The UPEI Office of Commercialization, Industry and Innovation (OCII) is pleased to invite you to attend UPEI’s Research Breakfast on Thursday, February 29.

Dr. Jay Penney, associate professor of biomedical sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, will present “Microglia: The brain's immune cells that impact neurodegeneration.”

Dr. Aitazaz Farooque, Industry Research Chair in Precision Agriculture and associate dean, UPEI School of Climate Change and Adaptation, will present “Development of Climate Smart Agriculture Technologies to Ensure Food Security and Sustainability.”

 Please join us as a part of PEI’s leadership community in this forum to exchange ideas and insights.This is a valuable opportunity for you to hear about the ongoing interdisciplinary research at UPEI in health and climate.

When: Thursday, February 29, from 7:30--9:00 am (breakfast will be provided)

Where: McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre, University Avenue, Charlottetown, PE, Canada

 Register here:  https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/upei-research-breakfast-tickets-808175443507?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next presentation of the 2023-24 Environmental Sciences & Human Biology seminar series on Friday, February 16, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. in Duffy Science Centre, Room 204.

Dr. Desiree Seib, assistant professor, UPEI Department of Biology, will present “Effects of maternal high-sucrose intake on the fetal brain and the placenta.”

All are welcome.

The search committee for the Dean of Sustainable Design Engineering announces an upcoming presentation by a finalist candidate. Dr. Suzanna Kresta will give a public presentation on Monday, February 26, 2:00–3:00 pm, AVC 207N.

Dr. Kresta is a professor of chemical engineering and recently completed a term as dean of the College of Engineering (2018–2023) at the University of Saskatchewan. She received a BScEng (University of New Brunswick), MSc (Leeds University), and PhD (McMaster University) in 1992, all in chemical engineering. As dean at USask, she led the development and implementation of the College’s strategic plan, new co-operative education program, complete re-design of the first-year program, and three major building plan projects, among others. She has received several teaching and research awards, including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal for contributions to education in the province of Saskatchewan. Dr. Kresta is a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering American Institute of Chemical Engineers Canada.

Since the search for the Dean of Sustainable Design Engineering began in June 2023, the committee has conducted a comprehensive search and selected an additional finalist for a series of stakeholder meetings on campus.

Sexual Health Week, Action Canada's signature public health campaign, takes place from February 12 to 16, 2024. For over 20 years, Action Canada has been raising awareness on key issues in sexual health, education, and health care. The message this year is "Sexual Health is for Everyone!"

Action Canada states:

We all have sexual health. And just like our physical health and mental health, sexual health is an important aspect of our overall wellbeing. It’s connected to more than just pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections – sexual health includes things like how we feel about our bodies, consent, social relationships, pleasure, who we’re attracted to, and more!

Since sexual health is connected to so many things, there’s almost no limit to who can participate in sharing sexual health supports in our communities! Sexual Health Week is a chance for all of us to highlight amazing services, resources, and organizations working to improve sexual health outcomes so we can all live fuller, healthier, and happier lives.

For more information, go to www.actioncanadashr.org

Creative PEI is excited to host a public gallery reception to celebrate "Calamity: A Torrent and a Trickle," a solo exhibition by Climate Artist-in-Residence Lisa Theriault, at the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation (CCCCA) in St. Peters Bay on Saturday, February 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Building upon her existing artworks,Theriault depicts our nuanced emotional reactions to environmental challenges, blending reality with escapism. A standout piece in the exhibition is "The Observation Lab," a drawing installation that has evolved weekly during this two-month exhibition. This artwork depicts an imagined research laboratory, with nods to the research facility that supported Theriault's residency.

Theriault is a visual artist and arts worker based in Brookfield, PEI. She primarily works in drawing, meticulously creating detailed landscapes that are imaginative, playful, and architectural. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University and has most notably presented artworks at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Galerie Sans Nom, Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen, and Artch Montréal. Her work has been supported by the Quebec Arts Council and PEI Artist Grants and has been collected by the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, the PEI Art Bank, and private collections. She has nearly a decade of experience working at galleries, artist-run centres, and other arts organizations, and is deeply invested in her local arts community.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with the CCCCA, curated by Alexis Bulman, and proudly supported by the Government of PEI's Climate Challenge Fund. Situated within the CCCCA, we are rarely open to the public outside of our Friday gallery hours, so this is a great opportunity to check out this wonderful art exhibition! Hope to see you on Saturday!

