Campus Notices
The Fair Treatment Policy Redevelopment (FTPR) Committee was formed as part of the Action Plan commitment to
- replace the Fair Treatment Policy, and
- finalize revisions to the Sexual Violence Policy.
The FTPR Committee has been meeting regularly and gathering feedback to develop a new Harassment and Discrimination Policy and to update the Sexual Violence Policy. Since January, Committee members have been connecting with members of the community, an online feedback form has been distributed, and, most recently, the Committee held an information session on March 3.
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend one of two FTPR Information/Feedback Sessions where campus community members can provide feedback and ask questions about the draft versions of the Harassment and Discrimination Policy and the Sexual Violence Policy. Please note: Both sessions have the same content but are being held on different days to help accommodate schedules and maximize opportunities to provide input.
FTPR Information/Feedback Session #1
Thursday, April 3, 2025
1:30–2:30 pm
Kelley Memorial Building, Room 237 (KMB237)
For those who are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams link.
FTPR Information/Feedback Session #2
Monday, April 7, 2025
9:30–10:30 am
Kelley Memorial Building, Room 237 (KMB237)
For those who are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams link.
The UPEI Writing Centre will close on Friday, April 4 for the upcoming exam period and will re-open for the spring session in mid-May. Please check for notices on the Robertson Library 274 door or visit our Instagram page (upeiwritingcentre) for updates.
Presenter: Shu Zhang
Title: "Climate Change Impacts on Potato Storage and Carbon Flux Estimation for Potato Production: A Literature-Based Study"
Date/Time: April 4, 2025, 1:00 pm via web conference. If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.
Potato production, which encompasses both cultivation and storage, is vital for food security and the economy. However, this process faces significant challenges due to climate change, and the interplay between carbon sequestration and emissions during production creates uncertainty regarding its role in mitigating climate change. While the effects of climate change on potato cultivation have been previously examined, the impacts on potato storage have not been comprehensively explored. Furthermore, although greenhouse gas emissions from operations such as fertilization and carbon sequestration by potato plants are studied separately, the results have not been integrated for a holistic analysis. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the impacts of climate change on potato storage and to estimate the carbon flux associated with potato production, thereby clarifying its role in global warming.
The review indicates climate change can adversely affect potato storage, mainly through increased tuber sprouting and a higher disease prevalence in storage environments. Lower Sielianinov coefficient values signify dry and hot conditions during the vegetative season and can lead to earlier sprouting. For instance, a decrease of 0.05 in the Sielianinov coefficient results in earlier sprouting of 25 and 15 days for tubers stored at 3 °C and 5 °C, respectively. Conversely, higher Sielianinov coefficient values may exacerbate disease issues, further complicating storage conditions.
To estimate the carbon flux of potato production, three scenarios are discussed: Scenario 1 represents the worst-case scenario, where potato production has maximum emissions and minimum sequestration, identifying it as a carbon source with a carbon flux of 12112.710 kg CO2 eq ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. In contrast, Scenario 2, the best-case scenario, features maximum sequestration and minimum emissions, classifying it as a carbon sink with carbon fluxes of -12809.247 kg CO2 eq ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. Scenario 3, representing average emissions and sequestration, also acts as a carbon sink, with a carbon flux of -287.957 kg CO2 eq ha⁻¹ season⁻¹. Notably, all potato production operations contribute to carbon emissions, with fertilization being a primary source, averaging 1219.235 kg CO2 eq ha⁻¹ season⁻¹.
This study highlights that climate change introduces negative uncertainties for potato storage, while the entire potato production process can function as either a carbon source or a carbon sink, depending on the production scenario. Optimizing farming practices, including cultivar selection, tillage methods, fertilization, and irrigation, is essential to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and enhance carbon sequestration during potato production. Addressing these factors is crucial for promoting sustainable potato production in the context of climate change.
Everyone is welcome.
