UPEI hosts workshop about singing on July 30
Dr. Annabel Cohen, of the Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island, is a leading researcher in the field of auditory perception and music cognition. She will chair a workshop about singing in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall on Wednesday, July 30, from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The workshop, called Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS): Development, Pedagogy and Well-being, will cover a variety of topics, including acquisition of singing, singing across the lifespan, singing versus speaking voice, singing and multicultural understanding, singing and intergenerational understanding, and singing and health outcomes.
It will include talks by Dr. Betty Bailey, Executive Director, PEI Health Sector Council; Dr. Jean Mitchell Department of Sociology, UPEI; Dr. Kati Szego, Department of Folklore, Memorial University; and music therapist Peter Mutch. There will also be a roundtable discussion; a presentation by students Marsha Lannan and Jenna Coady; and performances by Sung Ha Shin-Bouey, head of the UPEI Music Department’s vocal program, and well-known Island performer Teresa Doyle, among others. An evening concert featuring the Take Note Quartet, among others, will follow the workshop.
“Singing connects people,” says Cohen, herself a trained vocalist who recently qualified as an associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music. “It is very significant in our lives, but it is undervalued and under-researched.”
Members of the public are most welcome to register for the workshop. For information about registration, please e-mail airs@upei.ca or visit vre.upei.ca/airs.
The workshop is held in association with the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research in Culture, Multimedia, Technology and Cognition, under the auspices of the UPEI Faculty of Arts, and is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
UPEI hosts second biennial Julian Jaynes Conference on Consciousness in August
Presented by UPEI and organized by Dr. Scott Greer, of the Psychology Department, the conference will involve scholars from the Netherlands, the United States and Canada.
The keynote speaker is Dr. Stevan Harnad, Canada Research Chair in Cognitive Science at the University of Quebec in Montreal. Harnad is one of the world's leading authorities on the evolution of language and speech. Other featured speakers include cognitive neuroscience pioneer Dr. Karl Pribram of Georgetown University, Washington DC and noted historian Dr. Eelco Runia of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
In addition to the keynote and invited speakers, 15 other presenters will give papers on a variety of topics, including Dual Brains and Bicameral Minds: New Evidence for Jaynes’s Neurological Model, The Future of Consciousness: Instincts, Free Will and the Borg, and Hallucinations as Adaptive Behaviour. Thomy Nilsson, Professor Emeritus at UPEI, will give a presentation called The Octopus and the Dinosaur: Bottlenecks on the Road to Consciousness. And Greer will speak to the group about Presence … Jaynes’s ‘Undiscovered Country’?
From 2002 to 2005, UPEI hosted an annual one-day symposium on consciousness in honour of the late Princeton professor, author, and long-time Prince Edward Island resident Dr. Julian Jaynes. The symposia were so popular that the event became a two-day conference in 2006.
In 1977 Jaynes put forth a new theory of the origin of consciousness and a previous mentality known as the bicameral mind in his controversial but critically acclaimed book, The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind. He claimed that consciousness is a relatively recent development in human evolution, and is primarily a learned process based on language and language use. More information about Jaynes and his theories on consciousness is available on the Julian Jaynes Society website at http://www.julianjaynes.org/.
In keeping with the inter- and trans-disciplinary spirit of Jaynes, this conference is interdisciplinary. It is open to anyone interested in the topic of consciousness at an academic level. Special low rates for students are available. A complete list of papers and details about registration are available at http://www.upei.ca/~sgreer/jaynesconference08.html.
Inquiries may also be directed to the conference coordinator, Dr. Scott Greer, at sgreer@upei.ca.
Information sessions for adult learners, August 6 & 7
UPEI is offering two information sessions for adult learners on August 6 and 7. University representatives will answer questions about the new Bachelor of Integrated Studies degree. They will provide information about getting credits for prior learning, and on how to apply to UPEI as a mature student.
The first session takes place Wednesday, August 6, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the Holland College East Prince Centre, Summerside. The second session takes place on Thursday, August 7, 7:00 to 8:30 pm, in the Lobster Shanty Motel, Montague. Everyone is welcome to this free event. Come and meet other adult learners and hear their questions. For more information call 902 566-0336 or go to upei.ca/bis
New Live Chat service helps students entering UPEI
The First-Year Advisement Centre at UPEI has been bustling this summer with hundreds of new students taking advantage of a wide array of advisory services designed to make their transition to UPEI as smooth as possible. The centre organizes campus tours, assists with applications to UPEI, arranges meetings with deans and professors, and provides one-on-one help to students who need guidance on course selection.
