At its September meeting, the UPEI Senate unanimously supported changes for the Convocation ceremonies in 2020, and also for the 2020–21 and 2021–22 academic years. For Convocation 2020, the University will hold four ceremonies, two each on Thursday and Friday:

Thursday, May 7

1. Morning (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine/Faculty of Nursing)
2. Afternoon (Faculty of Business/Faculty of Engineering)

Friday, May 8

1. Morning (Faculty of Arts/Faculty of Education)
2. Afternoon (Faculty of Science)

To read the full story, and for 2021 and 2022 Convocation dates, click here.

The UPEI 50^th Anniversary Alumni Speakers Series and the UPEI Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering are pleased to present a presentation by Jim Carter (Dip. Eng ’71, LLD ’08), retired CEO of Syncrude Canada Ltd. The event will take place on Thursday, November 7, at noon in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building, room 205. Lunch will be provided.

In 2019, the University of Prince Edward Island is marking 50 years as a leader in education and research in our province, and well beyond the Island’s shores. The University has developed a year-long celebration to reflect on its contributions spanning the globe. The Alumni Speakers Series is an opportunity to celebrate each of UPEI’s eight faculties by inviting prestigious alumni to speak about their journey from UPEI to today. 

Please join Laura Victoria Young for her M.Sc. (Human Biology) Thesis Defense.

Abstract:
Satellite cells drive skeletal muscle regeneration in response to injury, a process regulated by factors released into the local muscle environment. However, the cellular sources of this trophic support are poorly defined. In this regard, recent work on skin and liver repair has revealed a surprising supportive role for cells termed “senescent cells” which are commonly associated with aging and pathology. However, the role of senescence in skeletal muscle repair is currently unknown. The PURPOSE of this study was to determine the presence and contribution of senescent cells in skeletal muscle repair following acute injury.

All are welcome to attend.

On the evening of Wednesday October 30, 2019, ITSS will be implementing a change affecting how UPEI faculty and staff access Microsoft Office 365. During this change, there may be intermittent access to log in to Office 365 services.

If you have previously logged in to Office 365 using a password which was different than your UPEI email password, you will need to start using your current UPEI email password to sign-in to Office 365 as of this change.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at 902-566-0465.

Please join Mat Larade for his Molecular and Macromolecular Sciences Seminar Program presentation of his business capstone project, in collaboration with the largest coding firm on Prince Edward Island: Thinking Big.  The project centers around a business plan applying artificial intelligence to solve a practical problem, and the business logistics behind bringing the product through development and to market.  We will discuss the market, supply, demand, and pricing with regard to software, and the specific challenges presented with regard to an artificial intelligence based product in 2019.

All are welcome to attend!

Alumni Speaker Series

Celebrating 50 years of UPEI!

In celebration of UPEI’s 50th anniversary, join us for an inspiring talk by alumnus Dr. James Carter, Dip. Eng '71, LLD '08 retired CEO of Syncrude.

November 7, 2019

12:00 pm (lunch will be provided)

Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering

Design Studio Room 205

The Environmental Studies Book Club Discussion Series and Roberts Library Talks is organizing the discussion “Chernobyl and Beyond: Past, Present and Future of Nuclear Energy.”

The event will start by showing a short video about the Chernobyl accident to reflect on the legacy of this event. We would also like to touch upon the popular HBO miniseries “Chernobyl” and how its release in 2019 may have influenced public awareness about the Chernobyl accident, and more generally, attitudes towards nuclear power. Next, we will move to a more general discussion about the future of nuclear energy in Canada and beyond.

Dr. Yuliya Rashchupkina, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science/School of Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI, will join the discussion to provide insights about the historical and political contexts of the Chernobyl accident.

Date and time: October 30, 2019 at 5:30pm

Place: Robertson Library, room 312

All are welcome!

