Research on Tap: Fries with that?

Research on Tap discusses “Fries with that? Are school nutrition policies the solution to childhood obesity?” The kids are overweight because of hot dogs and garlic fingers at school? What about triple-stacked burgers at fast food restaurants? Rink fries.....? Let’s face it: the kids have an obesity problem, and their eating habits are a big part of the problem. Let’s talk about it at UPEI’s next Research on Tap. The discussion starts at 7 p.m., April 6th in the bar at Mavor’s in the Confederation Centre of the Arts. “I think schools do have a role to play to help promote healthier eating,” argues Dr. Jennifer Taylor, associate professor of Family and Nutritional Sciences at UPEI. “But then again, so do parents. So do communities. So does government. So does the food industry.” Taylor will discuss nutrition policies in Island schools, including ones that categorize food based on their nutritional value. “There is controversy as to whether we should be labelling a particular food as good or bad, and where the focus should be to reduce childhood obesity" says Taylor. “I think we need to take a step back and look at the environments where our children eat play and learn.” Research on Tap is a series of public discussions with UPEI’s researchers in a comfortable environment. Every month of the winter, we bring a UPEI researcher to a local pub—in this case, Mavor’s—to discuss his or her area of expertise. For more information, call (902)620-5117, or e-mail datkinson@upei.ca Research on Tap is presented by UPEI’s Office of Research Development.

"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
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