Presenter: Marla MacKenzie
Title: “Development of Proteomic Testing Methods for Patients Diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A First Step Toward Personalized Medicine”
Biologic agents are often used in treatment of irritable bowel disease (IBD). Matching the appropriate biologic treatment to an individual can be a costly and time-consuming process of trial-and-error. Development of a laboratory protocol to positively match biologic treatments to an individual’s serum antibody profiles could create personalized treatment plans. This would require identification of novel, specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody patterns associated with gut mucosa-embedded antigens and association of these antigens with biologic treatment response. This study aimed to establish a serum IgG screening protocol wherein IgG can be reliably separated from serum and patterns visualized. A comparison of two extraction techniques: (i) melon gel and (ii) protein A/G for IgG extraction and purification followed by protein concentration assays, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) evaluated the efficacy and repeatability of the extraction methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) verified IgG presence in final extracts. Melon gel extraction followed by a protein precipitation cleanup process resulted in clear IgG bands in SDS-PAGE, reproducible spot patterns in 2DE, and confirmed presence of IgG which establishes these methods as a promising first step in the IgG pattern identification process.
Date/Time/Location: April 1, 2025, 1:00 pm, Health Sciences Building 323
Everyone is welcome.
Presenter: Sarah Doak
Title: “Identifying And Defining Health Dimensions for an Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Specific Patient-Reported Experience Measure”
As the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rises in Canada, it is important to consider the quality of care that patients are receiving from their health-care providers. One tool that a researcher can use to measure a patient’s satisfaction with their care is a Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM), a standardized questionnaire used to measure a patient’s perception of the quality of medical care they have received. While several PREMs are currently used in IBD patient care, few have been validated for use specifically with IBD patients, and most do not use a qualitative approach, i.e. include the patient’s perceived definition of what constitutes high-quality care. The present study therefore focused on qualitatively capturing the experiences of patients with inflammatory bowel disease on their journey through the health-care system in Prince Edward Island. The data presented in this study are based on information collected during one-on-one interviews with five patients that were receiving ambulatory, IBD-related care in Queens County, PEI, between September to December 2022. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed four general themes: (1) Needing to Plan; (2) Managing Complications; (3) Patient-Provider Communication, and (4) Patient Ability to Access IBD-related Healthcare. Overall, participants felt satisfied with their treatment plans and the quality of care that they received from their health-care providers. This was largely influenced by the ease with which they could access specialized IBD care and the strong communication between themselves and their health-care providers.
Date/Time/Location: April 2, 2025, 1:00 pm, Health Sciences Building 226
Everyone is welcome,
It is time to offer support to our students during exams and final papers. The Chaplaincy Centre continues to host a free meal for students on April 9, with the generous help of many UPEI faculty and staff. There are three chances to volunteer: set up on April 8 and two (2) servings on April 9. Please use this link to sign up for a 30-minute shift to volunteer. Opportunities to set up, serve, and clean up are available as well as a chance to mingle with students in an informal conversation with good food.
On Tuesday, April 8, from 9:00-9:30 am, we will set tables and chairs for the next day.
On Wednesday, April 9, we will offer two serving times:11:30 am-1:00 pm and 4:30-6:00 pm. If slots are full, please check back closer to the day as schedules change and time slots may open up. Contact Sister Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca for further information.
Sister Sue and Lauren
Dr. Hilding Neilson, assistant professor, Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University, will give a public lecture titled “Space is Part of the Land: Moving from Colonialism and Space Exploitation to Indigenous Models of Operating in Space,” on Wednesday, April 2, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, Kelley Memorial Building 237, UPEI.
The lecture is presented by the UPEI Department of Physics, in collaboration with the Chairs of Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) as part of CISE’s Spark Lecture Series.
“The colonization of outer space arguably began with the writings of Von Braun in the 1950s and his manual for sending people to Mars as a new land to conquer,” said Dr. Neilsen. “That colonialism was not novel but follows the same history of European powers colonizing the Americans and other parts of the world, and the same recent history of nations and consortiums developing telescopes on Indigenous lands. In the future, as private actors develop a new space industry, we will see the export of this colonialism to space, to the moon, and one day even to Mars. We are already seeing this today with the development of satellite constellations, some of which are visible by the unaided eye and with the multinational Artemis Accords for lunar exploration.”