If you have any questions/suggestions, please feel free to contact Dr. Nino Antadze at nantadze@upei.ca

The Saint Dunstan's University Institute for Christianity and Culture is proud to present a public lecture exploring the complex and timely-issue of short-term housing rentals.  With a low vacancy rate in PEI's urban centres, many properties are being listed as short-term rentals on such websites as Airbnb and VRBO rather than serving as traditional rentals.  Please join us as David Wachsmuth, McGill University, speaks on this important topic.

All are welcome to attend Dr. Kathy Snow's presentation arising from her research with co-author, Diane Obed, on Inuit student persistence and success.  This research will also be presented to funders, fellow researchers, and community members at the ArcticNet Annual General Meeting in December of this year.

McGregor (2010) in Inuit Education and Schools in the Eastern Arctic, describes what Inuit believe are the differences between formal and informal learning by outlining the meaning of the words ilisayuaq  and isumaqsayuaq. Isumaqsayuq is the traditional way of sharing knowledge through observation and imitation embedded in daily family and community life learning. Fundamentally based in the principals of  Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit,  isumaqsavuq  which encompasses land-based learning is known to help promote language revival, cultural practices, and positive self and cultural identities that will sustain youth. Indigenous land-based education is viewed as not only a source of resistance against a capitalist settler state (Coulthard, 2015) it is also important for environmental stewardship, climate change adaptation (Watt-Cloutier, 2015), and most importantly, promoting and maintaining Inuit autonomy and sovereignty (Petrasek MacDonald, 2014; Price, 2007; Wildcat et al., 2014). However formal ilisavuaq learning for these same objectives in K-12 schools is challenged by funding and policy restrictions that make opportunities to “go off” for youth in school more “special events” than inherent in education.  School districts across Inuit Nunangat are increasingly adopting land based programs, to inspire however it is still not enough to (re)balance ilisayuaq and isumaqsayuaq away from the dominating colonial education system to fully support a holistic education for all students

As part of UPEI’s commitment to safety, the University has launched a new, free safety app called UPEI SAFE to advise the community about university/storm closures, crisis situations, and safety-related issues, as well as offer health and safety information.

While UPEI student, faculty, and staff emails have been automatically entered into UPEI SAFE, community members are encouraged to download the app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play (for Android devices) in order to receive push notifications and to access a full menu of features such as Mobile BlueLight, Friend Walk, and WorkAlone. Community members who do not have a smartphone or a supported app platform may subscribe to receive notifications by text (SMS) over cell connections by texting the word UPEI to the short code 723389. (Standard data and message rates may apply.)

Notifications about crisis situations and university/storm closures are pushed through UPEI SAFE as well as emailed to student, faculty, and staff @upei.ca email addresses. Messages are also posted on the UPEI home page (upei.ca), the UPEI Campus Screen network, and on Twitter (@UPEI). Messages may also be broadcast in UPEI buildings through a public address system. 

Learn more at upei.ca/upeisafe

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee invites the campus community to the next Environmental Sciences/Human Biology seminar on Friday, November 1st, 2019 at 12:30 p.m. in the Duffy Science Centre, Room 204.

Dr. Matthew Krause of the University of Windsor Department of Kinesiology will present “Is there such thing as too much PAI?” 

 All are welcome.

On the evening of Wednesday October 30, 2019, ITSS will be implementing a change affecting how UPEI faculty and staff access Microsoft Office 365. During this change, there may be intermittent access to log in to Office 365 services.

If you have previously logged in to Office 365 using a password which was different than your UPEI email password, you will need to start using your current UPEI email password to sign-in to Office 365 as of this change.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS Help Desk at 902-566-0465.

Please join Mat Larade for his Molecular and Macromolecular Sciences Seminar Program presentation of his business capstone project, in collaboration with the largest coding firm on Prince Edward Island: Thinking Big.  The project centers around a business plan applying artificial intelligence to solve a practical problem, and the business logistics behind bringing the product through development and to market.  We will discuss the market, supply, demand, and pricing with regard to software, and the specific challenges presented with regard to an artificial intelligence based product in 2019.

