The world’s experts on lobster health, biology and management will meet in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island this weekend for the 8th International Conference & Workshop on Lobster Biology & Management.

Considered the “Olympics of Lobster”, the conference– which is held every four years– will run from September 23 to 28 at the Delta Prince Edward and bring together more than 200 delegates from over 20 countries to examine lobster habitat, climate change, population dynamics, disease, management strategies and more. The conference is co-chaired by the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Lobster Science Centre and the Prince Edward Island Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

“People often wonder just how much there is to know about a lobster,”says Dr. Jean Lavallée, co-chair of the conference and a lobster scientist with the Atlantic Veterinary College’s world renowned Lobster Science Centre–the only lobster research facility in the world that is part of a veterinary college.

“What we know and are learning is incredible. But there is still a vast amount about this animal and how it grows, how it lives its life, and how it’s impacted by its environment that is still uncertain. At the conference we look at everything from how climate change impacts lobster and the food chain, to how we can apply basic veterinary medical principals to lobster that we would apply to other animals, such as cats and dogs.”

Lavallée, who is one of few veterinarians in North America with a graduate degree in lobster health, says the conference is the largest of its kind and is tremendously successful in bringing together lobster researchers, industry representatives, government partners, and fishers for the purpose of increasing overall knowledge of lobster fishery management and examining advances in lobster-related science.

“Having the world’s experts in lobster studies together in the same room plays a critical role in learning from each other to ensure our respective lobster fisheries remain sustainable and healthy,” explains Lavallée.

The economic value of the lobster fishery in Atlantic Canada is estimated at more than $1 billion.

The complete program for the 8th International Conference &Workshop on Lobster Biology & Management can be found at http://www.lobsterscience.ca/conference. The conference is the last of three major international aquatic species events co-hosted by the Atlantic Veterinary College in September. Mollusc Health and Disease Management, one of few comprehensive courses in the world dealing with shellfish exclusively, and a Bitter Crab Disease Workshop were also held over the past two weeks.

Funded by the four Atlantic provinces, the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI is committed to excellence and innovation in education, research, and professional services. Since opening in 1984, the College has graduated approximately 1,000 doctors of veterinary medicine, has become known around the world for its research capabilities, and is Atlantic Canada’s only full service veterinary referral hospital.

For further information, please contact:
Charlotte McCardle
External Relations, AVC Dean’s Office
902 566 0533
cmccardle@upei.ca

The upcoming UPEI Homecoming celebrations, September 27 to 30, will be a memorable experience for everyone connected with the University, but for rugby supporters it will be extra-special. That’s because the newly renovated grass sports field that will host all future UPEI rugby events, as well as provincial, regional, and national championships, is to be named the MacAdam Field in honour of the late Alban Joseph (AJ) MacAdam of Morell.

The formal naming ceremony takes place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, just before the UPEI men’s rugby game against Saint Mary’s.

AJ MacAdam’s legendary accomplishments as a sports competitor and leader are a proud part of the history of St. Dunstan’s University (SDU), one of UPEI’s two founding institutions. He was the only four-letter athlete in the history of SDU to receive the “Gold D” for his excellence in rugby, basketball, track and field, and hockey.

"UPEI is proud to name the new MacAdam Field in recognition of AJ MacAdam's contributions as an athlete, coach, and teacher, and in recognition of athletic excellence," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "It is significant that this will become official on Homecoming Weekend, as we renew our ties with the people who have built UPEI over the decades."

UPEI has upgraded and resurfaced the natural turf field as part of its development plan for excellence in sports programming. Recently completed improvements include fencing, a press box, bleachers, a score clock, drainage, and overseeding.

“We have elevated the field to a premier grass facility,” says Ron Annear, UPEI Athletics Director. “Maturation of the grass will see the field as one of the best rugby facilities in Atlantic Canada. The excellence in our rugby program and the quality of MacAdam Field will be very fitting symbols of AJ's accomplishments.”

When AJ MacAdam was inducted into the UPEI Sport Hall of Fame in 2002, he was described as “a speedy tail up in rugby, a strong defenseman in hockey, and a two-time Atlantic All-Star in this sport. He was a fine basketball player and the best all-round track-and-field athlete at the school.” After his collegiate days as an athlete ended, he joined the University as a teacher. He coached rugby and hockey and was later appointed the SDU Athletics Director.

For more details about all the sports and social events taking place during Homecoming 2007, go to upei.ca/homecoming.