The fifth meeting of the UPEI Senate will take place on February 16, 2024, from 3:00 to 5:00 pm in Room 102 in the Alumni Hall building. All meetings of Senate are open to members of the University community, although for certain in-camera items (e.g., granting of degrees), only senators may be present. While Senate is an in-person meeting, to facilitate inclusion, under special circumstances members of the University community may request a Zoom connection when they are unable to attend in person by emailing senate@upei.ca. Only members of Senate are permitted to address the Senate unless otherwise recognized by the Chair. 

Nominate a deserving UPEI student for the Panther for Life Spirit Award! Celebrate their Panther Pride and contributions to the campus community!

The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event. Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. 

To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award

The deadline for nominations is 4:00 pm on February 29. For more information, email alumni@upei.ca

The Government of Prince Edward Island invites students aged 14 to 24 to undertake anti-racism work on PEI. Students can apply for funding ranging from $100 to $1,500 for projects that must align with one or more of the following goals: strengthening organizational capacity with activities focused on anti-racism; public outreach, engagement, and advocacy; and strengthening BIPOC communities. Project proposals will be accepted until February 26, 2024. For more information, visit princeedwardisland.ca/antiracismmicrogrants 

SkillsPEI is a division of the PEI Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population. It manages the design and delivery of employment and skills development programming funded by the Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement and Canada-PEI Workforce Development Agreement. 

Through SkillsPEI, the Post-Secondary Student Program supports full-time post-secondary students working a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 18 weeks during the summer. The exact number of weeks designated per placement will be based on factors such as but not limited to position, wage, and the likelihood of opportunity for experiential learning. Students must be entering or returning to full-time post-secondary studies in the fall.  

Wage subsidy offered:

• Employer can set the wage rate but must provide a minimum of $14.50/hour and will be funded up to $15.80/hour. 
• Employers will be reimbursed 100% of the approved hourly wage plus 4% vacation pay to a maximum of 40 hours per week, for the total weeks approved.
• Note: the subsidy does not include 8% benefits, so additional funding must be sourced elsewhere.

To centralize the administration of this program for UPEI researchers, Research Services is accepting/submitting research-related applications. To apply for the program, please provide the following details to Research Services (researchservices@upei.ca) by the closing date of March 31, 2024:

• Project or activity description
• Position title 
• Job activities/duties 
• Objectives to be achieved
• Education and skills required
• Duration including start and end date and total weeks
• Rate of pay (hourly)
• Mentorship plan
• Supervisor name and contact details 

For additional information about the program, please click here. UPEI researchers may contact Maria Steele, Manager of Research Services, for more details (mlsteele@upei.ca).

The 2024-2025 MSSU Trainee Support Program is now accepting applications. This funding opportunity is open to trainees engaged in patient-oriented health research and entering or enrolled in a master’s, doctoral, or post-doctoral fellow program at universities in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Funding amounts and duration:

Non-renewable awards will be available in the following amounts:

• Master’s level – $10,000 for 1 year
• Doctoral level – $15,000/year for 2 years
• Post-doctoral level – $20,000/year for 2 years

Deadline to apply: March 22, 2024, at 2 pm AT

Information session: February 22, 2024, at 3 pm AT

Join the information session about the requirements and process: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ek6x8aj0ff533bed&oseq=&c=&ch=  

In the meantime, visit the MSSU website for a program overview with more details, including links to the online application forms.

If you have any questions or would like to register for the information session, please email  Sharon.Skaling@nshealth.ca.

Ash Wednesday is February 14. Join the Chaplaincy Centre for Mass with the distribution of ashes at 12:05 pm. For more information, contact Sr. Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca.

UPEI annually acknowledges individuals for their outstanding contributions to the success of the University. The awards are valued at $1,000 each and given in recognition of the excellence of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff.

Nominations are open and must be submitted to universityawards@upei.ca by the last Friday in February each year. This year, nominations close on Friday, February 23, 2024. 

For further details about the awards and the nomination process, please visit https://www.upei.ca/president/university-awards-of-excellence

The UPEI Writing Centre will be closed on Islander Day, February 19, but it will be open with a reduced schuled during the mid-semester break next week. Appointments are available both in person and online. To see our schedule and make an appointment, go to https://upei.mywconline.com/

Instructors who wish to arrange a short class visit from Writing Centre staff to introduce the service to students should email Jarmo at jjpuiras@upei.ca.

