Future scientists and innovators will once again exhibit their skills and knowledge Thursday, April 7, bringing the best of PEI school science to the 30th Annual PEI Science Fair in Charlottetown.

The PEI Science Fair draws students from across the Island, all eager to present their projects, experiments and innovations to judges and the public. Up to 240 projects will be on display throughout the main gymnasium floor of the UPEI Sports Centre.

Science Fair judges will be looking for originality, creativity, and most importantly, scientific thought. The PEI Science Fair awards numerous prizes donated by its many sponsors. Selected projects from the intermediate and senior divisions will be entered in the nationwide competition to be held May 15 to 22, 2005 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The PEI Science Fair is sponsored by the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), PEI Department of Education, Development and Technology PEI, the PEI School Boards and the PEI Association of Professional Engineers as well as its many award sponsors. Local Government dignitaries, as well as chief officers from our sponsors will visit the Fair during the day.

The event is the volunteer effort of hundreds of people including teachers, parents, students, judges, mentors, the organizing committee members and sponsors. The Fair will be open to the public at 11 a.m. The Awards Ceremony will begin in the gymnasium at 4:00 p.m.

For further information on the CWSF, visit http://www.cwsf2005.ca For more information on the day's events, please visit the PEI Science Fair website at http://www.scifair.upei.ca

The Harvey Moore Wildlife Fund has awarded its latest scholarships, bringing its total to over 75, since being established in 1961. The scholarships are aimed at students at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) who have a strong wildlife conservation focus in their programs. These awards honour Harvey Moore, a naturalist from Milltown Cross, PEI who is best known for his bird sanctuary, privately established in 1956.

This year's three recipients, awarded a total of $1600, are Biology students who are investigating aspects of the local ecology, with a focus on wildlife conservation. Honours student Royce Steeves is studying a rare type of flower, called the St. Lawrence aster, found along the North Shore of PEI. Karen Johnson is studying habitat and movement patterns of the red fox. Carrie Jardin is assessing the toxicity of PEI stream sediments, particularly those with documented fish kills. Both Karen and Carrie are currently working on their Masters of Science in Biology.

Applications for the 2005-2006 scholarships are currently being accepted. Further information may be obtained by contacting the Biology department at UPEI or the trustees of the PEI Wildlife Federation Fund. For a complete listing of scholarships, bursaries and awards go to http://www.upei.ca/registrar/#importantinformation

President Wade MacLauchlan, on behalf of the Board of Governors of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), is pleased to announce the extended appointment of Dr. Tim Ogilvie as Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC).

The Board approved the unanimous recommendation of the Dean's Search Committee to extend the appointment of Dr. Ogilvie for another three years. Dean of AVC for the last six years, this appointment is effective immediately.

"We had strong endorsement from all quarters to extend Dr. Ogilvie's appointment," says President MacLauchlan. "His intimate knowledge of AVC and commitment to excellence enhances the regional and international work of the College. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Dr. Ogilvie in the continued development of AVC, notably in our efforts to encourage private donors to support a major expansion of the College."

Joining UPEI in 1985, Dr. Ogilvie is the College's third Dean and has been extensively involved with AVC since its establishmentand#151;he was among the first faculty members to be hired by the College. Previous to being Dean, he served as acting dean and from 1990-98 and led the College's Department of Health Management as Chair.

Prior to joining AVC, Dr. Ogilvie was Director of the Animal Industry Services Branch of the PEI Department of Agriculture and Forestry. He also worked in the early 70's as a veterinarian in the Kensington area, where he still resides with his wife, Lola. They have two sons, Thomas and Adam.

Dr. Ogilvie received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Master of Science degrees from the University of Guelph and is a board-certified Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and is past President of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (1991-92).

"I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to continue serving UPEI as Dean of AVC," says Dr. Ogilvie. "Since admitting our first class of veterinary students in '86, AVC has experienced remarkable success and growth. Now we are preparing to build on our success in education, research, and service."