A new program called Live Chat was introduced the last week of July. Every weekday afternoon, between 1 and 3 p.m., UPEI staff answer inquiries from incoming students about all aspects of campus life. There is also an option to submit questions by e-mail.
“Live Chat is proving very popular already. It is just one more of the many ways we provide the personal attention that is so important for new students who are not yet familiar with the university environment,” says Emma Rockett, High School Liaison Officer.
Recruitment Co-ordinator Chris Power says this has been the busiest year ever for the First-Year Advisement Centre. Applications to UPEI continue throughout the summer, so final enrolment numbers are not yet available. However, Power reports that there is definitely a strong trend this year towards early registration.
“One of the services we offer is registration assistance for first-year students to help them get their first choice of courses. We had 570 students take advantage of this opportunity,” he explains.
First-Year Advisement Centre staff discuss students’ areas of interest with them and identify the courses they need for specific programs. If requested, they arrange meetings with faculty members to answer specific questions about their fields of study or they may refer students for career development information. Parents interested in learning more about the registration process and the university as a whole are welcome as well.
“Transition to university can be overwhelming. Many of our new students take comfort in all the supports we have in place to make their introduction to UPEI as positive and rewarding as possible,” says Chris Power.
The First-Year Advisement Centre is located in the Department of Student Services, 2nd Floor North, W. A. Murphy Student Centre. More information is available at (902) 566-0488 or at upei.ca/studentservices.
Photo cutline: Emma Rockett, High School Liaison Officer, and Chris Power, UPEI Recruitment Co-ordinator, work with science student Emily MacAdam of Morell to check out the new Live Chat information service for incoming students.
Top Canadian writers give public readings in Charlottetown in August
The three are members of the faculty for SeaWords, which takes place August 18 to 22 at Shaw’s Hotel in Brackley Beach, P.E.I. The fourth faculty member is literary agent and former publisher Jackie Kaiser.
Supported by the LMMI and UPEI, SeaWords is being held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary celebration of the publication of L.M. Montgomery’s first and most famous novel, Anne of Green Gables. The theme of the workshop is “Canadian women writers.”
Simpson's second novel, Falling, was recently published by McClelland & Stewart. Her first novel, Canterbury Beach (2001), was a finalist for the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award. Winner of the Journey Prize for short fiction, Simpson has written three books of poetry: Light Falls Through You, winner of the Gerald Lampert Memorial Award and the Atlantic Poetry Prize; Loop, winner of the Griffin Poetry Prize and a finalist for the Governor General's Award for Poetry; and, most recently, Quick.
Carol Bruneau's most recent novel, Glass Voices, was published last year to rave reviews and named one of Globe and Mail Best One Hundred Books.Her first novel, Purple for Sky won the Thomas Head Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award and the Dartmouth Book Award. She is also the author of two short fiction collections, Depth Rapture and After the Angel Mill, and the novel Berth.
A novelist, playwright and actor, MacDonald has won many awards, including the Governor General's Award, the Chalmers Award, the Commonwealth Prize, a Gemini, and several Doras. Plays include Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) and Belle Moral: A Natural History. She is author of the internationally best-selling novels, Fall on Your Knees and The Way the Crow Flies.
The readings are hosted by UPEI and the L.M. Montgomery writers-in-residence program. The writers’ books will be on sale during the readings.
AVC’s Dr. Norma Guy Recognized Nationally for Contributions to Animal Welfare
The 2008 Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) Humane Award was presented to Dr. Norma Guy, Animal Behaviourist with the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the University of Prince Edward Island during the CVMA annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia on July 29.
The national award is presented annually to an individual whose work is determined to have contributed significantly to the welfare and well-being of animals.
Dr. Guy (DVM, MSC) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Companion Animals at AVC and runs the Animal Behaviour Service at the AVC Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dr. Guy developed the innovative AVC humane dog training program with the PEI Humane Society, is in her third term as President of the Board of Directors of the PEI Humane Society, and is a regular contributor to CBC Radio through her popular segment, How & Why with Dr. Guy.
“Dr. Guy has contributed greatly to the welfare of both owned and unowned companion animals through teaching of veterinary students, continuing education for veterinarians, and numerous non-technical presentations for pet owners on matters of companion animal behaviour,” says Dr. Alice Crook, Coordinator of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and nominator of Dr. Guy’s award.
