Are you curious about machine learning but unsure where to start or whether it's the right fit for you? Join ACENET for an introductory session that explores the fundamentals of machine learning and its applications. We’ll break down key terminology—machine learning, deep learning, and neural networks—so you can confidently navigate the field. You'll learn about essential methods, from simple models like Linear Regression and Decision Trees for classification to more advanced techniques such as Support Vector Machines and Neural Networks—the foundation of Large Language Models. We’ll also discuss practical considerations for setting up a machine learning project, including the resources you need, data collection strategies, factors that contribute to success, and lessons to take away when things don’t go as planned.

This virtual workshop will be held on March 14, from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. To register, go to https://www.acenet.training/courses.

Apache Spark is an open-source software for large-scale data processing and analysis. Using Apache Spark and Python (PySpark), this workshop is aimed at analyzing data sets that are too large to be handled and processed by a single computer. In a hands-on format using PySpark, participants will learn to import data, and use functions to transform, reduce and compile the data. You will also learn how to produce parallel algorithms that can run on the national clusters.

This two-day virtual workshop is being offered on March 11 and 13, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm each day. To register, go to https://www.acenet.training/courses.

Asian Studies and the Centre for Korean Studies invite Asian Studies (AST) students (who completed or are taking one or more AST courses) to this special evening event: the 2025 Korean movie evening, K.C. Irving Chemistry Centre, Room 104, March 19, 6:00–8:30 pm.  

Light dinner (lasagna or pizza, salad), popcorn, and beverages will be served from 6:00–6:30 pm. The movie begins at 6:30 pm.

This is a 2014 South Korean historical action war film. It revolves around the Battle of Myeongryang in 1597, which is regarded as legendary Korean Admiral Yi Sun-sin’s most remarkable naval victory and “one of the most glorious victories in the global history of wars.” A national hero, he led only 12 Korean warships under his command to a heroic victory against an invading Tokugawa Japanese fleet of 330 vessels! The film attracted 17 million moviegoers in Korea, becoming the most-viewed and highest-earning film of all time there. The film was an international box-office hit with an earning of US$138M worldwide. See you there!  

For the event poster, e-mail to jbbandara@upei.ca or chung@upei.ca.

Acknowledgement: This event is funded by Professor Edward Chung’s international Seed Program for Korean Studies project grant (AKS-2022-INC-2230004) at UPEI, with thanks to Korean Studies Promotion Service (KSPS), Academy of Korean Studies (AKS), the Ministry of Education, Government of South Korea.

Contact Jay K. Bandarage (AST admin assistant) at jbbandara@upei.ca or 566-0331, or Dr. Edward Chung (AST director) at chung@upei.ca or 566-0324.

The deadline for Animal Care protocol submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, April 4, for the April meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month.  The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

Note: All investigators are reminded that any deviations in animal use, including unexpected mortality, must be reported to the ACC and University Veterinarian Jonathan Spears at 902-620-5026.

Curious how others find a balance with the problems that emerge from assessing too much or too little? Here's a blog that shares a few ideas to help you strike a good balance -  Navigating the challenges of assessment frequency

The Island Lecture Series is pleased to present a talk by Heidi Haering on Tuesday, March 18, at 7:00 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building, Room 201.

Drawing on anthropological fieldwork for a master’s thesis, this talk will deal with the struggle to define the “family farm” in PEI and how this ambiguity helps or hinders the work of farmers, agribusiness and government. It will discuss how participant definitions of the “family farm” contrasted with how they farmed and were sometimes at odds with their ideals. This talk will also shed light on the possible reasons that agribusiness and governments look to the pastoral romanticism of “family farm.”

Heidi Haering lives in Charlottetown and has recently completed her MA in Anthropology from Memorial University. Her thesis is entitled: “Three keywords in the campaign against farmland consolidation and the loss of small farms through the lens of the Prince Edward Island Chapter of the National Farmers Union." 

This event is hosted by the Institute for Island Studies at UPEI. Free, all are welcome. 