In his talk, Dr. Neilson will review the relationship between astronomy, outer space, and colonization in the past, present, and future, and discuss different ways to relate to outer space and space exploration through the lens of Indigenous methods and knowledge.
All are welcome to attend.
The Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre (SJDAWC) at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) invites you to its three-part webinar series exploring animal welfare issues in small mammals kept as pets. This series will provide participants with insights on the care and welfare of small companion animals, with an emphasis on rabbits and rodents.
The webinars feature Dr. Lee Niel, Dr. Carol Tinga, and Dr. Dan O’Neill, and will take place on April 15, 22, and 29, beginning at 4:00 pm.
Veterinarians and veterinary technicians are eligible for continuing education credit. The webinar cost is $50 per webinar, or $120 for all three. There will be no charge for students.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Participating veterinarians and veterinary technicians are eligible to earn one hour of RACE-accredited continuing education per webinar. Participants are required to attend the live webinar to earn this credit. RACE-program number: 20-1286545.
Add some student energy to your team this summer. Ambitious UPEI Co-op students are seeking work experiences related to their program of study and opportunities to make connections in the workforce.
Students' programs include Computer Science, Business, Economics, Actuarial Science, Analytics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Studies, and Applied Communication, Leadership & Culture.
Contact Karen Turner, job development coordinator for UPEI Co-operative Education, at co-op@upei.ca
The Fair Treatment Policy Redevelopment (FTPR) Committee was formed as part of the Action Plan commitment to
- replace the Fair Treatment Policy, and
- finalize revisions to the Sexual Violence Policy.
The FTPR Committee has been meeting regularly and gathering feedback to develop a new Harassment and Discrimination Policy and to update the Sexual Violence Policy. Since January, Committee members have been connecting with members of the community, an online feedback form has been distributed, and, most recently, the Committee held an information session on March 3.
Faculty, staff, and students are invited to attend one of two FTPR Information/Feedback Sessions where campus community members can provide feedback and ask questions about the draft versions of the Harassment and Discrimination Policy and the Sexual Violence Policy. Please note: Both sessions have the same content but are being held on different days to help accommodate schedules and maximize opportunities to provide input.
FTPR Information/Feedback Session #1
Thursday, April 3, 2025
1:30–2:30 pm
Kelley Memorial Building, Room 237 (KMB237)
For those who are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams link.
FTPR Information/Feedback Session #2
Monday, April 7, 2025
9:30–10:30 am
Kelley Memorial Building, Room 237 (KMB237)
For those who are unable to attend in person, you are welcome to join us virtually at this Teams link.
Presenter: Marla MacKenzie
Title: “Development of Proteomic Testing Methods for Patients Diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A First Step Toward Personalized Medicine”
Biologic agents are often used in treatment of irritable bowel disease (IBD). Matching the appropriate biologic treatment to an individual can be a costly and time-consuming process of trial-and-error. Development of a laboratory protocol to positively match biologic treatments to an individual’s serum antibody profiles could create personalized treatment plans. This would require identification of novel, specific serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody patterns associated with gut mucosa-embedded antigens and association of these antigens with biologic treatment response. This study aimed to establish a serum IgG screening protocol wherein IgG can be reliably separated from serum and patterns visualized. A comparison of two extraction techniques: (i) melon gel and (ii) protein A/G for IgG extraction and purification followed by protein concentration assays, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) evaluated the efficacy and repeatability of the extraction methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) verified IgG presence in final extracts. Melon gel extraction followed by a protein precipitation cleanup process resulted in clear IgG bands in SDS-PAGE, reproducible spot patterns in 2DE, and confirmed presence of IgG which establishes these methods as a promising first step in the IgG pattern identification process.
Date/Time/Location: April 1, 2025, 1:00 pm, Health Sciences Building 323
Everyone is welcome.