AVC is gearing up to break ground this Fall for an expansion and renovation project that will take $32 million and two years to complete. An $18 million federal commitment will fund part of the expansion project with the matching funds to be raised from the AVC portion of the UPEI Building a Legacy Campaign. Sticking to an aggressive time line, AVC will finalize construction documentation from now until the end of May. Construction highlights include; a new four-level 57,000 square-foot research complex, an expansion of the aquatic area, a learning commons, an expansion and update of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, as well as various upgrades to labs and services.

The provincial government's recent announcement of a $500,000 fund to assist and encourage research and development in the province has been well received by the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). The University's emphasis on new knowledge development, and on partnerships with the private sector, has increased substantially in recent years. The new fund has the potential to provide a valuable boost to that work.

"I would like to congratulate the government for introducing this fund to encourage research that will lead to the development of new products and new economic growth," says Dr. Katherine Schultz, Vice-President of Research Development. "This initiative demonstrates the province's support for the development a knowledge-based future for Prince Edward Island. It is a commitment that we definitely share at UPEI."

Research income at UPEI has increased dramatically over the past five years. Last year, external research dollars on campus totalled $9 million, more than three times the $2.5 million earned in 1998. Income jumped by 29.1%, from 2002 to 2003 alone. In a recent survey of 50 universities from across the country, conducted by Research Infosource Inc., UPEI ranked third among primarily undergraduate universities in Canada. The rankings were based on financial indicators such as total sponsored research income, research income per full-time faculty position, and research income per full-time graduate student.

The new provincial research and development fund will give special consideration to projects in key economic sectors: Life Sciences/Biotechnology, Information Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, Environmental Technologies and Aerospace.

A special program introduced at UPEI two years ago to enhance first-year accomplishment is proving popular with students who have taken a break from their formal education as well as those whose high school grades did not reflect their true academic potential.

The Transition Program strengthens writing, research, reading, study and computer skills; provides academic and personal support; and helps to ensure that new students benefit from all of the valuable services and activities available to them on campus. It was designed to meet the needs of mature students who need to rebuild their confidence and study skills; students from various cultures who are interested in transition support; graduates of upgrading programs wanting to take their education to a higher level; and students with a brief previous experience of university who want to return and ensure success.

"The transition program has helped me adjust to university life. I've learned skills and developed confidence that will accompany me in my university career," says Ashley Jadis, a mother of two, who is originally from Scotchfort and now lives in Charlottetown. Her goal at UPEI is to pursue a degree in Nursing.

Gita Giroux of Charlottetown had been in the workforce for five years before deciding to further her education. "I had not been in school for so long that going to university was a little intimidating. I wasn't sure if I could fit in academically or with my peers. I decided to take the Transition Program along with three other courses," she explains. "The program gave me one-on-one support and provided a comfortable atmosphere in an intimidating place. I am pursuing my career goal as a social worker, and will return to UPEI in September to continue my degree. I now feel confidence in my academic capabilities and I've made some great friends."

Karen Gillis of Eldon joined the Transition Program with the goal of obtaining a degree in Psychology and Creative Writing now that she has raised her two children. When she joined the program she had been out of the education system for 28 years.

"I had always wanted to go on to university after I finished college in 1979, but the timing never seemed to be right. When I was accepted into UPEI I worried that I was too old. I thought I'd forgotten more than I knew in the first place but I still wanted to try it. The Transition Program gave me a firm foundation to build my confidence so that I could still meet my educational goals which had been put on hold for so long," she says. "It helped me learn to read faster and more effectively, and to study and take notes better. It helped me update my computer skills. It even taught me how to write a resume, cover letter and make a learning portfolio; maybe one of the most important tools I'll have for obtaining employment."

Karen adds that what she liked best about the program was the diversity of students, backgrounds, and ages. "I learned so much from my classmates whether they were fresh out of high school, coming back after raising a family, or changing careers. We became a close group, sharing experiences and strategies for coping with our first year of university. As a result, I feel comfortable in knowing where to go for the support I need to be successful in reaching my goals."

