This event is postponed due to weather. Research on Tap, the successful series of public discussions featuring research and ideas from the University of Prince Edward Island, is hitting the road in 2015. The first stop is Tuesday, February 17 at 7:00 pm at Brothers 2 Restaurant in Summerside. The tour will kick off with a bit of patriotic zeal to Uncle Sam and friends. Dr. Richard Kurial, associate professor of history at UPEI, will lead a discussion entitled: The Debt of Western Civilization to the United States of America. “In the modern era,” argues Kurial, “all the freedoms enjoyed in the west—our political development, our economic well-being, and our safety—relies on the United States. We owe them a huge debt, and can repay that debt by endeavouring to understand the basis of their policies and initiatives.” Kurial will lay out his arguments in a brief talk, then open the floor to discussion and debate. “And I expect a healthy debate,” says Kurial with a wry smile. “These are not popular sentiments outside of the U.S., but we’d be worse off were it not for their compassion, vision, and generosity.” This season of Research on Tap is presented in cooperation with the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), Atlantic Chapter. The RSC is Canada’s national academy and is the senior national body of distinguished scholars, artists, and scientists.

Join us Friday, February 20 in the 2nd floor lounge of the Kelley Building for the Katherine Schultz Research Recognition Awards. Jan Coffin, Strategic Research Initiatives Manager, and Dr. William Whelan, professor of physics, will be honoured in thanks for their work to help promote the community of research and discovery at UPEI. The Katherine Schultz Research Recognition Awards were created out of a gift received from Dr. Katherine Schultz, UPEI’s first Vice-President Research. Under her tenure from 2001 to 2012, UPEI enjoyed a seven-fold increase in research funding and intensity. A small reception will follow.

Join us March 6-7 for a student conference that will cover the many taboos and "elephants in the room" of our society. The keynote speaker is Dr. Karen Macfarlane from Mount Saint Vincent University, whose talk will focus on The Creepy Little Girl. There is no cost for admission and all are welcome to attend. For more information and a tentative schedule, please go to www.difficultdialogues2.wix.com/conference. Hope to see you there!

CPA Atlantic School of Business is back on campus this semester with information sessions and office hours to help you prepare to enter the Chartered Professional Accountants certification program after graduation. RSVP in advance to CPA Atlantic Program Advisor, Rachelle Gauvin,rgauvin@cpaatlantic.ca.

The following graduate students will present on Tuesday, February 24 at 3:00 pm in AVC Lecture Theatre C. Michelle MacDonald, Department of Pathology and Microbiology will present a seminar called Molecular and Histopathological Disruption of Wound Healing in an Ectoparasite Model. John Onukwufor, Department of Biomedical Sciences will present a seminar called Mechanisms of hypoxia, temperature and cadmium imposed mitochondrial dysfunction in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Jocelyn Perez-Lazo, Department of Pathology and Microbiology will present a seminar called Improved detection of a fish virus with a segmented genome by real-time RT-qPCR. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Dr. Johanna Wolf, Associate Professor for the School of Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University, British Columbia, is a candidate for UPEI's new Canada Research Chair in Sustainability, Resilience, and Island Contexts. Dr. Wolf will give a general presentation, entitled Better off or Worse for Wear: Sustainability and Resilience Through Climate Adaptation, will take place on March 9, 10:30–11:30 am in AVC Lecture Theatre A. A reception will follow in the McCain Foundation Learning Commons at AVC. All are welcome to attend. Dr. Wolf’s CV is available at the reserve desk, Robertson Library. Comments on this candidate are welcome and can be forwarded to research@upei.ca.

Dr. Johanna Wolf, Associate Professor for the School of Environment and Sustainability at Royal Roads University, British Columbia, is a candidate for UPEI's new Canada Research Chair in Sustainability, Resilience, and Island Contexts. Dr. Wolf will give a technical presentation, entitled Connect, Collaborate, Co-produce: Shaping Climate Change Adaptation to Foster Island Resilience and Sustainability, on March 10, 2:00–3:00 pm, in AVC Lecture Theatre A. A reception will follow outside the theatre. All are welcome to attend. Dr. Wolf’s CV is available at the reserve desk, Robertson Library. Comments on this candidate are welcome and can be forwarded to research@upei.ca.

Vagabond Productions Goes Political 2015 is sure to be a year of important elections for both P.E.I. and Canada. In preparation, UPEI’s Vagabond Productions plans to throw its audience a hardball by presenting a controversial Canadian political play called Captives of the Faceless Drummer by George Ryga, best known for The Ecstasy of Rita Joe. The show runs in the Faculty Lounge of Main Building, March 10 to 14. The doors open at 7 pm for a 7:30 pm curtain. Admission is pay-what-you-can, so there are no advanced sales. The play deals with mature subject matter and includes mature language, so it may not be appropriate for everyone. For more information, you can call 902-566-6013 or email gdoran@upei.ca.

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies Committee is hosting a PhD Environmental Sciences Research Presentation on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at 12:30 pm in the Duffy Science Centre, Room 204. Luke Poirier, BSc, MSC will present: Identification, control and mitigation of marine invasions. This public presentation is part of Mr. Poirier’s PhD Comprehensive exam and will be followed by an oral examination.

UPEI Info Session on Becoming a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) CPA Atlantic School of Business has rescheduled its information session for, February 25th. The information session is designed to help you prepare to enter the Chartered Professional Accountants certification program after graduation. RSVP in advance to CPA Atlantic Program Advisor, Rachelle Gauvin, rgauvin@cpaatlantic.ca. Please note that seats are limited.