Twenty years ago the UPEI Panthers had their most outstanding year in sport ever. As part of the 2007 Homecoming celebrations this weekend, the University will recognize all teams, athletes, and friends from 1987–1988 for their contributions to an exceptional season.

Numerous Panther athletes were awarded AUAA All-stars, including Janet Nichols, Ria Bahdursingh, Susan Knickle, and Tracy MacEachern for basketball. MacEachern also received an All-Conference nod for field hockey. Richard Pierre-Gilles was a 1^st-Team AUAA All-Star for soccer. Peter Gordon, Steve Ruiz, and Mark Roberts received AUAA All-Stars for men’s basketball. Greg Gravel, Dave Shellington, Kevin Skilliter, Steve Fulton, and Tony Haliduick were AUAA All-Stars for men’s hockey, and Vince Mulligan was named the AUS Coach of the Year. Fulton was also named to the CIAU All-Canadian Team.

Professor Sean Hennessey, who teaches at the UPEI School of Business Administration, has released the second edition of his popular textbook, Principles of Corporate Finance, which he co-authored with Dr. Lawrence Gitman, a professor of finance at San Diego University. The first edition, published by Pearson Education Canada, a division of Prentice Hall, is currently being used in undergraduate and graduate programs across Canada.

"UPEI is proud that Dr. Hennessey's textbook has been so successful that it necessitated a second edition. I am confident that the new edition will provide business students throughout Canada and the United States with a valuable resource in the area of corporate finance, given the combined expertise of Dr. Hennessey and Dr. Gitman," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan.

Principles of Corporate Finance presents concepts, techniques, and practices that students require to make corporate financial decisions in a competitive, global business environment. The new book incorporates a proven teaching/learning system that integrates pedagogy with concepts and practical applications. It has been updated to present current and emerging issues and techniques that affect the practice of financial management. Clear writing and generous use of examples make the textbook an easily accessible resource for students of all abilities.

"The desire to write this textbook came out of my experience teaching introductory corporate finance," says Dr. Hennessey. "Students want a book written in plain English that ties concepts to reality. They also want demonstrations of financial concepts, tools, and techniques, not just abstract descriptions. I wanted to provide students with a book that met these goals and which clearly presents the principles of Canadian corporate finance in an engaging, easy-to-read, and understandable style."

Principles of Corporate Finance is Professor Hennessey's second book. His first book, Principles of Managerial Finance, also co-authored with Dr. Gitman, was published in 2003.

"It's exciting to see the second edition being published. Both books have done remarkably well. It's a challenging market in which to get published by the major textbook publishing houses," notes Roberta MacDonald, Dean of Business. "Professor Hennessey's efforts and success are indicative of the high quality of our professors and the calibre of education offered here at the School of Business Administration."

Sean Hennessey teaches in the areas of Corporate Finance, Investment Management, Business Research, and Personal Finance. He has taught at UPEI since 1984.

Educators from across Atlantic Canada will meet in Charlottetown next month for the Atlantic Educators Conference, an annual event taking place October 25-27th at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel. The theme of this year’s conference is Embracing Diversity in Canadian Education Communities.

This is the first time that a university faculty of education has partnered with a community college to host the conference, which will focus on research related to diversity in its many forms and how the needs of diverse student populations can be addressed. The conference will also highlight collaborative research between universities and colleges.

Participants will have the opportunity to hear an impressive line-up of speakers, including Dr. Kathleen Flanagan, Coordinator, Adult Learning Centre, Canadian Council on Learning; Al McNutt, Chairperson, Northern AIDS Connection Society; Dr. Jim Cummins, Canada Research Chair, Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto; and Candy Palmater, activist, advocate for the rights of aboriginal peoples, lawyer, and comedian.

Additionally, there will be workshops on how to write successful grant proposals, how to develop teaching tools for diverse classrooms, how to teach students to develop their metacognitive skills; a leadership panel discussion of collaborative research between universities and colleges; and a presentation of examples of successful collaborative efforts. There are also more than 35 concurrent sessions running over the three days of the conference.

"This conference has been a huge success in attracting colleagues from throughout Atlantic Canada and elsewhere, as we continue to put PEI on the map as an education destination," said Wade MacLauchlan, president of the University of Prince Edward Island.

Brian McMillan, president of Holland College, said the conference provides educators with an excellent opportunity to meet with colleagues from other institutions to exchange information about their research.