Presenter: Farhan Aziz
Title: "Stormwater and Wastewater Flood Risk Assessment for Coastal Communities"
Coastal cities face growing risk of flooding due to climate change, sea-level rise, and aging infrastructure. This research evaluates stormwater and wastewater flooding in Charlottetown using a non-stationary 1D-2D scenario-based modeling approach under future climate, land use, sea-level rise, and population growth scenarios. It also assesses public health risks associated with wastewater flooding, particularly for vulnerable population groups. The study also explores challenges, opportunities, and best management practices for coastal urban flood risk management, including nature-based solutions, smart flood monitoring, digital twins, green infrastructure investments, and resilient urban planning. By integrating wastewater and stormwater flood risk assessment with policy-driven adaptation strategies, this research provides a strategic foundation for enhancing flood resilience in Charlottetown and other coastal communities worldwide.
Date/Time/Location: March 31, 2025, 10:00 am via web conference
If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.
Everyone is welcome.
Presenter: Sarah Doak
Title: “Identifying And Defining Health Dimensions for an Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Specific Patient-Reported Experience Measure”
As the incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) rises in Canada, it is important to consider the quality of care that patients are receiving from their health-care providers. One tool that a researcher can use to measure a patient’s satisfaction with their care is a Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM), a standardized questionnaire used to measure a patient’s perception of the quality of medical care they have received. While several PREMs are currently used in IBD patient care, few have been validated for use specifically with IBD patients, and most do not use a qualitative approach, i.e. include the patient’s perceived definition of what constitutes high-quality care. The present study therefore focused on qualitatively capturing the experiences of patients with inflammatory bowel disease on their journey through the health-care system in Prince Edward Island. The data presented in this study are based on information collected during one-on-one interviews with five patients that were receiving ambulatory, IBD-related care in Queens County, PEI, between September to December 2022. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts revealed four general themes: (1) Needing to Plan; (2) Managing Complications; (3) Patient-Provider Communication, and (4) Patient Ability to Access IBD-related Healthcare. Overall, participants felt satisfied with their treatment plans and the quality of care that they received from their health-care providers. This was largely influenced by the ease with which they could access specialized IBD care and the strong communication between themselves and their health-care providers.
Date/Time/Location: April 2, 2025, 1:00 pm, Health Sciences Building 226
Everyone is welcome,
It is time to offer support to our students during exams and final papers. The Chaplaincy Centre continues to host a free meal for students on April 9, with the generous help of many UPEI faculty and staff. There are three chances to volunteer: set up on April 8 and two (2) servings on April 9. Please use this link to sign up for a 30-minute shift to volunteer. Opportunities to set up, serve, and clean up are available as well as a chance to mingle with students in an informal conversation with good food.
On Tuesday, April 8, from 9:00-9:30 am, we will set tables and chairs for the next day.
On Wednesday, April 9, we will offer two serving times:11:30 am-1:00 pm and 4:30-6:00 pm. If slots are full, please check back closer to the day as schedules change and time slots may open up. Contact Sister Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca for further information.
Sister Sue and Lauren
Join UPEI President Wendy Rodgers for casual "coffee chats" at Tim Horton's in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre on Tuesday, April 1 from 8:00-8:45 am.
These coffee chats offer a relaxed setting where any member of the UPEI community can drop by, grab a drink, and chat with Wendy about anything on your mind. Whether you want to share ideas, ask questions or simply say hello, these chats are a great way to connect with the president in a comfortable and informal environment.
The Application Review Committee invites campus community members to attend the research and teaching seminar by Dr. Hala Mreiwed, candidate for the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Children, Youth and their Educational Geographies.
Dr. Hala Mreiwed has a PhD in Educational Studies from McGill University (2021). Currently, Dr. Mreiwed is an Assistant Professor in Childhood and Youth Studies at King's University College at Western. Dr. Mreiwed is also the co-chair of the Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (CCRC) and previously was the children’s rights advisor at the Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR). Dr. Mreiwed's proposed research interests are in Children's rights education and focus on the rights of children in school and the rights of early childhood educators (ECEs) and teachers and the intersections between these rights.
