"Biodegradable Plastics: A Sustainable Future or A Temporary Fix?”

Visiting chemist to give public talk on ‘green’ plastics You can’t spin a two-litre pop bottle in the modern world without hitting another piece of plastic. Plastics are cheap to produce, lightweight, and are strong and flexible enough to be used in millions of applications. However, most are made from finite oil resources, and at the end of their usefulness are either thrown into a landfill or burned, generating harmful emissions. Dr. Andrew Dove, Associate Professor of Chemistry and RCUK at the University of Warwick in Coventry, UK, will give a public talk entitled "Biodegradable Plastics: A Sustainable Future or A Temporary Fix?” on Wednesday, March 31, in the Wanda Wyatt Lecture Theatre (Room 104) of UPEI’s K. C. Irving Chemistry Building, at 7 p.m. Poly(lactide) is the leading contender of the new so-called “green plastics,” made of renewable organic material. As the cost of production of green plastics decreases, chemists such as Dr. Dove are trying to overcome some of their chemical drawbacks, including their tendency to be brittle, and their lack of usefulness in hot or cold environments. -30- Contact: Dave Atkinson, UPEI Research Communications Officer, (902)620-5166, datkinson@upei.ca

Winter Lecture Series

Arteries, Movie Trailers, and Wedding Cakes: Crafting the Perfect Course Syllabus Presented by: Elizabeth Wells, Music, Mount Allison University Shannon Murray, English, UPEI So much depends upon the course syllabus: or so it seems. Whether it represents our hopes and dreams or our bad past experiences, a syllabus can help focus the instructor’s planning and give the student a sense of direction. But could it do more? This interactive workshop explores our guiding metaphors for the syllabus and asks participants to re-envision the syllabus as a powerful teaching tool, not simply a student/teacher contract. Participants will look at the traditional and sometime obligatory elements of the syllabus, its length, arrangement, tone, and level. We’ll present some of the research on university requirements, on instructor practice, and on student reception, and we’ll explore the idea of the syllabus as a student / learning-centred document – and as evidence of good teaching. This session is designed to help new teachers (and experienced teachers seeking renewal) to explore what a syllabus can be -- and what it can't -- and to re-imagine the syllabus as a tool for life-long learning. No need to register, just show up! Location: RL 235

From the Campus to the Country - Technology Learning Forum

From the Campus to Country, is a learning forum for UPEI staff and faculty and other interested educational providers. UPEI is building a technology platform toward a comprehensive distance learning strategy that will enhance access and availability to learning across Prince Edward Island and to UPEI students across Canada and the world. Two leading Canadian speakers will provide an overview of the future trends in technology solutions in learning. With extensive personal experience in the development and implementation of education through technology, we can be assured of an interesting and educational afternoon. George Siemens is Founder and President of Complexive Systems Inc, a research lab assisting organizations develop integrated learning structures for global strategy execution. He is the author of Knowing Knowledge, an exploration of how the context and characteristics of knowledge have changed, and what it means to organizations today. Formerly the Associate Director of Research and Development with the Learning and Technologies Centre at the University of Manitoba, George is currently affiliated with the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute (TEKRI) at Athabasca University. Alec Couros is Assistant Professor and ICT Co-ordinator for the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina. He holds a Ph.D.in Education (Curriculum) from the University of Regina and a Masters of Education (Curriculum)- Educational Communications & Technology from the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan. For over a decade, Alec has been responsible for technology planning, service and professional development in the Faculty of Education at Regina. Alec has also worked for the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and the Kilburn Hall Youth Centre both in Saskatoon , as well as a sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan. His research has included work on the Open Source Movement, the First Nations’ SchoolNet Pilot Project and the Saskatchewan Virtual Campus. There will be opportunities for Questions & Answers with both speakers. A wine and cheese reception will be held in Schurman Market Square, McDougall Hall from 5 to 7 pm, immediately following the speeches. Please RSVP to Megan MacLean at megmaclean@upei.ca or 620-5105
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