Most participants take three credit courses and one Transition Program course per semester, and this classifies them as full-time students. The program is also open, on a part-time basis, to students taking one or two credit courses each semester. More information is available through the UPEI Centre for Life-long Learning at http://www.upei.ca/transition/. The Centre develops and delivers a broad range of continuing education courses, workshops, programs, summer institutes and other services to help meet the life-long learning needs of Islanders.

The PEI Healthy Eating Alliance, in conjunction with the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences at UPEI, have developed a nutrition resource called the School Healthy Eating Toolkit. The toolkit, currently being distributed to all elementary schools across PEI, was designed to help schools as they implement new healthy eating policies. The Eastern School District has recently adopted such a policy to begin Fall 2005, with the Western and French (Commission scolaire de langue franand#231;aise) school boards expected to adopt their own in the near future.

The toolkit, which provides practical advice on such topics as healthy food choices at school, food safety, and healthy fund-raising activities, was developed as part of the "Healthy EATS (Eating at School)" project. Funding has been provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Diabetes Strategy which is aimed at developing effective diabetes prevention strategies. A group of 17 lead schools, representing all three school boards, helped develop this toolkit at local networking meetings held across the province. "Schools have been a major partner in developing nutrition polices over the past two years, and they have helped us put together this practical, accessible information which they told us was needed to implement these policies," said Wendy MacDonald, co-chair of the PEI Healthy Eating Alliance (HEA).

The PEI HEA was established in November, 2001. It consists of a diverse group of over 30 individuals and organizations working to improve children's eating habits and reduce the trend towards being overweight. In addition to the toolkit, the UPEI Foods and Nutrition students also designed a pilot peer education healthy eating module in cooperation with the PEI Department of Education. This unique initiative, overseen by registered dietitian Charmaine Campbell, sees grade 11 students assisting children in grades three and four. The series of lessons includes topics such as nutrition and the media, food labels, serving sizes, and food safety. A pilot of this program was run in a Charlottetown school this spring with great success.

It is estimated that children eat as much as 40 per cent of their daily food at school. Dr. Jennifer Taylor, spokesperson for the HEA and chair of the Family and Nutrition Sciences Department at UPEI, states, "Our research indicates that PEI children have poor eating habits which, combined with low activity levels, increases their risk of being overweight and Type 2 Diabetes. This toolkit will offer a starting point for schools to introduce healthy food choices. If we want our children to be healthy, and grow up to be healthy adults, it is critical that we work with schools and families to improve the school food environment."

The public is invited to attend an astronomy lecture at UPEI on Monday, May 9 by Dr. Davis Philips on "Large Optical Telescopes." The talk will outline his experiences in the early 80s as the first American observer to use the Soviet Union's six-metre reflector in the Caucasus. He will detail the history of large telescopes, those currently being built, and some of what is planned for the future. It takes place in the Lecture Hall of KC Irving Building, UPEI, beginning at 8:00 pm.

Dr. Philips is a professor in the Physics department at Union College, Schenectady, New York, and the president of the Institute for Space Observations and the Davis Press. His presentation is part of the prestigious Shapley lecture series, named after Harlow Shapley who discovered the dimensions of our galaxy and the location of its centre. Dr. Philips' visit to UPEI on May 9 and 10 will also include technical lectures for faculty and students.

The May 9 public lecture builds on the Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP) series lecture given earlier this year at UPEI. Dr. Cliff Burgess spoke on the topic, "What is the Universe Made Of? The Case for Dark Matter and Dark Energy" to a standing-room-only crowd. Dr. Burgess is an associate member of the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, and a visiting professor in the Physics and Astronomy department at McMaster University.