“Dr. Guy is passionate about improving the lives of animals, both through the use of humane training methods, and by addressing behaviour problems to improve owner satisfaction with their pets, thereby decreasing relinquishment of pets.”
Dr. Guy initiated the AVC humane dog training program at the PEI Humane Society in 2001. It has been highly successful, with hundreds of dogs passing through the program over the past seven years. The objectives of the program include improving the quality of life for dogs being held for adoption, and increasing the basic level of dog behaviour knowledge and training skills of AVC students and the humane society staff.
“Dr. Guy has made a significant and far-reaching impact on animal welfare through her untiring commitment to teaching, establishing programs to benefit companion animals, volunteering with the PEI Humane Society, and research into animal behaviour,” says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, AVC Dean. “We are very proud of Norma’s many achievements and congratulate her on this well deserved honour.”
The
Dr. Guy’s Award Citation
Dr.
Norma Guy graduated from the
In
2001, Dr. Guy developed the innovative AVC Humane Dog Training Program, which
operates at the PEI Humane Society (PEIHS) and has enriched the lives of
hundreds of dogs since its inception.
This program gives AVC students hands-on knowledge of shelter issues and
experience working with shelter dogs and their new owners. Dr. Guy has been a member of the Board of
Directors of the PEIHS since 2003 and is currently in her third term as
President of the Society. In 2007, she
led an inspection team on behalf of the PEIHS for the traveling exotic animal
circus. Dr. Guy was the lead author of
the resulting report, which included recommendations for changes to provincial
legislation. The province is currently drafting
changes to the regulations for traveling circuses as a result of this
report. She has a regular spot on the
local CBC Radio station called “How & Why with Dr. Guy” which provides pet
owners with information so they can deal with behaviour issues more humanely
and effectively. Dr. Guy is in high
demand as a speaker with a wide range of audiences including veterinary
students, veterinarians, humane organizations and various community
groups. In addition to her many academic
articles, she has written many non-technical articles for pet owners to help
them understand and better manage common problems in their pets. Dr. Guy continues to make a direct impact on
the welfare of owned and unowned animals through her innovative dog training
program, behaviour consultations with pet owners, CE for veterinarians, and
extensive teaching of veterinary students.
Charlotte McCardle or Trina Paquet
cmccardle@upei.ca;
tpaquet@upei.ca
Presentations to highlight UPEI students’ math and science research
This year, for the first time, several CEMPURS projects will focus on biomedical fields such as biophysics and biomathematics. The audience can also look forward to presentations about the local community, such as "Land use and its effects on the Montague Estuary" and the "Feasibility of biogas production on small PEI farms." Students from Ryerson University in Toronto are joining the event by teleconference.
CEMPURS 2008 runs from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on August 13 in Lecture Theatre C of the Atlantic Veterinary College, UPEI. Admission is free. More details about the presentations are available at upei.ca/cempurs or by contacting Ali Fatehi, CEMPURS Chair, at 620-5057 or afatehihassa@upei.ca.
UPEI Physics Student Rising Star of Research
“The Rising Stars of Research conference is a great opportunity for the next generation of researchers from across Canada to showcase their accomplishments and explore their passion for innovation,” says UPEI physics professor James Polson, Mostafa’s research supervisor.
Top research students from across the country will give poster presentations and compete for awards in six broad disciplinary areas: health sciences, biochemistry and cellular biology, natural resources and the environment, life sciences and psychology, computational sciences and technology, and physical and earth sciences.
Mostafa will present in the computational sciences field. His work involves using computer simulation methods to study polymer translocation through nanopores. This research may ultimately help in the development of a novel experimental technique to sequence DNA. The project has already been recognized with a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Award.
The 2008 Rising Stars of Research event runs from August 21 to 23 at UBC. The event includes a workshop on writing winning scholarship applications for graduate school, an awards banquet in the Green College Great Hall, and an opportunity to visit a wide range of research laboratories and projects in BC.
Rising Stars of Research aims to boost participants’ expertise, skills and enthusiasm for research, to excite them about continuing on into graduate study, and to encourage their ongoing development as scientists. It is co-sponsored by numerous research and innovation organization and institutions, including UBC and NSERC Pacific.
