Students living in St. Peter's Bay for their studies are looking for faculty and staff who also live in the area to share rides to and from Charlottetown, especially on evenings and weekends. If anyone lives in the area and travels back and forth to town regularly or sporadically, and you'd like to offer the occasional drive to a UPEI student from the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, this is the group for you. Please ask to join our Facebook group to make postings and connect with students at https://www.facebook.com/groups/699386872128927/

The Board of Governors and the Senate request the honour of your presence at the installation of the Honourable Diane F. Griffin, OPEI, BSc, BEd, MSc, LLD, as the 10th Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island.

Please join us Friday, April 5, 2024, at 2:30 pm in the Performing Arts Centre, 216-217S, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, PEI.

Reception immediately following the ceremony in the Greg and Debbie Keefe Foyer.

RSVP by Wednesday, March 27, 2024, to Katherine MacDonald at 902-566-0415 or to rsvp@upei.ca

Parking available in lots A and B

All are welcome!

rsvp@upei.ca

On Wednesday, March 27, between 10 pm and midnight, ITSS will conduct routine maintenance on the Remote Desktop Services accessed via the website myDesktop.upei.ca. During this time, any remote desktops or applications accessed via this site will be unavailable. RX Works will be unavailable between 10 pm and midnight only. 

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

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications, including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments, is Friday, March 29, 2024. These applications will be reviewed at the April 18 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal. Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Research Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal, or about the biosafety application, review, and approval process.

Research Ethics Board (REB) applications involving "more than minimal risk" must be reviewed by the full UPEI REB. The next deadline for submitting these protocols is Friday, March 29, 2024, for review at the April meeting.

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 materials are received.

All research compliance applications, including for the REB, must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal (https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/). Instructions for using the site are available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca for more information about the Researcher Portal, or the REB application, review, and approval process.

Senator Kim Pate will give a presentation titled “Why We Need a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income” at two public events on PEI in April.

The first presentation will take place on April 3 at Westisle Composite High School, Elmsdale. The second presentation will be on April 4 in Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 242, University of Prince Edward Island. Both presentations begin at 7:00 pm.

The events are sponsored by the Saint Dunstan’s University Institute for Christianity and Culture at UPEI. Admission is free.

For information, contact Marion Clorey, Chair of SDU Out-Reach Committee at mgclorey@gmail.com  or (902) 675-2598.

As part of continuing to engage with the various audiences that make up the campus community, Dr. Greg Keefe, interim President and Vice-Chancellor would like to invite you to a series of Campus Town Halls where he will give brief updates as well as listen to your concerns and respond to questions.

Six 90-minute in-person events are planned: two each for faculty, staff, and students to help accommodate schedules. Those who cannot attend in person due to work-from-home arrangements/other accommodations can join via Zoom.

Participants are asked to attend one of the two town halls for the group that is applicable to them.

Faculty Town Halls

1. Wednesday, March 20, 3:00–4:30 pm
   Alex H. MacKinnon Auditorium, Don and Marion McDougall Hall (MCDH 242)
   Zoom: https://upei.zoom.us/j/63841183049?pwd=WS9vU1c4Z0pmNkIra21UVlc1R2pldz09

2. Friday, March 22, 10:00–11:30 am
   Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre (DSC 135)
   Zoom: https://upei.zoom.us/j/69749369292?pwd=RUswS0pvNnhDQTlHc01USGhiUTRLQT09

Staff Town Halls

1. Monday, March 25, 1:00–2:30 pm
   Performing Arts Centre Theatre (PAC 121 S)
   Zoom: https://upei.zoom.us/j/64618483493?pwd=SHQwUCt1Y3ZOYkt0ckovaGRKdmhGQT09

2. Wednesday, March 27, 10:00–11:30 am
   Duffy Science Centre Amphitheatre (DSC 135)
   Zoom: https://upei.zoom.us/j/65439065003?pwd=MjZ6TXFvdnNDLzc3d0MxK2FUcUlldz09

Student Town Halls

1. Tuesday, March 26, 3:00–4:30 pm
   Performing Arts Centre Theatre (PAC 121 S)
   Zoom: https://upei.zoom.us/j/66581563155?pwd=MXc1YnpsOFBkNFAyL1NDd2svU0Z0dz09

2. Thursday, March 28, 1:30–3:00 pm
   Performing Arts Centre Theatre (PAC 121 S)
   Zoom: https://upei.zoom.us/j/69611619672?pwd=bWhMeUFRZFBkWXF4RFZoY1hVa2xFdz09

If you are unable to participate in the scheduled town halls, you are welcome to provide feedback or send comments to president@upei.ca at any time.