The chief editorial team of the UPEI Arts Review, a student-led publication, would like to invite members of the campus community to the book launch of Volume XIV, "Salt and Thunder". Please join us for this celebration of wonderful student writers and artists in SDU Main Building, Room 201 (Faculty Lounge) on Thursday, March 13, from 3:00-5:00 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

You will enjoy readings by the authors and meet the contributors, so come to recognize the talent of all the writers, illustrators, and photographers whose amazing work is showcased in this beautiful book.

Please feel free to contact the editor/co-editor-in-chief at artsreview@upei.ca for further information.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase (cash only).

Students are invited to the School of Climate Change and Adaptation's climate career day, an opportunity for students and climate sector organizations to meet face-to-face to learn about climate adaptation projects, potential summer jobs, or full-time opportunities on PEI.

Students are encouraged to come and network with climate professionals, potential employers, find a summer job, or kick start a career.

Admission is free for students.

Wednesday March 12, 10:00 - 12:00 pm, SDU Main Building, Faculty Lounge, Room 201.

On Wednesday, March 12, ITSS will conduct a short maintenance on the myUPEI portal and related services from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm. During this time, there may be intermittent access to and performance issues with myUPEI, Self-Service, and Colleague.

We encourage students, faculty, and staff who may need documents or links located on myUPEI to plan ahead and bookmark or download the resources they may need during this period.

As a reminder, you can access Moodle directly using https://moodle.upei.ca and Outlook email using https://outlook.office.com.

If you have any questions, please contact the ITSS help desk at 902-566-0465.

Mark your calendar to join colleagues to discuss How Humans Learn: The Science and Stories behind Effective College Teaching on Friday March 21, 2:30 pm at the Fox and Crow. Teaching is challenging. One way to make it easier is to know more about the ways students learn. This book lets us take a look behind the curtain, bringing together research from many fields with insights into the science behind learning. Read about curiosity, sociality, emotion, authenticity, and failure in higher education (there’s a chapter devoted to each) and the practical takeaways for busy professors. You can access the ebook for free through the Robertson library. How Humans Learn is also available as an audiobook. 

Take a breather, relax with friends, and paint a planter pot! This event is a great chance to be creative, meet new people, and envision ways to cultivate care and community on campus. How can each of us be a seed of change? What do each of us need to grow and thrive?

All art supplies will be provided, and you will receive seeds to grow in your new pot. 

Students, staff, and faculty are all welcome to attend. 

Hosted by the UPEI Student Union Student Wellness Coordinator and the UPEI Sexual Violence Prevention & Response Office on March 19, 11:00 am at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre, McMillan Hall.

Vagabond is presenting ". . . destroyed surely: An Evening of Plays by John Millington Synge" from March 12 to 15 inclusive in the UPEI Performing Arts Centre and Residence (PAC121S). The doors open at 7:00 pm for a 7:30 pm start.

Vagabond is presenting both "Riders to the Sea" and "In the Shadow of the Glen." When asked about the shows, director Greg Doran said: “We are building a substantial set, and we will be going with period costumes. We want to showcase what the students are capable of when properly supported.” He went on to say that he hopes the plays will resonate with Island audiences, for they deal with the dangers of life on the sea and the isolation of life on a rural farm.

There will be a talk-back with the company after the March 14 performance. Admission is pay what you can. For more information, contact Greg at gdoran@upei.ca. 

The plays deal with mature themes, so they might not be appropriate for a younger audience. 

Dr. Shannon Potter, a candidate for the Management (Organizational Behaviour/Human Resource Management) tenure-track position in the McDougall Faculty of Business, will give a presentation titled "It's the Kids: The Gender Pay Gap in Emergency Medicine" on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, at 9:00 am in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall, Room 142.

We're wrapping our tenth anniversary year of Soup for the Soul with two more servings in March! 

Enjoy a warm bowl of soup from 11:30 am-1:00 pm on March 11 (served by the Athletics and Recreation Department) and March 25 (served by the staff from the Robertson Library) at the Chaplaincy Centre. 

As the Muslim community celebrates Ramadan, we will continue to have to-go cups available at both Soup for the Soul events.

UPEI faculty members may now submit an expression of interest for faculty-led international experiences for 2026!

In the past, these experiences have been conducted in May and we call them "Maymesters". Visit the Maymester page for examples of these experiences.