Long-time seasonal resident makes $250,000 donation to UPEI School of Business
American businessman Ralph Hostetter, a long-time seasonal resident on Prince Edward Island, has made a $250,000 donation to the School of Business at the University of Prince Edward Island. Ralph Hostetter's gift has been used to support the Business School's capital campaign and to establish an annual scholarship in memory of his friend and business colleague, George Howatt of French River (1912-1988).
George Howatt and his wife Jean operated a mixed farm, growing potatoes, grain, cole crops and cucumbers, as well as raising dairy and beef cattle, hogs, turkeys, ducks and chickens, and honey bees. Howatt was a strong promoter of the Island's agricultural industry, particularly the potato and dairy sectors. He was a founding member and president of the P.E.I. Potato Marketing Board and an active member of other organizations, including the Canadian Horticultural Council.
The George E. Howatt Memorial Scholarship will be given out annually to a student entering the Master of Business Administration program at UPEI. The winner must have a strong academic record, professional accomplishments, entrepreneurial initiative, and demonstrated community involvement and leadership ability.
"We are deeply grateful to Ralph Hostetter for this wonderful and far-sighted contribution," says Dean of Business Roberta MacDonald. "Ralph has forged deep and enduring ties to P.E.I. This generous gift not only honours his long-time friend and neighbour George Howatt, but is also a tremendous vote of confidence in our young people and the future of this Island."
A businessman from Elkton, Maryland, Hostetter is a seasonal resident in French River and has land holdings that include Camelot East Farms. He describes himself as a "conservative newspaper publisher" and is, at present, a columnist for several U.S. internet sites. He writes extensively in the areas of education and agriculture. Many of his columns were published in 1999 in a collection called Publisher's Notebook.
He is chair and publisher of American Farm Publications Inc. in Easton, Maryland, and former president and owner of TriState Publishing Company in Elkton, a chain of 13 community newspapers. He was elected to the Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Press Association Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1990. The New Jersey Agricultural Society awarded Hostetter its highest award, the Gold Medallion, in 2003.
The first $5,000 scholarship was awarded on August 12 to incoming MBA student Scott McEwen during the official launch of UPEI's new Master of Business Administration program, which begins in September. He is pictured on the front page of the UPEI website with Dean Roberta MacDonald.
UPEI Launches Master of Business Administration
The University of Prince Edward Island officially launched its executive-style Master of Business Administration (MBA) today in the new UPEI School of Business. Designed to meet the needs of full-time working professionals, the new program will welcome its first 36 students in September. The class represents a very diverse group of students, which will encourage valuable peer-to-peer learning throughout their time in the MBA Program.
“Our inaugural class of MBA students is very much in line with the vision we had when developing the program. We have almost equal representation from the private and public sectors, the class is almost evenly split between males and females, and half of our students hold undergraduate degrees in a discipline outside the realm of business. The composition of our first class suggests an MBA is of value to working professionals in a wide range of careers,” noted Roberta MacDonald, Dean of Business.
Dean MacDonald introduced three new faculty members who have joined the UPEI School of Business to instruct at the graduate level. They are Wendy Carroll, Juergen Krause, and Gerry Mahar. Carroll and Krause will also work together as Co-Directors of Graduate Business Studies to provide direction for the program’s evolution, and to ensure students’ needs are met.
The launch was also an opportunity to congratulate UPEI’s first MBA scholarship-winners.
“We are extremely pleased to be able to award these scholarships in the inaugural year of our MBA program,” said Dean MacDonald. “Our students are busy professionals, many of whom are balancing career, family, and community responsibilities while pursuing their MBA. Scholarships provide financial relief and, in turn, give students more time to focus on their studies.”
Five students were awarded entrance scholarships valued at $5,000 each. Liz Dobbin, Manager of the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, was one of the award-winners.
“Like most young families today, we are faced with increasing costs for everything. The costs of enrolling in the MBA program are not insignificant and require sacrifice by my husband and children to make it happen. Scholarship support will go a very long way in easing the burden,” said Dobbin.
Recently seconded to The Wait Time Pilot Project, Dobbin is pursuing her MBA to apply cutting-edge business tools and strategic thinking to her daily work. Her classroom studies will help develop innovative processes, human resource models, and inter-provincial working agreements that affect radiation therapy wait times for Island cancer patients.
Glenn Gallant, Amber Jadis, Susan Anderson, and Brenda Worth were also awarded entrance scholarships. Their professional accomplishments, community involvement, and enthusiasm were deciding factors in the selection process.