The McCall MacBain Scholarships at McGill are beginning their recruitment cycle for the Atlantic region and are encouraging students in their third and fourth years to attend the upcoming information session. Students will learn what is involved in applying for this scholarship opportunity at the online session for Atlantic universities on April 4 at 12:30 pm ADT. The invitation and RSVP link are included below along with the scholarship criteria:

Invitation and RSVP link: https://bit.ly/ATLuniv-ap04

To be eligible for the 2025 cohort, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

• You are a current student on track to earn your first bachelor’s degree by August 2025.
• You earned your first bachelor’s degree in the last five years (January 2019 or later).
• You earned your first bachelor’s degree more than five years ago and are 30 years or younger in 2024.
• Note: two-thirds of scholarships are offered to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and refugees, and one-third are offered to international candidates.

Interested in exploring collaboration opportunities with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC)? Meet Drs. James Johnston and Fabrice Berrué, Directors of Research and Development at the NRC’s Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre.

The NRC’s Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre provides scientific research, services, and technology development for the sustainable transformation of Canadian agricultural and marine bio-based resources into higher-value products. 

In collaboration with industry, academia, other government departments and stakeholders, the NRC helps address technology and commercialization challenges. Leveraging unique facilities, they offer expertise and R&D support in the following research areas:

1.           Atypical fermentation and bioprocessing

2.           Advancing Marine bioproducts towards commercialization

3.           Algal Bioproduction

4.           Zebrafish Research 

5.           Ocean Monitoring and conservation 

6.           Protein - Plant Processing Ingredients 

7.           Prediction Modelling and Analytics (Ag)

8.           Climate Resilience Agriculture 

9.           Other Technical Services and Facilities (e.g. NMR, Mass spec, etc.)

Following the NRC’s 20-minute presentation, time will be allocated for feedback and discussion with the UPEI research community regarding how these strategic research areas align with your research goals.

Contact: Sandra LeClair at sleeleclair@upei.ca for more information.

UPEI Co-op Education students are seeking full-time summer positions (May through August). Students' programs include Business, Computer Science, Actuarial Science, Financial Math, Statistics, Biology, Environmental Studies, Economics, Physics, and Applied Communication, Leadership & Culture.

If you have questions about hiring a co-op student, contact Karen Turner, job development coordinator for UPEI Co-operative Education, at co-op@upei.ca. Visit Co-op Program information and fill out this form to submit a co-op job posting.

The excitement for this Saturday's Gold Rush draw is growing as big as the pot! With no winners in the last FIVE draws, the total pot has grown to more than $17,300, with half going to the winner of the draw.

Gold Rush is a virtual fundraising initiative that raises funds for UPEI’s athletic and recreation programs. You can now select a specific team, club, or program to direct your proceeds from each of your tickets. 

Play today and every week for a chance to win! Download the UPEI Panthers app from the App Store or on Google Play, or play from your computer. The weekly draw is held at 8:00 pm every Saturday.

The English Corner, Robertson Library, Room 213, will be closed on Thursday, March 28. We'll reopen on Thursday, April 4. 

Students living in St. Peter's Bay for their studies are looking for faculty and staff who also live in the area to share rides to and from Charlottetown, especially on evenings and weekends. If anyone lives in the area and travels back and forth to town regularly or sporadically, and you'd like to offer the occasional drive to a UPEI student from the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation, this is the group for you. Please ask to join our Facebook group to make postings and connect with students at https://www.facebook.com/groups/699386872128927/

On Wednesday, March 27, between 10 pm and midnight, ITSS will conduct routine maintenance on the Remote Desktop Services accessed via the website myDesktop.upei.ca. During this time, any remote desktops or applications accessed via this site will be unavailable. RX Works will be unavailable between 10 pm and midnight only. 

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

The next deadline for submitting biosafety applications, including new applications, renewals, and/or amendments, is Friday, March 29, 2024. These applications will be reviewed at the April 18 meeting.

All research compliance applications, including biosafety application forms, must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal. Information about the Researcher Portal, including instructions for using the site, is available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Research Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca if you have any questions about accessing or using the Researcher Portal, or about the biosafety application, review, and approval process.

Research Ethics Board (REB) applications involving "more than minimal risk" must be reviewed by the full UPEI REB. The next deadline for submitting these protocols is Friday, March 29, 2024, for review at the April meeting.

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 materials are received.

All research compliance applications, including for the REB, must be submitted through the UPEI Researcher Portal (https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/). Instructions for using the site are available at https://www.upei.ca/research-services/forms.

Please contact the Compliance Coordinator at researchcompliance@upei.ca for more information about the Researcher Portal, or the REB application, review, and approval process.