The UPEI Physics department and the Charlottetown chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society also run a volunteer public outreach series. Since the summer of 2004, there have been opportunities to view the Sun, Moon and Saturn through the UPEI telescope. Heather Hughes, the astronomy lecturer at UPEI, says that the last of these, "Saturn on Saturday" has proved the most popular. More than 200 people attended over the three nights. "It is an ideal opportunity to involve the community, in particular children, in the wonder of the universe. We hope that everybody goes home with a sense of amazement and that it leads to a desire to find out more," Hughes says.

Two of the volunteers for astronomy events are physics students, Evan O'Connor and Jason MacWilliams, who are going through the Physics co-op program which was launched at UPEI in 2003. Their interest in astronomy has led them into work placements with the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics, part of the National Research Council, in both Victoria and Penticton, British Columbia.

For further information on Dr. Philips lecture, please contact the UPEI Physics Department at 566-0491.

Anne of Green Gables and Prince Edward Island will be the focus of a special theme day on May 5 at the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 2005 in Aichi, Japan.

Kate Macdonald Butler, granddaughter of author L.M. Montgomery, and Duncan McIntosh, member of the L. M. Montgomery Institute's International Advisory Board, representing Prince Edward Island, will attend "Anne Day" at Expo 2005 and will announce the launch of a Japanese-language website about L.M. Montgomery's personal scrapbooks and images of her book covers, and a special year in honour of Anne of Green Gables that will take place in 2008.

The website is a gift from the L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island to the people of Japan in recognition of their love of Anne and in celebration of Expo 2005. It is a translation of Picturing A Canadian Life: L.M. Montgomery's Personal Scrapbooks and Book Covers, a website developed by the L.M. Montgomery Institute, the Confederation Centre Art Gallery, University of Prince Edward Island, University of Guelph, Virtual Museum of Canada, Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace, and National Library of Canada. The url for the website is http://lmm.confederationcentre.com.

Ms. Macdonald Butler and Mr. McIntosh will also announce a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the publication of the novel Anne of Green Gables on Prince Edward Island in 2008. Eri Muraoka and Mie Muraoka, grandchildren of Hanako Muraoka who translated the novel into Japanese, will be guests at the announcement. Jennifer Toulmin, who plays Anne Shirley in the Charlottetown Festival's production Anne of Green Gables - The Musicaland#153; and Wakana Uchibayashi, who has played Anne in Tokyo, will sing two songs from the world-famous musical. Toulmin is one of six Canadians featured in the Canadian Pavilion during Expo 2005.

A committee consisting of representatives of the L.M. Montgomery Institute, Tourism Prince Edward Island, Parks Canada, the Confederation Centre of the Arts, the provincial Department of Education, various tourism businesses and the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. is already working to plan the celebration. The Honourable Marion Reid, CM, a long-time Montgomery enthusiast and former lieutenant-governor of Prince Edward Island, is honourary chair of the celebration.

"Through her writings, particularly Anne of Green Gables, and her life-long love of her native Island, L.M. Montgomery has drawn our beautiful province to the attention of millions of people around the world," said Macdonald Butler and McIntosh, on behalf of the Honourable Marion Reid, CM, who was unable to travel to Japan for Anne Day. "Each year hundreds of thousands of people come to the Island to see for themselves the natural beauty that she expresses so eloquently in her novels, poems, letters and journals. We invite the people of Japan to come to Prince Edward Island in 2008 and join us as we celebrate our beloved L.M. Montgomery and her creation, Anne."

While the planning process is just beginning, the Anne2008 Centennial Committee's goal is to create a celebration of imagination, inspiration and creativity that will solidly link L.M. Montgomery and her fictional character Anne to their birthplace Prince Edward Island. The celebration will involve academic and cultural events such as the L.M. Montgomery Institute's biennial international conference scheduled for 2008, the Charlottetown Festival's production of Anne of Green Gables - The Musicaland#153;, the annual L.M. Montgomery Festival and much more. The committee has set up a website, http://www.anne2008.com, where information about the celebration will be posted as it becomes available.

