraichamy has published numerous articles in Q1 journals such as the Journal of Cleaner Production and Bioresource Technology and presented his findings at renowned international conferences such as the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition. He is currently acting as a Guest Editor for a Special Issue on ‘Development and Utilization of Agricultural By-Products Based on Agricultural Wastes” in the Agronomy MDPI journal. Dr. Chitraichamy’s research has been supported through competitive grants awarded from NSERC, OMAFRA, and Ontario Pork.

Public presentation: Renewable bioenergy production and by-product development from bioresource waste material:

Increasing global energy demands and the threat of climate change due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have made urgent the need to develop sustainable, affordable, and environmentally friendly energy resources and technology. Anaerobic digestion (AD) converts organic material into biogas, a renewable fuel that could be used to produce electricity, heat or as vehicle fuel. In recent years, AD of waste and residues from agriculture and industry, municipal organic waste, sewage sludge, etc. has become one of the most attractive renewable energy pathways. In this presentation I will present the results from two large projects, one focusing on AD of pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) and one focused on co-digestion of swine manure and crop residues in a plug-flow reactor.

In the PPMS study, the substrate was studied with and without pretreatment in biochemical methane potential (BMP) assay, in a batch reactor, and in a semi-continuous lab scale anaerobic reactor.   In the BMP test, PPMS was observed to have a high potential for energy recovery, but substrate hydrolysis was the rate limiting step. To overcome this challenge, different pretreatment methods were employed such as thermal, biological, and electrohydrolysis. Chemical and instrumental (FT-IR, XRD, FESEM) analyses were used to demonstrate that all the pretreatment methods showed improved substrate solubilization.

In the swine manure study, long-term continuous experiments were conducted in a newly designed plug-flow reactor at both lab-scale (65 L) and pilot-scale (1 m3). The studies focused on impact of increasing organic loading rate (OLR) on CH4 production and associated physicochemical parameters, along with community level physiological profiling of the microbial community.  As OLR increased, biogas volume increased while CH4 content decreased. Furthermore, a mathematical model was developed on the effect of moisture content on mass diffusion for solid-state anaerobic digestion (SS-AD). This model proposed that decreased moisture content causes augmented mass diffusion resistance by the accumulation of hydrolytic product, leading to reduced CH4 production. Based on this hypothesis, a new SS-AD model was developed based on mass diffusion limitation and hydrolysis inhibition.

Dr. Shakirudeen Salaudeen:

Dr. Salaudeen is an Assistant Professor at FSDE, UPEI. His research focuses on the thermochemical conversion of biomass and waste into high-value bioproducts including bioenergy, biofuels, chemicals, and materials. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria; his MSc in Mechanical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia, and PhD from the University of Guelph, Canada. He previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Bio-Renewable Innovation Lab of the University of Guelph before joining UPEI. So far, he has published 22 peer-reviewed journal articles, 1 book chapter, and 9 conference presentations.

Public Presentation: Development of high-value bioproducts from low-value biomass:

The quest for renewable energy, climate change, and demand for sustainable fuels has increased interest in the bioeconomy. Research on renewable resource-based chemicals and materials to facilitate a smooth transition to a bioeconomy is vital from social, economic, and environmental perspectives. Biomass, an abundant and renewable source of feedstock, has a significant role in the sustainable production of energy, fuels, chemicals, and materials. This, however, requires continuous innovation to develop low-cost and high-quality homogenous feedstock, innovative pretreatment, conversion and upgrading technologies, and new approaches for utilizing intermediate products. The inherent properties of biomass also provide significant challenges for the development of high-value bioproducts. In this presentation, I will talk about the development of innovative and environmentally friendly processes and technologies to convert low-value biomass and waste into high-value bioproducts. The bioproducts include biofuels, biocarbon, and hydrogen-rich syngas, which are suitable for a variety of industrial applications.

The Robertson Library invites members of the campus community – students, faculty, and staff – to attend a virtual presentation by Katelyn Browne, candidate for the permanent-track position of Instructional Services Librarian (position posting), on Thursday, July 28.

At 10:45 a.m, the candidate will address the topic, "Information Literacy at UPEI: Strategies for engaging today's students in first year and beyond." The prepared presentation will be approximately 25 minutes, followed by 10-15 minutes for Q&A and discussion. To access the presentation, please use this Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86360362139

At 1:30 pm, the candidate will offer a demonstration information literacy session. Approximately 45 minutes has been allocated for this session, with an additional 10-15 minutes for Q&A and discussion. To join this session, please use this Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82022029022

Katelyn Browne received their Master of  Science - Library Science degree from the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill), and is currently Youth Services Librarian/Associate Professor of Library Services at the University of Northern Iowa (Cedar Falls, IA). 

