Campus Notices
Ash Wednesday is February 14. Join the Chaplaincy Centre for Mass with the distribution of ashes at 12:05 pm. For more information, contact Sr. Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca.
Interested in learning about machine learning, natural language processing, or a second programming language like C? More training from ACENET for the winter semester is now open for registration. Sessions are online and free of charge.
If you have questions about upcoming training or ACENET services at UPEI, contact Kaitlin Newson.
February 20 and 22, 2024, 1:00--4:00pm
Apache Spark is a user-friendly open-source platform for large-scale data processing, analytics, and parallel computing. 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. With hands-on guided examples, the workshop covers the basics of Spark and Resilient Distributed Datasets (RDD) high-level architecture. The examples are mainly written in Python, hence the APIs covered are the ones available in PySpark, including Spark Core API (RDD API), Spark SQL, and Pandas on Spark. Participants learn how to import data, use functions to transform, reduce, and compile the data, and produce parallel algorithms that can run on Alliance clusters.
Prerequisites: ACENET Basics or equivalent, and how to write functions in Python.
The Why's and How's of Machine Learning
March 5, 2024, 1:00--3:00 pm
How can you make smart decisions about setup and execution of a machine learning project? How should you hire and support the staff working on the project? We hope to provide clear, thoughtful answers to these, and other common questions to get you thinking about whether machine learning is a technology that you and your company or group should think about investing in. We will discuss topics like data collection, the trade-offs involved in choosing a model, and what to expect from a successful project, as well as how to salvage useful by-products and skills when projects don’t go as planned.
This is a beginner session oriented to business owners and project managers curious to learn more about machine learning, or who may have an idea that involves machine learning and want to know where to begin.
Mar ch13, 2024, 10:00 am--4:00 pm
A great deal of high-performance computing software is written in C, but few universities offer courses in the language any more. If you have to work with "legacy code" written in C, adding features, porting to a new machine, or patching errors, or if you need to write user-defined functions for engineering packages such as Fluent, then this workshop is for you.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with some other programming language.
March 19, 2024, 1:00--3:00pm
Are you curious about machine learning, but not sure where to start, or if the discipline is for you? Join ACENET for a survey and explanation of several methods used to make machines learn. From simple models like Naive Bayes, Regression, and Decision Trees to an introduction to Support Vector Machines and Feed-Forward Neural Networks.
This talk is geared to be approachable to a novice audience, curious about machine learning, but not necessarily math or computer science majors. Methods and techniques will be explained using metaphors, examples, and clear language, without diving too deeply into the math and calculus on which these techniques are based.
March 27, 2024, 10:00 am--4:00 pm
A great deal of high-performance computing software is written in C++, but few universities offer courses in the language any more. If you have to work with "legacy code" written in C++, adding features, porting to a new machine, or patching errors, or if you need to extend packages like OpenFOAM which are written in C++, then this workshop is for you.
C++ was designed as an extension of the C language but has its own distinct idiom or style. This workshop assumes that you already know C to the level reached in the ACENET workshop, "C as a Second Language."
Prerequisites: "C as a Second Language" or prior experience with C programming.
Introduction to Neural Network Architecture
April 2, 2024, 1:00--4:00 pm
Have you wondered how machine learning models can suddenly do so many different types of work? How is it that machines can learn things like language, vision, and translation in such a short amount of time, and what has helped drive these kinds of improvements? The obvious answers--big data and big processors--are only part of the story, and to understand the full picture, we need to take a closer look at the models driving the AI revolution. This talk is aimed at people who are familiar with the basics of feed-forward neural networks, and will involve an in-depth explanation of how information is represented for machines to learn on, how machines can make sense of information, and the challenges presented.
Prerequisite: Familiarity with feed-forward neural networks.