Funding partners are the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Department of Canadian Heritage, Tourism Prince Edward Island and the University of Prince Edward Island. L.M. Montgomery is a trademark of the Heirs of L.M. Montgomery Inc. and Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Green Gables - The Musical are trademarks of the AGGLA and used under license.

Dr. Brian Wagner, Chair of the Department of Chemistry, has been selected for a prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowship by the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education and 3M Canada. The 3M is Canada's exclusive national award for university teaching and leadership. Faculty members from the University of Prince Edward Island have carried off four 3M awards in the last five years, which demonstrates an outstanding record of teaching excellence.

_________________________

Dr. Wagner's Citation

Students wait in line at pre-registration to make sure they get into Brian Wagner's first-year chemistry class, and no wonder. From his interactive anonymous quizzes to his writing-across-the-curriculum techniques to his use of real-life research in the classroom, Brian connects the student to chemistry and chemistry to the world. In1998, he won UPEI's Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching, and his student evaluations include comments like "better than the best" and "Dr. Wagner, you are a chemistry god!"

But Brian's passion goes beyond chemistry; he was a founding member of UPEI's Environmental Studies Group, and he team-teaches in the core course of a new Environmental Studies Minor. That collaborative spirit extends to his colleagues on campus and beyond. Even with a heavy load as Chair of his Department, Brian volunteers each year as a teaching mentor in UPEI's New Faculty Program. A leader in promoting active learning even in large science classes, Brian shares his passion for teaching with international university and college teachers as a facilitator in UPEI's Faculty Development Summer Institute on Active Learning.

_________________________________

Teachers with Reach: Announcing recipients of the 20th Anniversary 3M Teaching Fellowship Awards

Montreal, QC, May 13, 2005 -

Forty-three years ago, after three sleepless nights and worrying that he'd made a career mistake, John Thompson stepped into his first classroom; 10 minutes later, he knew he wanted to teach for the rest of his life. And now, he and nine others will receive Canada's only national award for university teaching and leadership: the 3M Teaching Fellowships.

Every member of John's cohort shares his sense of joy and dedication to teaching. At the University of Saskatchewan, Richard Schwier, believes that the most powerful technologies are the soft ones: "how we engage students, excite them and empower them." Dalhousie's Srinivas Sampalli is so loved by his computer science students that they established a teaching award in his name.

3M Teaching Fellows are also innovators in pedagogy: Georg Gunther at Newfoundland's Wilfred Grenfell College has developed an original set of cartoon characters who model math problems, and fliers advertising "Math Problems at Low Prices!" engaging the mathphobes among his students. The University of Ottawa's Aline Germain-Rutherford has developed software that allows students to graph and see the progress of their French accents. David Dunne's students in the University of Toronto's School of Management work with industry leaders to produce ads for clients like the Salvation Army and the Alzheimer's Society. And the University of PEI's Brian Wagner connects his students to chemistry and chemistry to the world.

The 3M Teaching Fellows also demonstrate extraordinary leadership in university teaching. York's Janice Newton has established new academic programs; Western's Anton Allahar has introduced new programs as far as St. Petersburg, Russia. And History professor Kenneth Bartlett founder of the Office of Teaching Advancement champions the "Academy of Teaching" that will be announced at the University of Toronto.

Teachers, innovators and leaders, these 3M Teaching Fellows will be introduced to the membership of the Society of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE) on June 9th at the University of Prince Edward Island. They will also meet at the Chateau Montebello on November 5th and#150; 7th for an intense and exciting weekend retreat.

This is the 20th anniversary of the Fellowships Program, supported by former President of 3M Canada, John Myser who knew the impact his teachers had made on him. Myser collaborated with STLHE to recognize and value teaching in Canadian universities and to celebrate teachers with reach.

For more information please contact:

Dr. Arshad Ahmad, Program Coordinator

3M Teaching Fellowships

Tel. (514) 848-2424 x 2928

Fax: (514) 848-4500

E-mail: arshad@jmsb.concordia.ca

The University of Prince Edward Island held its 36th Convocation exercises on Saturday, May 14 in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. A record-setting 717 diplomas, undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate degrees were awarded during two ceremonies. This year the graduate list included students from 17 different countries, reflecting the increasing number of international students now attending UPEI.