For more information, please contact Simon Lloyd, chair of the Library Appointments Committee, at slloyd@upei.ca or 902-566-0536. 

DYKT Microsoft Word has a translate tool? Use the Translate feature from the Review tab. Translate a word or a sentence. Or you can translate the entire document and display it in a separate Word document. The Translator tab appears on the right, and you can choose and change languages.

Dr. Paul G. Hayes, University of Lethbridge

Phosphazides: A New Functional Group for Ligand Design

The Staudinger reaction,1 wherein a tertiary phosphine is reacted with an organic azide, is a commonly utilized process to generate an iminophosphorane (RN=PR3). Because they are prone to facile loss of N2, the rarely observed phosphazide (RN3=PR3) intermediate is generally considered a fleeting species with no synthetic value. However, various stabilization methods (e.g., hydrogen bonding, steric hindrance and metal coordination)2 have been employed to isolate several phosphazides. In an effort to glean a deeper understanding of these functional groups, we developed several families of thermally robust mono- and diphosphazides that have been characterized by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The synthesis, characterization and reaction chemistry of group 1 (Li, Na and K) and actinide (U3a and Th3b,3c) complexes supported by phosphazide ligands will be presented. Notably, divergent chemistry has been observed for complexes supported by these phosphazide-containing ancillary ligands compared to their phosphinimine counterparts, thereby suggesting that with judicious design phosphazides represent a viable functional group for coordination chemistry and homogenous catalysis. As proof of concept, a synthetic cycle of actinide-mediated CO2 functionalization was established. All aspects of these unqiue phosphazide-containing compounds will be discussed in detail.

All are welcome.

Overview: Does your business or organization need social media marketing but don’t know where to start? The Certificate in Social Media Marketing will teach participants the skills needed to successfully manage social media campaigns and create a space to ask as many questions as needed. This interactive certificate strives to give the tools needed for participants to confidently manage social media channels with a confident brand voice. This course will focus on: 

• Identifying needs within social media platforms 
• Creating a unique brand voice 
• Creating a plan that incorporates brand voice 
• Assistance in the creation of a social media/marketing plan 
• Assistance in the creation of content 

This course is spread out over a three-day period strategically to give time to create content and have real-time feedback from the facilitator and other participants.  

Designed for: Anybody who operates the social media platforms of a business or organization, and is looking to grow their ability to market through social media

Type of Delivery: Virtual

Duration: One course for nine (9) hours over three (3) days 

Facilitator: Jenny Richard 

Cost: $599 

For more information, go to https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates/certificate-in-social-media-marketing 

Overview: The Certificate in Customer and Client Service is designed to give the knowledge, skills, and tools for individuals to improve customer and client service within their organization. Not only are the benefits of improved customer and client service positive feelings and loyalty, but it also improves the workplace morale, which in turn leads to better production and results.

At the end of this certificate, participants will be able to elevate customer and client service both internally and externally within their organization, turn customer and client service failures into learning opportunities-–which will lead to positives--and create a culture that will make great customer and client service consistent and a priority among all members of an organization.

Designed for: All people involved with customer and client service, both in a retail and a multi-level organizational sense.  Especially relevant for all executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals who deal with other people within their workplace.

Type of Delivery: In-person

Duration: One course for a total of six (6) hours

Facilitator: Tracy Stretch

For more information, go to https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/certificates/customer-and-client-service 

The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2022 (July 28) is "I can't wait." Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related illness. We can't wait to act on viral hepatitis!

I can't wait........

• People living with viral hepatitis unaware can’t wait for testing.
• People living with hepatitis can’t wait for life-saving treatments.
• Expectant mothers can’t wait for hepatitis screening and treatment.
• Newborn babies can’t wait for birth dose vaccination.
• People affected by hepatitis can’t wait to end stigma and discrimination.

Some of the risk factors are as follows: received a blood product prior to 1992; use needles to take illegal drugs; snort cocaine; work around blood or needles; are on dialysis; have more than one sexual partner; have a spouse or partner with hepatitis; have body piercings or tattoos; or were born to a mother with Hepatitis C.  

Contact the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre to request a blood test to test for Hepatitis C (email: healthcentre@upei.ca). You could have this virus for 20 to 30 years before getting symptoms. Hepatitis C is now curable, and there is a provincial program to assist those affected (https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/hepatitis-c-treatment-and-resources-are-changing-islanders-lives).

Don't wait! Get tested now!