Introduction to Natural Language Processing
April 16, 2024, 1:00--4:00 pm
How do computers understand language? It seems impossible that zeroes and ones could ever add up to words that humans can understand, but machine language has come a long way in the past few years. Let us take you behind the code to explain how machines simulate language comprehension, and why it’s a far more complicated problem than “bonjour = hello.” This talk is aimed at an audience who is not necessarily familiar with computers or language comprehension, but would like a primer to the field, and what it can realistically do. We will explain natural language processing from the perspective of machines that cannot understand words, but capture semantic meaning by processing data.
April 24, 2024, 10:00 am--4:00 pm
Fortran, one of the initial high-level programming languages, continues to be an excellent option for high-performance computing due to its superb performance. The newer versions offer many modern features, including object-oriented programming capabilities to programmers. This course will cover some of these features.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with another programming language.
Your journey to delivering great presentations and public speaking with ease begins here! Finding your authentic voice. Delivering your key messages effectively. How to engage your audience. How your preparation lays the groundwork for your success.
Come join in to learn about strategies, tips and tools that will enhance your engagement with your students, peers, and everyone else! Our facilitator, Ann Worth from Worth Consulting Group, is a highly experienced communications trainer.
One of our colleagues, Dr. Bill Whelan, had this to say about his experience: "I suffer off and on from anxiety prior to research talks or public presentations. I walked away from Ann’s workshop with a renewed excitement for public speaking, along with a toolbox of strategies to put me at ease the days leading up to and during a presentation, and ways to better engage with the audience. I tested this out 2 weeks later in the US and it was the most enjoyable presentation experience in years."
Join us on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 (snow date: Thursday, February 22) for this interactive session that explores how you can take your public speaking and presenting to the NEXT LEVEL OF IMPACT and EFFECTIVENESS in the Teaching and Learning Centre, Robertson Library Annex, Room 230, from 11:00 am–12:30 pm. Seats are limited. Please RSVP
UPEI annually acknowledges individuals for their outstanding contributions to the success of the University. The awards are valued at $1,000 each and given in recognition of the excellence of faculty, librarians, clinical veterinary professionals, clinical nursing instructors, sessional instructors, and staff.
Nominations are open and must be submitted to universityawards@upei.ca by the last Friday in February each year. This year, nominations close on Friday, February 23, 2024.
For further details about the awards and the nomination process, please visit https://www.upei.ca/president/university-awards-of-excellence
Discover sustainable fashion at Stitch&Switch, a hands-on workshop where participants learn clothing mending and upcycling techniques. The event promotes eco-conscious practices, fostering a community of like-minded individuals committed to mindful consumption and contributing to a greener wardrobe.
Join us on February 8 from 5:30-7:00 pm at UPEI’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering, Room 205, for a transformative experience in sustainable style. Limited sewing supplies and pizza will be available!
Presented by the UPEI Engineering Society and the UPEI Environmental Collective.
This event is made possible by the Atlantic Council for International Cooperation (ACIC) and Global Affairs Canada through the International Development Week 2024: Youth Funding for Events.
The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, March 1, for the March 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.
There will be a basic biosafety training session on February 14, 2024, at 9:00 am in AVC 287N. Topics will include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. This session is open to everyone, including graduate students.
To attend, you must pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell by the end of the day on February 7, 2024, by email (hse@upei.ca) or by phone (902-566-0901). Please provide your name, department, your supervisor’s name (if applicable), if you are a graduate student, email address, and phone number in your email or voice message.
NOTE: An online basic biosafety training refresher course is available for those who need it.
Google has announced the retirement of the Google Jamboard application.
From now until October 1, 2024, the Jamboard application will continue to function normally. From October 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024, the app will be placed in “view-only” mode to give you time to back up your Jam files.
While the app is in “view-only” mode, you’ll no longer be able to create new or edit existing Jams on any platform, including the web, iOS, Android, and Jamboard devices. On December 31, 2024, Google will shut down the Jamboard application, and you will no longer be able to access your Jam files. Any remaining Jam files will be deleted.