"Convocation is a celebration of student success. For the individual graduate, and for the entire University, this is a celebration of talent, sustained effort, and belief in the importance of learning," said President Wade MacLauchlan. "Just as important, Convocation is a celebration of the fact that UPEI is an excellent university supported by a wonderful community."

The 2005 Honorary Degree recipients were women and men who have demonstrated that strong sense of community commitment. They were: Honourable James Lee, Colin MacDonald, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha, John Joe Sark, and Charles Stewart Scranton who gave the morning address. Mr. Scranton, who is now in his 90th year, has had a life-long career in agriculture. He has served as a director of many agricultural organizations, including the PEI Federation of Agriculture and the Canadian Hereford Association. He was also a founder of Camp Segunakadeck, one of the largest Baptist camps in Atlantic Canada.

The afternoon address was delivered by Sister Lauretta White who accepted an honorary degree on behalf of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha. The activities of "The Marthas" have had a powerful and positive influence in PEI. They have participated extensively in higher education at St. Dunstan's University and UPEI, and in primary and secondary education as teachers and administrators. The congregation has also made significant contributions to the welfare of Islanders through its work in health care and child welfare, as well as parish and prison ministry.

Jeffrey David Berkshire of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia was the valedictorian for the morning ceremony. Jeffrey graduated as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. The afternoon valedictory was delivered by Deidre Charlotte Kelly of Kingston who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, first-class standing.

This was the first year for graduates of the Bachelor of Education Specializing in Teaching French Immersion. Jennifer C. Albrecht of Tryon and Rachel Charlene Grigg of Northam were the first students to complete the new program which is offered collaboratively with l'Universitand#233; de Moncton. The Family and Nutritional Science department celebrated two firsts; Emily Garrity from Charlottetown and Sophia Wadowska from Bonshaw were the first graduates in the new honours program, while Tasha Ellis of St. Ann's, Anne Lane of Charlottetown, and Melanie Dawn Shea of Tignish were the first to complete a minor in Family Science.

For Don and Judy Gillis of Mermaid it was a very special day. Don Gillis taught engineering at UPEI for 35 years. Their son, Robert James, graduated with a Diploma in Engineering and he plans to continue his studies at Dalhousie in Mechanical Engineering. Robert was the last of the seven Gillis children to graduate from UPEI. They now have five engineers and two medical doctors in the family.

Lara Cusack of Charlottetown was one of a number of exceptional veterinary graduates this year. Lara took her external rotations in BC, Alberta, Australia, and South Africa. Her experience included working with lions and elephants on African wildlife reserves and rehabilitating wildlife in the Australian outback. She is currently raising funds to participate in Envirovet program which takes leaders in environmental health and wildlife conservation and puts them together for eight weeks in the US and South Africa.

It was a bittersweet occasion for the Department of Music as four members of the wind symphony said goodbye to UPEI. Stephanie Cole, trombone, Matthew McCrady, trumpet, Celeste Brink, saxophone, and Angela Mason, flute, have been with the symphony for more than five years. Now they are moving on to apply their outstanding musicianship skills to graduate work and teaching careers.

Many 2005 graduates have made valuable contributions to the growing sense of school spirit that has been especially evident since the opening of the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Brandy Lee Anne MacLellan of Wellington Centre was one of them. Brandy graduated with a Sociology/Anthropology degree. She also received accolades for her commitment to New Student Orientation, the UPEI Yearbook, and the Student Council.

Convocation Day 2005 captured the considerable pride in accomplishment at UPEI that President Wade MacLauchlan has expressed this way: "Every single graduate represents a story of achievement and of wonderful promise for the future. They can be proud of their UPEI education and of the university they will be attached to for the rest of their lives."