“Higher education is a privilege, and I plan to give back to society whatever I am fortunate enough to receive,” said Glenn Gallant, a single father of two, who is pursuing his MBA to further his career aspirations within the provincial government and to satisfy his own personal growth.
The sixth scholarship winner, Scott McEwen, received the newly established George E. Howatt Scholarship, also valued at $5,000. The scholarship recognizes an incoming MBA student who has demonstrated academic excellence and entrepreneurial initiative, as well as a commitment to giving back to his/her community. A business owner, and father of three, McEwen exemplifies “an entrepreneurial spirit and ambition that will serve him well in the MBA program which focuses on developing entrepreneurial and innovative thinking for success in today’s globally competitive business world,” said Dean MacDonald.
“We have an extremely strong cohort of students beginning the MBA program in September,” she said. “The scholarship applications were very revealing of how involved our students already are in the betterment of their workplaces and communities. It’s encouraging to know that these leaders are dedicated to further developing their skills, knowledge and thinking, and I have no doubt they will continue to make significant contributions going forward.”
MBA BACKGROUNDER
UPEI’s School of Business is launching its Executive-style Master of Business Administration program, which is designed to suit the needs of full-time working professionals, with classes set to begin in September 2008.
The school has received a very strong response, with 36 students admitted for September 2008. The local business community and employers have also shown enthusiasm and support for this exciting graduate program in business studies, which is the first of its kind on PEI.
Students choose from specialized streams of study in Biotechnology Management & Entrepreneurship and Innovative Management. The program can be completed in a minimum of two years or taken over a longer period, up to six years.
The emphasis is on integration, innovation, entrepreneurial thinking and the development of global perspectives.
The School has hired new faculty, who will instruct at the graduate level. Wendy Carroll, Juergen Krause, and Gerry Mahar joined the faculty at the School this summer. Each comes to the School with an impressive career and academic background:
Wendy Carroll comes to UPEI with 20 years of work experience in senior leadership and executive positions, primarily in the areas of human resource management, employee relations, operations management and negotiations. Wendy has made several contributions to research in the area of strategic human resource management, workforce strategies for the future, and the effects of technology on employees.
Juergen Krause holds a PhD (Magna Cum Laude) in Chemistry from the University of Konstanz, Germany. He has an extensive career in research and development, and has held senior level positions within the pharmaceutical industry. Most recently he worked with Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. as Vice President of Research and Development Strategy and Operations.
Before joining the faculty at the School of Business, Gerry Mahar was a National Sales and Marketing Manager, responsible for accounts with several multinational IT firms. After a lengthy career, he returned to graduate school to obtain his PhD in Management Sciences. His research interests include communities of practice in software development, and field service operations in national accounts marketing management.
Wendy Carroll and Juergen Krause will work together as Co-Directors of Graduate Business Studies to provide direction for the program’s growth and evolution, and to ensure students’ needs are met.
Five incoming students have been awarded MBA entrance scholarships, valued at $5,000 each. They are: Glenn Gallant, Liz Dobbin, Brenda Worth, Susan Anderson and Amber Jadis. All five have demonstrated leadership, excelled in their academic pursuits, and made impressive contributions in their chosen careers.
Scott McEwen, an entrepreneur with two businesses and a young family, has been awarded the George E. Howatt Scholarship, valued at $5,000. This scholarship was established in 2008 to recognize an incoming MBA student who has demonstrated academic excellence and entrepreneurial initiative, as well as a commitment to giving back to his/her community.
The School is now accepting applications for the 2009 MBA class.
_______________
MBA Student Profile
UPEI’s MBA program has attracted a strong cohort of students representing diverse academic backgrounds, work experiences, and life stories. The composition of the MBA class will encourage valuable peer-to-peer learning and opportunities to gain new perspectives. The class profile is as follows:
Gender: 19 Males, 17 Females
Average Age: 39 years
Education: 50 per cent hold a Bachelor of Business Administration, 50 per cent hold an undergraduate degree in another discipline. Three students have professional designations. Three students have master’s courses/PhD designation.
Current Employment: Twenty-one students are employed in the private sector, including five who are self-employed and two who work with non-profit organizations. Fifteen are employed with government at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
Average Years of Full-time Work Experience: 15 years
For more information about the MBA Program please visit www.upei.ca/business or contact Shannon Courtney, MBA Program Co-ordinator, at 566-6474 or scourtney@upei.ca