Prior to December 31, 2024, you can export your Google Jamboard content following the instructions posted here: Export your Jams - Jamboard Help (google.com)
As an alternative to Google Jamboard, Microsoft Whiteboard is currently available for all UPEI M365 accounts.
The UPEI Department of Music is pleased to present a recital showcasing our wonderfully talented faculty members. All are master performers on their instruments and excited to share their gift of music with you. This recital will be a highlight of our concert season!
Performers include Sung Ha Shin-Bouey (soprano), Dale Sorensen (trombone), Nicole Strum (saxophone), Magdalena von Eccher (piano), Stephen Bouey (bass baritone), Krista Bryson (in a percussion duet with UPEI alumnus Branden Kelly), Jim Dickson (guitar), and Morgan Saulnier (flute). The program will feature a varied selection of repertoire.
Accessible parking is available, and Dr. Steel Recital Hall has an accessible entrance via elevator.
Thisworkshop is an opportunity for you to connect with peers to generate ideas for your teaching dossier, seek feedback, and have dedicated time to work on sections of your teaching dossier. We’ll spend some time focusing on strategies for developing your award dossier, while saving a large portion of work time for you to work on your own dossier. This workshop will take place Friday, February. 9, 2024, at 1:30 pm in the TLC.
The Bridge Effect: Critical Reflections in the Age of Technological Solutionism, a book co-edited by Drs. Laurie Brinklow and Andrew Jennings, will be launched at the Institute of Island Studies’ Island Lecture Series presentation on February 27. Featuring a discussion of the effect of bridges—physical or digital—on island life and culture, the event will take place from 7:00-8:30 pm in the Faculty Lounge, SDU Main Building, UPEI.
Dr. Brinklow will take a humorous look at ferry crossings and how the various stages of the journey from the race to the dock to chatting with neighbours in the lineup can define Island life. Presenting virtually from Shetland, Scotland, via a technological bridge, Dr. Jennings will discuss the long-lasting impacts of two small bridges on island populations in the Scottish archipelago. Janice Pettit, PEI contributor, will share her interviews with Island residents about how the Confederation Bridge has affected “the Island way of life” 20 years later.
The event is free; all are welcome to attend. Books will be available for purchase.
Dr. Brinklow is a writer, editor, assistant professor, and coordinator of the UPEI Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program. She is the author of My island’s the house I sleep in at night and Here for the Music. A resident of Shetland, Scotland’s most northerly islands, Dr. Jennings is an associate professor of Island Studies based at UHI Shetland, where he works with the Institute for Northern Studies. Janice Pettit was an adjunct professor at UPEI where she taught the Introduction to Island Studies course for seven semesters. She now works for the PEI Public Service Commission.
The Bridge Effect was published by Island Studies Press with the support of a SSHRC Exchange Publication Award from the Office of the Vice-President, Academic and Research at UPEI. For more information, contact Bren Simmers at 902-566-0386 or ispstaff@upei.ca.
The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs (APC) via the Atlantic Indigenous Economic Development Integrated Research Program (AIEDIRP) invites you to attend a presentation on their latest study: Innovative Governance Structures to Support Indigenous Economic Growth
The study’s purpose is to identify innovative governance structures to support Indigenous economic growth and development, and how these can be optimized for the benefit of communities, using Nation-building approaches. After the presentation, there will be opportunities for questions and comments.
Date: Thursday, February 8, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Kelley Memorial Building, Room 237, University of Prince Edward Island
Presenter: Jarvis Googoo, Director of AIEDIRP
Refreshments will be available.
If you have any questions, please email lois.daye@apcfnc.ca
The deadline for Animal Care Protocol Submissions (new, renewal, or amendment) is Friday, March 1, for the March 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.
There will be a basic biosafety training session on February 14, 2024, at 9:00 am in AVC 287N. Topics will include basic biosafety principles and how they are applied at the University of Prince Edward Island, as well as biosecurity training. This session is open to everyone, including graduate students.