DYKT that in Google Chrome when you right click on an image and press "S" at the same time, you can reverse search it, which means you’ll potentially be able to see where that photo originated from?

Creative PEI is excited to host a public gallery reception to celebrate "Calamity: A Torrent and a Trickle," a solo exhibition by Climate Artist-in-Residence Lisa Theriault, at the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation (CCCCA) in St. Peters Bay on Saturday, February 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.

Building upon her existing artworks,Theriault depicts our nuanced emotional reactions to environmental challenges, blending reality with escapism. A standout piece in the exhibition is "The Observation Lab," a drawing installation that has evolved weekly during this two-month exhibition. This artwork depicts an imagined research laboratory, with nods to the research facility that supported Theriault's residency.

Theriault is a visual artist and arts worker based in Brookfield, PEI. She primarily works in drawing, meticulously creating detailed landscapes that are imaginative, playful, and architectural. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Mount Allison University and has most notably presented artworks at the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, Galerie Sans Nom, Galerie d’art Louise-et-Reuben-Cohen, and Artch Montréal. Her work has been supported by the Quebec Arts Council and PEI Artist Grants and has been collected by the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, the PEI Art Bank, and private collections. She has nearly a decade of experience working at galleries, artist-run centres, and other arts organizations, and is deeply invested in her local arts community.

This exhibition is presented in partnership with the CCCCA, curated by Alexis Bulman, and proudly supported by the Government of PEI's Climate Challenge Fund. Situated within the CCCCA, we are rarely open to the public outside of our Friday gallery hours, so this is a great opportunity to check out this wonderful art exhibition! Hope to see you on Saturday!

Workshop #3 in the virtual monthly Lunch and Learn Library series supporting UPEI graduate students.

REGISTER: https://forms.gle/3Tfu4zxs6McP1ddT8 to receive the Zoom link and/or recording
Facilitator: Kim Mears, Scholarly Communications Librarian
When: Noon (Atlantic), Friday, February 16 (recording available)
Where: Zoom

Description: Thesis to Journal Article (or vice versa): Considerations for Graduate Students
Are you planning to turn your Masters or PhD thesis into a journal article? Or are you writing a thesis that combines several published journal articles into one document? Do you know if you have the rights to do this? Learn more about publisher policies and copyright considerations in regards to thesis material in this session.

Target audience: Graduate-level students (Masters and PhD)

Ash Wednesday is February 14. Join the Chaplaincy Centre for Mass with the distribution of ashes at 12:05 pm. For more information, contact Sr. Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca.

Interested in learning about machine learning, natural language processing, or a second programming language like C? More training from ACENET for the winter semester is now open for registration. Sessions are online and free of charge.

If you have questions about upcoming training or ACENET services at UPEI, contact Kaitlin Newson.

Big Data Analysis with Spark

February 20 and 22, 2024, 1:00--4:00pm

Apache Spark is a user-friendly open-source platform for large-scale data processing, analytics, and parallel computing. Using Apache Spark and Python (PySpark), this workshop is aimed at analyzing data sets that are too large to be handled and processed by a single computer. With hands-on guided examples, the workshop covers the basics of Spark and Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDD) high-level architecture. The examples are mainly written in Python, hence the APIs covered are the ones available in PySpark, including Spark Core API (RDD API), Spark SQL, and Pandas on Spark. Participants learn how to import data, use functions to transform, reduce, and compile the data, and produce parallel algorithms that can run on Alliance clusters.

Prerequisites: ACENET Basics or equivalent, and how to write functions in Python.

The Why's and How's of Machine Learning

March 5, 2024, 1:00--3:00 pm

How can you make smart decisions about setup and execution of a machine learning project? How should you hire and support the staff working on the project? We hope to provide clear, thoughtful answers to these, and other common questions to get you thinking about whether machine learning is a technology that you and your company or group should think about investing in. We will discuss topics like data collection, the trade-offs involved in choosing a model, and what to expect from a successful project, as well as how to salvage useful by-products and skills when projects don’t go as planned.

This is a beginner session oriented to business owners and project managers curious to learn more about machine learning, or who may have an idea that involves machine learning and want to know where to begin.

C as a Second Language

Mar ch13, 2024, 10:00 am--4:00 pm

A great deal of high-performance computing software is written in C, but few universities offer courses in the language any more. If you have to work with "legacy code" written in C, adding features, porting to a new machine, or patching errors, or if you need to write user-defined functions for engineering packages such as Fluent, then this workshop is for you.