Teaching Seminar:
- Date/Time: Monday, March 31, 2025, 9:30 am
- Location: Memorial Hall, Room 417
- Virtual link: Join the meeting now
Research Seminar:
- Date/Time: Monday, March 31, 2:00 pm
- Location: Memorial Hall, Room 417
- Virtual link: Join the meeting now
The teaching and research seminars will also be recorded and available after the session. Those interested in the recording may contact mlsteele@upei.ca.
Dr. Hilding Neilson, assistant professor, Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University, will give a public lecture titled “Space is Part of the Land: Moving from Colonialism and Space Exploitation to Indigenous Models of Operating in Space,” on Wednesday, April 2, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, Kelley Memorial Building 237, UPEI.
The lecture is presented by the UPEI Department of Physics, in collaboration with the Chairs of Inclusion in Science and Engineering (CISE) as part of CISE’s Spark Lecture Series.
“The colonization of outer space arguably began with the writings of Von Braun in the 1950s and his manual for sending people to Mars as a new land to conquer,” said Dr. Neilsen. “That colonialism was not novel but follows the same history of European powers colonizing the Americans and other parts of the world, and the same recent history of nations and consortiums developing telescopes on Indigenous lands. In the future, as private actors develop a new space industry, we will see the export of this colonialism to space, to the moon, and one day even to Mars. We are already seeing this today with the development of satellite constellations, some of which are visible by the unaided eye and with the multinational Artemis Accords for lunar exploration.”
In his talk, Dr. Neilson will review the relationship between astronomy, outer space, and colonization in the past, present, and future, and discuss different ways to relate to outer space and space exploration through the lens of Indigenous methods and knowledge.
All are welcome to attend.
The Canadian Postsecondary Alcohol and Drug Use Survey (CPADS) is live until March 31. If you are a student attending UPEI consider participating in this very quick survey for the chance to win a $50 gift certificate to the UPEI Bookstore. Go to:https://surveys.advanis.ca/cpads24?r=UPEI. For any student who completes the survey, there is now an option at the end of the survey to leave your email and a draw will be made on April 1 for the two gift certificates. Thank you to those who choose to participate. The results of this survey can help us understand alcohol and drug use on campus, build awareness of potential harms and develop interventions for individuals who may feel they have developed unhealthy use of alcohol and/or drugs.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Canada and every three days, someone on PEI is diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
March is Colorectal Cancer Screening Month. Current colorectal cancer screening guidelines on PEI recommend a FIT test (fecal immunochemical test) every two years for Islanders aged 50-74 years of age for average risk individuals. If you are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer (positive family history, blood in the stool, history of colorectal cancer, notice a change in bowel movements, unexplained weight loss, vomiting, experience long-standing diarrhea or constipation) then you should have a colonoscopy and this can be arranged at the UPEI Health & Wellness Centre.
The FIT test is available for anyone who is average risk and aged 50-74 at the UPEI Health & Wellness Centre, located on the second floor north at the W.A. Murphy Building (above the bookstore). If you identify as being higher risk, make an appointment to see a nurse practitioner at the health centre and they can review the screening that is best for you, referring for gastroenterology consult if necessary.
Detecting colorectal cancer at an earlier stage improves your chances of survival and avoidance of treatment. For more information, check out Health PEI’s Provincial Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.
The Robertson Library invites the campus community to a candidate presentation for the library’s permanent-track position of Clinical Librarian.
Candidate: Mr. John Bayhi
Title: evidence-based medicine for undergraduate medical learners
When: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Where: Robertson Library, Room 264
Mr. John Bayhi will visit the Library on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 for an interview for the Clinical Librarian position.
At 1:00 pm, Mr. Bayhi will give a 45-minute demonstration, on evidence-based medicine for undergraduate medical learners, with 15 minutes for questions and answers.
John holds an ALA-accredited Master of Library and Information Studies degree from the University of Oklahoma. He is currently a Librarian and Director for Research Services at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Library appointments committee: Kim Mears, (Chair), Rosie Le Faive, Lisa Chilton (History), Sarah Peddle (Medicine), Tammie Muise (Medicine), Joe Gordon (AVC/Medicine)