To attend, you must pre-register by contacting Jacky Buell by the end of the day on February 7, 2024, by email (hse@upei.ca) or by phone (902-566-0901). Please provide your name, department, your supervisor’s name (if applicable), if you are a graduate student, email address, and phone number in your email or voice message.
NOTE: An online basic biosafety training refresher course is available for those who need it.
Peter is a five-and-a-half-year-old male neutered retired teaching beagle who is looking for a new home. He is a sweet and loving dog who loves to spend time with his people. He's the best dog to cuddle with and loves greeting you when you get home. If you want to feel loved, Peter is the dog for you.
He is looking for a new home because he is anxious of and doesn't get along with our other dog, so ideally, he would be the only dog in his new house. He does live with four cats, and he loves all of them and respects their boundaries. He doesn't have experience with kids but is very people friendly.
He has been diagnosed with social anxiety, so he has trouble reading the social cues of and communicating with other dogs. Partially due to this, he is also leash reactive to other dogs. He is currently on several medications for anxiety, and other than his issues with our other dog, he seems to be doing well in regard to his anxiety. He has had some trouble with house training but has been doing great lately, with only a few accidents in the last month. Peter also has mild hip dysplasia but currently does not need medication for it.
Peter really is a wonderful dog, and it was an extremely hard decision to begin the process to rehome him. I want him to have the best life, and I truly believe he is the perfect dog for someone, but he just needs to be without the stress of living with a dog that he doesn't like in order to live up to his full potential.
If you are interested or want more information, please contact Alyssa McGee at ajmcgee@upei.ca
The theme for this year's World Cancer Day is Closing the Care Gap. The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) has applied an equity lens to ensure all Canadians have access to cancer screening, treatment, and prevention as these may be different depending on where you live. CPAC wants to change that to ensure we all have similar access.
World Cancer Day takes place every year on February 4 and is a key international awareness day that unites the world in the fight against cancer.
Created in 2000 and coordinated by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the theme of World Cancer Day 2024 is “Close the Care Gap,” focusing on commitments to prioritize cancer, create innovative strategies designed to address inequity, and invest our resources to achieve a just and cancer-free world.
Thisworkshop is an opportunity for you to connect with peers to generate ideas for your teaching dossier, seek feedback, and have dedicated time to work on sections of your teaching dossier. We’ll spend some time focusing on strategies for developing your award dossier, while saving a large portion of work time for you to work on your own dossier. This workshop will take place Friday, February. 9, 2024, at 1:30 pm in the TLC.
On February 8 from 5:00–7:00 pm, the Black Cultural Society of PEI will host a panel discussion on campus at The Fox & Crow featuring UPEI students and faculty. BCS Executive Director Tamara Steele will moderate a discussion around the experiences of the Black post-secondary student population. All are welcome!
The UPEI Alumni Association Panther for Life Spirit Award is given to a current UPEI student (of no particular standing), who exemplifies true Panther pride inside and outside of the classroom. This individual has contributed to the campus community in a meaningful way, whether it be through their volunteerism, participation in UPEI-related events and activities, support of Panther sport, or any other significant way that makes them a strong ambassador for UPEI, both now and as a future Panther alumni.
The recipient will receive an engraved award and a $500 cash prize and will be recognized during a celebratory student event.
Any student, staff, or faculty member may submit nominations for this award. Nominations must be received by February 29 at 4 pm to be considered for 2024.
To nominate a current student, please fill out the Panther for Life Spirit Award Nomination form here: https://www.upei.ca/alumni/awards-and-recognition/panther-for-life-spirit-award
For more information, email alumni@upei.ca
Ash Wednesday is February 14. Join the Chaplaincy Centre for Mass with the distribution of ashes at 12:05 pm. For more information, contact Sr. Sue at sukidd@upei.ca or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca.