Prerequisites: Familiarity with some other programming language.

Machine Learning Basics

March 19, 2024, 1:00--3:00pm

Are you curious about machine learning, but not sure where to start, or if the discipline is for you? Join ACENET for a survey and explanation of several methods used to make machines learn. From simple models like Naive Bayes, Regression, and Decision Trees to an introduction to Support Vector Machines and Feed-Forward Neural Networks.

This talk is geared to be approachable to a novice audience, curious about machine learning, but not necessarily math or computer science majors. Methods and techniques will be explained using metaphors, examples, and clear language, without diving too deeply into the math and calculus on which these techniques are based.

C++ as a Second Language

March 27, 2024, 10:00 am--4:00 pm

A great deal of high-performance computing software is written in C++, but few universities offer courses in the language any more. If you have to work with "legacy code" written in C++, adding features, porting to a new machine, or patching errors, or if you need to extend packages like OpenFOAM which are written in C++, then this workshop is for you.

C++ was designed as an extension of the C language but has its own distinct idiom or style. This workshop assumes that you already know C to the level reached in the ACENET workshop, "C as a Second Language."

Prerequisites: "C as a Second Language" or prior experience with C programming.

Introduction to Neural Network Architecture

April 2, 2024, 1:00--4:00 pm

Have you wondered how machine learning models can suddenly do so many different types of work? How is it that machines can learn things like language, vision, and translation in such a short amount of time, and what has helped drive these kinds of improvements? The obvious answers--big data and big processors--are only part of the story, and to understand the full picture, we need to take a closer look at the models driving the AI revolution. This talk is aimed at people who are familiar with the basics of feed-forward neural networks, and will involve an in-depth explanation of how information is represented for machines to learn on, how machines can make sense of information, and the challenges presented.

Prerequisite: Familiarity with feed-forward neural networks.

Introduction to Natural Language Processing

April 16, 2024, 1:00--4:00 pm

How do computers understand language? It seems impossible that zeroes and ones could ever add up to words that humans can understand, but machine language has come a long way in the past few years. Let us take you behind the code to explain how machines simulate language comprehension, and why it’s a far more complicated problem than “bonjour = hello.” This talk is aimed at an audience who is not necessarily familiar with computers or language comprehension, but would like a primer to the field, and what it can realistically do. We will explain natural language processing from the perspective of machines that cannot understand words, but capture semantic meaning by processing data.

Fortran as a Second Language

April 24, 2024, 10:00 am--4:00 pm

Fortran, one of the initial high-level programming languages, continues to be an excellent option for high-performance computing due to its superb performance. The newer versions offer many modern features, including object-oriented programming capabilities to programmers. This course will cover some of these features.

Prerequisites: Familiarity with another programming language.

The Bridge Effect: Critical Reflections in the Age of Technological Solutionism, a book co-edited by Drs. Laurie Brinklow and Andrew Jennings, will be launched at the Institute of Island Studies’ Island Lecture Series presentation on February 27. Featuring a discussion of the effect of bridges—physical or digital—on island life and culture, the event will take place from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building, UPEI. 

Dr. Brinklow will take a humorous look at ferry crossings and how the various stages of the journey from the race to the dock to chatting with neighbours in the lineup can define Island life. Presenting virtually from Shetland, Scotland, via a technological bridge, Dr. Jennings will discuss the long-lasting impacts of two small bridges on island populations in the Scottish archipelago. Janice Pettit, PEI contributor, will share her interviews with Island residents about how the Confederation Bridge has affected “the Island way of life” 20 years later.

The event is free; all are welcome to attend. Books will be available for purchase. 

Dr. Brinklow is a writer, editor, assistant professor, and coordinator of the UPEI Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program. She is the author of My island’s the house I sleep in at night and Here for the Music. A resident of Shetland, Scotland’s most northerly islands, Dr. Jennings is an associate professor of Island Studies based at UHI Shetland, where he works with the Institute for Northern Studies. Janice Pettit was an adjunct professor at UPEI where she taught the Introduction to Island Studies course for seven semesters. She now works for the PEI Public Service Commission.

The Bridge Effect was published by Island Studies Press with the support of a SSHRC Exchange Publication Award from the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Research at UPEI. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.

Nominate a deserving UPEI student for the Panther for Life Spirit Award! Celebrate their Panther Pride and contributions to the campus community!

The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event. Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. 

To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award

The deadline for nominations is 4:00 pm on February 29. For more information, email alumni@upei.ca