UPEI joins the Royal Society of Canada

The University of Prince Edward Island, with a growing reputation for research intensity and impact, has become a member of Canada's institution devoted to recognizing excellence in learning and research.

The Royal Society of Canada is the senior national body of distinguished Canadian scholars, artists, and scientists. As Canada's national academy, the Society's role is to recognize academic excellence, to provide expert advice on matters of national interest or urgency, and to represent Canada's national culture abroad. President Wade MacLauchlan announced the University's membership May 31 at an event in the McCain Foundation Learning Commons at UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College.

'UPEI is honoured to be a member of the Royal Society of Canada,' said President MacLauchlan. 'Institutional members of the Society include the biggest names in research in the country. This recognizes the growth UPEI has worked so hard for, and further establishes us as a contributor to Canada's national academic reputation and capacity.'

Professor Roderick Macdonald, president of the Royal Society of Canada, says UPEI's membership is a reflection of the scholarly and scientific leadership UPEI displays in areas of research such as aquatic health and population health.

'This is an opportunity for us together to create the conditions in which outstanding students and scholars from Prince Edward Island will flourish and will make significant contributions to matters of public policy that have a direct impact in the lives and well-being of all Islanders,' said Professor Macdonald. 'President MacLauchlan and I are committed to building the relationship between UPEI and the Royal Society so that the University achieves increased visibility across Canada for its scholarly excellence and its role in educating the next generation of Canadian scientists, artists, and intellectuals.'

Sandra and Arthur Irving, passionate champions of both UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College and the Royal Society of Canada, offered their congratulations.

'We are long-time supporters of the Royal Society of Canada because we uphold its Fellows as our country's best and brightest university professors, researchers and scholars. They have dedicated their lives to higher education and their efforts are significant in how strong we can be as a country,' said Sandra Irving, who is chair of the Society's President's Advisory Council. 'We are happy to celebrate UPEI's membership, and thank them for joining over 40 other university institutional members in fortifying not only the efforts of the organization, but also those of our country.'

The University of Prince Edward Island has experienced a 432 per cent increase in external research funding in the last decade, making its membership to the Royal Society of Canada, which exists to recognize academic excellence, a natural next step. For more information, visit rsc.ca.