The Chief Public Health Office is preparing for potential cases of measles on PEI in the next few weeks. As of March 13, 2024, there have been 29 confirmed measles cases in Canada across Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Some of these cases are related to travel outside of Canada, but others were acquired locally. Montreal is considered the country’s epicenter as there is community spread occurring locally in and around the city. Note: There are no confirmed cases in PEI at this time.

Measles is one of the most highly infectious vaccine-preventable diseases. It has been eliminated from circulation in Canada since 1998 due to highly effective vaccines and successful public health programs.

Measles is spread when you

• breathe air in a location where someone who is infected is or has recently been
• have direct contact with mucus from the nose or throat of someone who is infected
• touch a contaminated surface or object and then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth

The symptoms include

• fever
• runny nose
• red watery eyes
• cough
• red blotchy rash that begins on the head and spreads down to the trunk, arms, and legs.

Measles usually starts with illness for 3-4 days before the rash appears. The fever tends to be high (at least 104 degrees F/40℃). The fever and rash usually disappear in 3-5 days. Complications of measles include ear infection, viral meningitis (inflammation of the brain), or pneumonia. On rare occasions, measles can result in death. If you have recently returned from travel and are experiencing symptoms of measles, you should seek health care, consider calling ahead to let them know of your history of travel, and wear a mask to your appointment.

Who is recommended to get a dose of the measles vaccine? Some individuals will have protection based on their age. The current recommendations for vaccination are as follows:

• Adults born before 1970 are considered to have acquired natural immunity and do not require the vaccine. Exception: individuals traveling outside of Canada should receive one dose of measles vaccine.
• Those born in or after 1970 who have not had measles disease or have not received two doses of measles vaccine should receive two doses of vaccine.
• Regardless of age, students entering post-secondary education, health-care workers, and military personnel should receive two doses if they have no evidence of having had the disease or do not have documentation of two doses of a measles vaccine.
• Any person living in PEI who is eligible may receive the vaccine free of charge at Public Health Nursing.

Public Health Nursing is holding clinics to immunize for measles. In Charlottetown, they are located at 161 St. Peters Road, telephone 902-368-4530. If you are unable to attend these clinics, make an appointment at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre to get vaccinated. You can also make an appointment to discuss this and other vaccines with the registered nurse at the UPEI Health and Wellness Centre.

To learn more about measles, check out https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/measles-mumps-and-rubella-german-measles-vaccine-mmr

To see if you are due or overdue for other vaccines, visit www.canimmunize.ca/en/pei-assessment-tool 

For more information on MMR, view https://youtu.be/jL9QfTubi7I

The Scholarships and Awards Office is encouraging application submissions for convocation, senior class, and year-end scholarships and awards! The application deadline for the following awards is Monday, April 1, 2024. Click the links provided below to access the application and/or recommendation forms for more information. Please submit your application(s) and any supporting documents electronically to scholarships@upei.ca or in person to Dalton Hall 202.

• Arlie Parks Scholarship - In Memory of Dr. Kenneth MacIntyre (Science)
• Marylou Hughes Scholarship (Science)
• Gerald M. Gerry Birt Memorial Award (Science/Nursing/Arts)
• David Austin O'Malley-Keyes Memorial Award (Arts/Music)
• Frank J. Costello Scholarship (Arts/Education)
• Joseph A. Ghiz Memorial Scholarship (Law)
• PEI's Famous Five Graduating Student Award (Arts/Campus Community)
• Dr. Graeme and Alberta Bryant Boswall Award (Campus Community)
• Dr. Regis Duffy Academic Achievement Award (Campus Community)
• UPEI Class of 1989 Award (Campus Community)

Join Courtney Matthews and Kim Mears for a Lunch and Learn session to learn about Open Educational Resources (OERs) and some alternatives for licensing Indigenous OERs. They'll start with the larger OER conversation and how OERs benefit students and the academy, share resources for finding existing OERs, and then take a look at the local UPEI OER context. There will be ample time to discuss details that specifically support OER creation for Indigenous researchers and educators. We'll be in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230, on April 5 from 11:30 am-12:30 pm.

Presented by the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI, the March 26 edition of the Island Lecture Series will island-hop across the northern North Atlantic to see who lives there and how they got there. Biogeography is the three-way crossroads of history, biology, and geography. For most of these islands--the Shetlands, the Faeroes, Iceland, and many others--this history started when bare land emerged from under melting ice about 10,000 years ago, with creatures soon arriving by wing or wind. Humans came too, some by primitive boats that we know almost nothing about. But history can also have recent beginnings, such as the explosive birth of Surtsey Island off Iceland in 1963. Speaker David Cairns will recount the rich biological traditions of island biogeography, and shows that their insights apply equally well to people.

The lecture will take place at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building. All are welcome.