Expression of interest application deadline is March 31, 2025, for the 2026 programs.

Your expression of interest application will be reviewed by the selection committee, and you will be notified when to proceed with a formal proposal.

Submit your expression of interest here.

Members of the UPEI community are invited to submit a proposal for this year's Teaching Community Conference, which will take place on Monday, April 28, 2025, at 9:00 am. This year's theme is "Teaching at the Intersections: Inclusion, Accessibility, and Courage in Education." The Teaching Community Conference aims to share experiences, challenges, and opportunities of advancing teaching and learning at UPEI, giving staff and faculty opportunities to engage in dialogue and share their experiences of teaching at the intersections. 

We are looking for proposals from the UPEI community that highlight current teaching and learning initiatives, share new ideas, and build collaborative strategies for a more inclusive accessible and courageous university. Proposals from staff and faculty are welcome. There are four formats suggested for proposals: 

• Traditional oral presentation: Presenters share a talk about a teaching and learning project or topic related to the theme, speaking for about 20 minutes, followed by 5-10 minutes for questions. 
• Lightning talk: "Small Shifts, Significant Gains." Presenters share a teaching strategy or practice that they’ve found effective in supporting student learning, speaking for about ten minutes, followed by a short group discussion. 
• Interactive workshop: A hands-on session that encourages active participation and collaboration among attendees. The workshop could involve group activities, discussions, practical exercises, etc. 
• Indigenous Sharing Circle: A facilitated, safe space for individuals to come together to discuss topics related to the theme, share their experiences, listen to each other, build relationships, offer support, and connect with each other.

The deadline for submissions is Friday, March 28, 2025. Successful proposals will be announced by April 4, 2025. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to TLC@upei.ca. 

Proposals can be submitted here.

RSVP to attend the Teaching Community Conference.

Dr. Henry Dimingu, a candidate for an accounting tenure-track faculty position in the McDougall Faculty of Business, will give a presentation titled "Exploring the Lived Experiences of Accounting Professionals in Diverse and Inclusive Workplaces and Their Impact on Financial Decision-Making" on Friday, March 14, at 11:30 am in Don and Marion McDougall Hall, Room 329.

The deadline for Animal Care protocol submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, April 4, for the April meeting. 

Please note that as of June 1, 2020, all animal user protocols must be submitted through UPEI Researcher Portal at https://upei.researchservicesoffice.com/Romeo.Researcher/

For new protocols, select "applications," and for renewal or amendment protocols, select "events."

UPEI ACC SOPs and Codes of Practice can be accessed through myUPEI at https://portal.upei.ca/facultystaff/administrativeservices/AVCAnimalCare/Pages/default.aspx. 

Those protocols received after the deadline will be reviewed the following month.  The committee requires at least one month for processing applications.

Note: All investigators are reminded that any deviations in animal use, including unexpected mortality, must be reported to the ACC and University Veterinarian Jonathan Spears at 902-620-5026.

Discover exciting summer job opportunities or kickstart your career at the 2025 Summer Job and Career Fair! Hosted by UPEI’s Experiential Education Department, this fair will bring together a diverse range of employers from various industries actively seeking to hire students and recent graduates. By attending, you’ll have the chance to network with employers and explore both summer job positions and full-time career opportunities. The fair will be held in person, so dress professionally and bring copies of your resume to make the most of your interactions with employers.

Key details: The fair will take place on March 12, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. In case of inclement weather, the storm date is March 13, same time and location.

What to expect: Attendance is FREE for students, and no registration is required. Don’t miss out on the chance to win exciting door prizes!

For any inquiries, feel free to contact Jess Cameron, Community and Industry Outreach Coordinator, at careerfair@upei.ca or 902-894-2817.

We look forward to seeing you at the fair!

Join UPEI alumni and the Graduate Student Association on Friday, March 21, from 12:00-1:00 pm in Bill and Denise Andrew Hall 142 for a Lunch and Learn!

Information will be provided on

• building professional connections with alumni
• how alumni can stay involved
• the importance of building connections
• benefits of being UPEI alumni

All students are welcome to join. Pizza and drinks will be provided. Students can RSVP here. 

If you have any questions, please contact Faith at fsteeves@upei.ca