Dr. Jake Pushie, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan

A Chemist’s interdisciplinary journey in synchrotron science, human health, and disease models (or: Where my UPEI degree has taken me)

Some of the most complex human health and disease challenges we currently face require an understanding of a broad range of interdisciplinary topics, including organic and bioinorganic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, cell physiology, anatomy, microbiology, and the list goes on. Since graduating from the University of Prince Edward Island, I have focused my love of chemistry and interest in biology, physics, and computational methods toward the study of complex topics in health research, including prion disease and other protein misfolding disorders, trace element trafficking, metabolic disorders, stroke, and cancer treatment. In addition to conventional techniques, I also employ synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM) in order to obtain essential data that cannot be obtained by other conventional means. I will present an overview of how XAS and XFM experiments are carried out at the synchrotron, some of the methods we have developed, along with examples of how these methods have helped inform many of our investigations into vitally-important topics relating to human health and disease.

Dr. Jake Pushie graduated from UPEI with a BSc (honours) in Chemistry in 1999. He completed an MSc in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry in 2002 and a PhD in Physical Bioinorganic Chemistry in 2007 (U Calgary). Dr. Pushie held highly competitive postdoctoral fellowships from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation and has since been employed at the University of Saskatchewan. He currently oversees the academic research program for the Saskatchewan Cerebrovascular Centre and works directly with undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, as well as undergraduate medical students, medical residents, and physicians. Dr. Pushie also maintains an active independent research program with local and international collaborators and to date has 65 peer-reviewed publications.

 All are welcome!

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, would like to invite all to attend Allegra Netten's public dissertation defense presentation of her PsyD research titled "The Development of a Scale to Measure Climate Change Anxiety." Please join us through the Zoom link below.

Time: July 26, 2022, 01:00 pm Atlantic

https://upei-ca-healthcare.zoom.us/j/67706474739

Meeting ID: 677 0647 4739

Passcode: 455980

Central Printing will be closed from Friday, July 22, to Monday, August 8 inclusive, re-opening on Tuesday, August 9.

The UPEI Office of Continuing Education and Professional Development will offer four one-day courses this July and August as a part of our new “Summer Sessions.”

Lee Gallant, CEO of IDEA Consulting, will be the facilitator for the Summer Sessions. The Summer Sessions are in-person courses, held in Room 208, Robertson Library, UPEI. Each course will start at 9 am and last until 3:30 pm. Coffee, tea, snacks, and a light lunch will be provided to all participants, as well as a bonus takeaway that each participant can take upon completion of the course. 

Courses:
•    Marketing and Promotion for Beginners (July 26)
•    Board Member Basics (July 27)
•    Dealing with Difficult People (August 10)
•    Successful Fundraising and Sponsorship Attainment (August 24) 

Prices:
•    Marketing and Promotion for Beginners: $349 + tax
•    Board Member Basics: $299 + tax
•    Dealing with Difficult People: $349 + tax
•    Successful Fundraising and Sponsorship Attainment: $349 + tax

For more information about the Summer Sessions, go to https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/summer-sessions 

To register, go to https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9KUeeE99lUaXGGaCg81bvklWR9Mgd-VIsEECR0kosIBUOE9MTjVDRTNLVzBaMFdSME9OOVRISUFUMi4u 

Spots are limited for each course, so register today to avoid disappointment.

The theme for World Hepatitis Day 2022 (July 28) is "I can't wait." Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related illness. We can't wait to act on viral hepatitis!

I can't wait........

• People living with viral hepatitis unaware can’t wait for testing.
• People living with hepatitis can’t wait for life-saving treatments.
• Expectant mothers can’t wait for hepatitis screening and treatment.
• Newborn babies can’t wait for birth dose vaccination.
• People affected by hepatitis can’t wait to end stigma and discrimination.

Some of the risk factors are as follows: received a blood product prior to 1992; use needles to take illegal drugs; snort cocaine; work around blood or needles; are on dialysis; have more than one sexual partner; have a spouse or partner with hepatitis; have body piercings or tattoos; or were born to a mother with Hepatitis C.  

Contact the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre to request a blood test to test for Hepatitis C (email: healthcentre@upei.ca). You could have this virus for 20 to 30 years before getting symptoms. Hepatitis C is now curable, and there is a provincial program to assist those affected (https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/hepatitis-c-treatment-and-resources-are-changing-islanders-lives).

Don't wait! Get tested now!

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, would like to invite all to attend Allegra Netten's public dissertation defense presentation of her PsyD research titled "The Development of a Scale to Measure Climate Change Anxiety." Please join us through the Zoom link below.

Time: July 26, 2022, 01:00 pm Atlantic

https://upei-ca-healthcare.zoom.us/j/67706474739

Meeting ID: 677 0647 4739

Passcode: 455980

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments is Friday, July 29, 2022. These applications will be reviewed at the August 2022 meeting.