All are welcome to attend!

Calling all singing and music enthusiasts! Join us to share world music and songs from different countries and cultures represented on the UPEI campus. This is a non-audition singing group that meets Thursdays 4:30 to 5:45 pm in the Faculty Lounge of SDU Main Building.

Now in its 9th year. For more information, contact airs@upei.ca, Heather Barnick  hbarnick@upei.ca, or Annabel Cohen at 902-629-4325.

Get into the Hallowe’en spirit at Robertson Library!

Join us Tuesday, October 29 at 7 pm in the library, Room 312, upper level for a presentation by Dr. Richard Raiswell on early modern witch hunting, followed by the movie, The VVitch: A New England Folktale.

Admission is free! And, we’ll supply the Hallowe’en treats.

We'd love for you to join us!

Please note: The VVitch may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.

Please join Mat Larade for his Molecular and Macromolecular Sciences Seminar Program presentation of his business capstone project, in collaboration with the largest coding firm on Prince Edward Island: Thinking Big.  The project centers around a business plan applying artificial intelligence to solve a practical problem, and the business logistics behind bringing the product through development and to market.  We will discuss the market, supply, demand, and pricing with regard to software, and the specific challenges presented with regard to an artificial intelligence based product in 2019.

All are welcome to attend!

In the spirit of Halloween, for the week of October 28 to November 1, the UPEI campus food bank will be giving out Halloween treats with each donation. The bigger the donation you bring, the bigger the treat you will get. Although most do not give to receive in return, we thought this would be a fun way to thank our donors given the occasion! If you are wondering what you could donate, some popular items in the food bank include spaghetti noodles and sauce, canned corn, rice side dishes (sidekicks, Uncle Ben’s, etc.), hearty canned soups (chunky etc.), peanut butter, and jam. However, any donations are welcome. The campus food bank thanks you in advance!

This is a reminder that the UPEI Biosafety Policy requires that all Principal Investigators confirm the security and complete inventory of all biohazardous materials being used or stored, due in November of each year. This is accomplished by updating your entries, then confirming this action, as follows:

1. Access your inventory at http://biosafety.vre3.upei.ca

2. Ensure your inventory is up to date, and then confirm this by following the steps as listed below.

3. Select User Menu (Top right of screen) then My account from the left side of the drop down screen.

4. Click Edit (just below the user name)

5. Click on Information, on the top right section of the screen.

6. Scroll down this page. Below the box with the phone number, you will notice a box next to I accept. If you have not already done so, please read this section and, if you agree, please check this box.

7. To report your inventory is up to date, please enter the date that you confirm this in the 2019 box. 

8. Hit Save! Task completed.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If you are not yet a user of this site, but store or use biohazardous materials, please contact Rhoda Speare to arrange access. 

If you have any questions, please contact Rhoda Speare, UPEI Biosafety Officer, at 902-620-5071 or rspeare@upei.ca.

The Health, Safety and Environment Department (HSE) is offering Emergency & Standard First Aid/CPR training sessions:

Emergency First Aid/CPR 
December 3, 2019
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
HSB 105

This basic one-day course offers lifesaving first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. 

Standard First Aid/CPR
December 4 and 5, 2019
8:30 am – 3:30 pm
HSB 105

This comprehensive two-day course offers first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for those who need enhanced training as a work requirement (high risk areas such as labs).

Cost of registration will be covered by HSE for all UPEI faculty and staff, including students who require training for on-campus employment. Students who do not require training for on-campus employment are welcome to attend; however, the cost of registration will not be covered. Please note, lunch will not be provided.

As space is limited, please pre-register by contacting Sarah Sudworth before Tuesday, November 26th, 2019 via email (hse@upei.ca) or by phone (902-566-0901).

Speaker: Dr. Angela Riveroll, Applied Human Sciences

Title:  Using Python to Develop a Bioinformatics Workflow for the Proteomic Characterization of Equine Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation

Everyone Welcome.