“Today’s colleges and universities are finding a number of creative ways to collaborate, such as research, student transfers, credentialing, and additional student services, which are having significant results for post-secondary learners. This conference offers professionals from post-secondary institutions the opportunity to explore the potential for further such collaborations.”

The full conference rate is $200, which includes a reception on Thursday, a banquet on Friday, Saturday breakfast and lunch, and all health breaks. Partial and student rates are also available. To find out more about the Atlantic Educators Conference program, and for registration, and accommodation information, visit www.upei.ca/~aec07, e-mail aec@upei.ca, phone Sandra at UPEI: 902-566-0731 or Veronica at Holland College: 902-566-9570.

Wade Sweet, a fourth year doctor of veterinary medicine student at the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI, was recently awarded an International Stockmen's Educational Foundation Travel Fellowship enabling him to participate in the 2007 International Livestock Congress in Calgary, Alberta on October 2. Sweet, who is from O'Leary, was one of 20 students representing 16 universities from four countries to receive the highly sought after fellowship. Scholastic achievement, leadership experiences and letters of recommendation are all part of the stringent qualifying requirements for the fellowship.

The International Stockmen's Educational Foundation partners with well established livestock events and organizations to further its mission to build global beef networks and focus on the emerging issues and challenges facing the beef industry from an international perspective. Through participation in the International Livestock Congress, students are provided with the opportunity to interact with world industry leaders and contribute to the solutions that will shape the advancement of the livestock industry into the next millennium. Following his experience in Calgary, Sweet will write a professional paper to be
submitted to the International Stockmen's Educational Foundation Board.

In addition to being the recipient of this prestigious travel fellowship, Sweet was recently awarded the Dairy Farmers of Prince Edward Island Award and The Bessie B. and J. Derril White Memorial Award during the Atlantic Veterinary College's annual Fall Awards and
Recognition Night.

Good news for current and prospective students at the University of Prince Edward Island. UPEI tuition fees for Canadian and international students are below the national average. UPEI has the lowest tuition fees in the Maritime provinces, according to Statistics Canada.

Statistics Canada released its annual survey of tuition fees for full-time students attending Canadian universities, on October 18. The survey, which was administered from April to June 2007, included 102 post-secondary degree-granting institutions this year, up from 60 last year.

It indicates that tuition fees paid by UPEI students in the 2007/2008 academic year declined by 9.8 per cent. Only one other province showed a decline in undergraduate tuition. The average tuition paid by full-time undergraduate students attending UPEI is $4,440, below the national average of $4,524. Full-time graduate students at UPEI paid $2,750, well below the national average of $5,447.

Prince Edward Island was one of only two provinces that did not show an increase in tuition fees for international students. At UPEI, international students paid just $8,760, in contrast to the national average of $13,985.

The lower tuition fees are considered an important factor in the increased numbers of students coming to UPEI from out of province. Full and part-time students transferring from other universities increased by 60.5 per cent this year. UPEI has 23 per cent more first-year students coming from New Brunswick than last year, and double the number of students from Nova Scotia. As well the number of international students attending UPEI this year rose by 4.1 per cent over last year.

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For more information about the Statistics Canada tuition survey, visit

For the second year running, UPEI mathematics students brought home top prizes from the Atlantic Provinces Council on the Sciences' 31st annual Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Conference held in Fredericton, New Brunswick recently.

Hosted by the University of New Brunswick this year, the annual conference brings together top math, statistics and computer science students from Atlantic Canada universities to present their research to peers and faculty.

Math student Zachariah Likely, of Charlottetown, took top prize for the "Best Mathematics Talk." Likely is a fourth year student majoring in mathematics who has plans to pursue graduate studies next year. He presented his work on the classification of high dimensional data using wavelets.

The team of Mostafa Fatehi and Jonathan Murley, both of Charlottetown, tied for second in the mathematics competition. Fatehi is a third year student interested in mathematical physics, while Murley is a second year student majoring in math. Both students plan to return to the conference next year and look forward to the opportunity to compete for first place.

"The UPEI Department of Mathematics & Statistics faculty members are proud of their students and congratulate them on a job very well done," says department chair Dr. Dan Ryan.

Dr. Christian Lacoix, Dean of Science, is not surprised that UPEI students did so well in the competition.

"Our math program is top-notch," he says. "There is a real sense of community in that department. Students work one-on-one with faculty to develop their skills and knowledge. We are very proud of them all."