UPEI hosted the 2020 Science Atlantic Nutrition and Foods conference
The University of Prince Edward Island hosted the 2020 Science Atlantic Nutrition and Food conference on March 13 and 14. This was just the second year for the conference, and UPEI was proud to host the event for over 70 undergraduate and graduate nutrition and foods students and faculty from across the region.
The 2020 conference featured a keynote address from Dr. Susan Whiting, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan. Her presentation, entitled “Dietary intakes of Canadians: What this can and cannot tell us about our nutritional status,” identified ongoing challenges with the vitamin D and calcium status of Canadians and concerns about the current Canada’s Food Guide. The conference also included a pre-conference workshop by Dr. Shannan Grant, assistant professor of applied human nutrition, and students Chelsea Purdy and Florence Blackett from Mount Saint Vincent University on bridging the gap in academia between indigenous and non-indigenous learners. For a complete schedule of speakers, see the conference website.
The conference was organized by three student co-chairs from UPEI: Katrina Nagge, Julia Heckbert, and Imene Hank, under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Taylor, professor of applied human sciences, and Dr. Sarah Finch, assistant professor of applied human sciences. The co-chairs worked with local UPEI Foods and Nutrition student volunteers to plan and carry out the conference, and with student representatives from across Atlantic Canada to promote the conference.
Science Atlantic is a registered charitable organization for scientists, faculty, and students in Atlantic Canada. Science Atlantic, formerly the Atlantic Provinces Council on the Sciences, was founded in 1962 with the aim of advancing post-secondary science education and research in Atlantic Canada. Science Atlantic’s activities include annual academic conferences, lecture tours by notable scientists, awards recognizing research and science communication skills, travel assistance for students to attend conferences, and managing the Atlantic Facilities and Research Equipment Database (AFRED). Currently, Science Atlantic hosts ten annual discipline conferences in a variety of fields, including nutrition and foods, chemistry, physics and astronomy, mathematics and computer science, biology, psychology, and others.