Please be sure to use the March 2022 update to the application form. Please also note that the IBC has instituted a new category of protocol amendment: biosafety permit minor amendment. This event form is included in the Researcher Portal.

Minor amendments that are strictly limited to changes in personnel and/or funding can be submitted at any time but require up to a two-week review period. They are normally reviewed by the IBC chair or designate, the BSO or designate, and one other voting member of the IBC. If the amendment is approved, then an approval notification will be sent to the PI. Submissions via this route may be sent for full committee review at the discretion of the IBC chair and the BSO.  

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal.

Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researchcompliance@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 the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca

Pride flags will be raised across PEI, including at UPEI, in recognition of the PEI Pride Festival, which celebrates the diversity of gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender expression.

The University will fly the Progress Pride flag for the duration of the Festival in front of Kelley Memorial Building and at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place.

The UPEI Student Union will be participating in the 2022 Pride Parade and invites all students, staff and faculty to join them by meeting at 12 noon, Saturday, July 23, on Terry Fox Drive in the parking lot behind the provincial government buildings. Look for the Panther Patrol van! The parade begins at 12:30 pm and ends approximately at 1:00 pm.

All you need to do to join the UPEI parade team is to be yourself and be ready to wave and cheer. If you like, you can purchase a UPEI Pride t-shirt from the bookstore or you can make your own!

Wear a UPEI shirt or hat and add a little Pride colour!

Immediately after the parade, join us for games on the field in Victoria Park. For a full schedule of the week's events, check out PEI Pride Festival 2022.

If you’re unable to make it to the Parade, don your bright rainbow colours all week to express your support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Come show your Pride!

Overview: All Canadians are called to learn about Canada’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and how we can move forward in reconciliation and restitution. In the Indigenous Cultural Awareness course, facilitator Julie Pellissier-Lush, author, actor, engaged community member, educator of Mi’kmaq culture and heritage, and Poet Laureate of Prince Edward Island, will highlight and explain in-depth the traditional knowledge of the Mi’kmaq (the Indigenous peoples of Mi’kma’ki, and specifically Epetwitk), their life before contact with Europeans, the impact of colonization on the Mi’kmaq, and how all Canadians can move forward positively with Indigenous peoples. This will be done in a fun way that will focus on participants feeling safe in the learning circle provided and ensure all taking part in the course will leave with a greater knowledge of traditional Mi’kmaq teachings and history, and how to engage and grow through truth, reconciliation, and restitution.  

Designed for: Anybody, from employees to executives, managers and entrepreneurs, who wish to learn about the traditional ways and knowledge of Indigenous – specifically Mi’kmaq – people, their journey, and how all Canadians can move forward positively in terms of truth, reconciliation, and restitution with Indigenous peoples  

Type of delivery: Virtual. 

Duration: One course for six hours. 

Dates: September 26--27, 2022 (9 am--12 pm both days)

Facilitator: Julie Pellissier-Lush 

Cost: $225 plus HST. 

More information/registration: https://www.upei.ca/professional-development/course/indigenous-cultural-awareness 

The UPEI Health and Wellness Centre will be providing booster shots in mid-September for COVID-19. For anyone who is not yet vaccinated against COVID-19, we can provide vaccines as well as third and fourth doses (booster shots). Watch Campus Notices in August for dates/times of the clinics.

Global Affairs Review is an online peer-reviewed journal created by Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (Madrid) and UPEI. The journal provides students, academics, and working professionals with an academic platform to disseminate the work pertinent to global affairs. Please send your work to Terrisa Lynch at tjlynch@upei.ca or dcoll@upei.ca.

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, would like to invite all to attend Allegra Netten's public dissertation defense presentation of her PsyD research titled "The Development of a Scale to Measure Climate Change Anxiety." Please join us through the Zoom link below.

Time: July 26, 2022, 01:00 pm Atlantic

https://upei-ca-healthcare.zoom.us/j/67706474739

Meeting ID: 677 0647 4739

Passcode: 455980

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments is Friday, July 29, 2022. These applications will be reviewed at the August 2022 meeting.

Please be sure to use the March 2022 update to the application form. Please also note that the IBC has instituted a new category of protocol amendment: biosafety permit minor amendment. This event form is included in the Researcher Portal.

Minor amendments that are strictly limited to changes in personnel and/or funding can be submitted at any time but require up to a two-week review period. They are normally reviewed by the IBC chair or designate, the BSO or designate, and one other voting member of the IBC. If the amendment is approved, then an approval notification will be sent to the PI. Submissions via this route may be sent for full committee review at the discretion of the IBC chair and the BSO.  

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the Researcher Portal.

Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms. Contact researchcompliance@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 the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca