The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is giving 15 students the chance to snorkel over Bahamian coral reefs and explore the ocean for marine organisms. Taking a field course in the chemistry and biology of drug discovery from marine organisms, students will study for two weeks in The Bahamas under UPEI Faculty of Science researchers, Dr. Russell Kerr, Canada Research Chair in Marine Natural Products and Dr. Sydnor Withers, J.-Louis Land#233;vesque Postdoctoral Fellow.

"This is a chance for UPEI students to gain international research experience and explore the cutting-edge science of natural products drug discovery in a practical and hands-on way," says Dr. Kerr. "Field work like this is critical to get young scientists out from behind the bench. Conducting research with the sun on your back and salt in your hair is a great motivator for students to better understand how to tap into nature's potential while using sustainable methods."

This intensive course, entitled Medicines from the Sea, will familiarize students in the areas of marine natural products, marine taxonomy, field-based biological assays of relevance to drug discovery, marine microbiology, and biotechnology.

For more information on the course goto: http://www.upei.ca/~science/html/sea.html or eMail seamedicines@upei.ca

Faculty, staff, students and clients of the Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island gathered in Charlottetown on February 14 to participate in the launch of Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats, a book by award-winning teacher, researcher, and clinician Dr. Etienne Cand#244;tand#233;, DVM, DACVIM (Cardiology, Small Animal Internal Medicine).

Dr. Cand#244;tand#233;, who is one of five animal cardiologists in Canada, is an assistant professor in the Atlantic Veterinary College's Department of Companion Animals. In addition to providing expert care to clients from throughout Atlantic Canada in the College's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Dr. Cand#244;tand#233; is actively involved in the College's teaching and research programs.

"We are very proud of Dr. Cand#244;tand#233; and his most recent achievement, the publication of the Clinical Veterinary Advisor," says Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College at UPEI. "Dr. Cand#244;tand#233; is an outstanding individual who has an extraordinary commitment to his students, colleagues, clients and animals. He is passionate about veterinary medicine and this passion shows in all he does." Published by Elsevier, the Clinical Veterinary Advisor: Dogs and Cats provides cutting-edge clinical information that follows the natural progression of a typical case, with easy-to-navigate sections covering: Diseases and Disorders, Procedures and Techniques, Differential Diagnosis, Laboratory Tests, Clinical Algorithms, and a Drug Formulary. It also includes access to a fully searchable companion website featuring an electronic version of the text, a searchable drug formulary, and 100 customizable Client Education Sheets.

"The book brings together the expertise of 21 internationally recognized authorities as contributing editors and 300 leading clinician-authors and#150; several of whom are giants of the veterinary medical world," says author Dr. Etienne Cand#244;tand#233;. "It is my hope that this book will provide veterinarians and veterinary students with cohesive information that is immediately useful and beneficial to the health and well being of their patients."

An editorial review on Amazon.com says "no other quick reference comes close to providing this much accurate, timely, and clinically useful diagnostic and therapeutic information. It's like six books in one..." A record-setting best seller at the recent North American Veterinary Conference, the Clinical Veterinary Advisory: Dogs and Cats is available at the UPEI Bookstore or online at www.upei.ca/bookstore. To celebrate the launch of Dr. Cand#244;tand#233;'s book, a 10% discount is available on the purchase of the book from February 14 to 28, 2007.

An award-winning English professor at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) has been elected as the new representative for Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and PEI on a national association that is dedicated to the improvement of post-secondary teaching and learning. Dr. Shannon Murray is the first UPEI professor to represent the region on the steering committee of Canada's Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (STLHE).

Murray has taught Renaissance Literature, Drama, and Children's Literature for the past 14 years. She was one of the founders of the First-Year Advantage Program (FYA) at UPEI. Designed to develop critical thinking skills, FYA gives students special opportunities to become known as individuals to one another and to their professors. "The program is a popular choice for first-year students looking for a shared focus and intellectual challenge in a more intimate, community setting," she explains.

Murray first received national recognition for her commitment to excellence in teaching in 2001 when she was awarded a prestigious 3M Teaching Fellowship by STLHE and 3M Canada. The 3M distinction is reserved for a select group of faculty across Canada who excel in teaching, leadership, and the development of academic programs. UPEI has celebrated an unparalleled four 3M Teaching Award winners in five years.

"UPEI supports faculty members' commitment to quality teaching through the Faculty Development Office of the Webster Centre for Teaching and Learning," explains the Director, Dr. Barbara Campbell. "We offer resources to assist them in creating new and exciting methods of teaching and connecting with their students. Shannon Murray is a creative teacher who has coordinated many unique projects. Her leadership and commitment will be invaluable in her national position with STLHE and we are delighted to support her."

The national council of 3M Canada has selected Murray as the 2007 facilitator of the annual retreat for 3M award-winning faculty that takes place in Montebello, Quebec. She will also be an instructor with UPEI's unique Faculty Development Summer Institute on Active Learning and Teaching which celebrates its 24th year of faculty professional development this year.

Social sciences and humanities students and researchers in PEI will soon have direct access to many of the world's leading electronic journals and resources through the Robertson Library at UPEI.

More than half of all academic researchers and students in Canada are engaged in the social sciences and humanities. Their work is recognized as having an enormous impact on all aspects of Canadian society. Now the Canada Foundation for Innovation has announced a $19.1 million investment to support a new infrastructure for social sciences and humanities research. The funds have been awarded to the Canadian Research Knowledge Network (CRKN) and#151; a consortium of Canadian universities that provides desktop access to research content through licensing and purchase agreements with Canadian and international publishers. The University of Prince Edward Island is a member of this national network.

"This new service through the Canadian Research Knowledge Network will significantly enhance our access to scholarly information in a cost-effective way," says Mark Leggott, University Librarian. "National collaborative initiatives like this are powerful tools that help us create a level playing field for students and researchers across the country. Here in PEI, we will all benefit and#150; students, educators, and members of the public who are carrying out research in these important areas." He adds that expanded access to social sciences and humanities information is a boost to researchers in the natural and health sciences as well because of the increasing importance of interdisciplinary research.

"The new digital content infrastructure will make a profound difference to the way that people in Prince Edward Island conduct research in the social sciences and humanities," says Dr. Katherine Schultz, Vice-President of Research Development at UPEI. "The scope of this access extends beyond the library as a physical place to the desktops of researchers and students across the province."

The new initiative is an expansion of an already successful CRKN program that provides researchers with access to international content in the natural and health sciences.

INTRODUCTION

As a result of the efforts of an extraordinary cross-sectoral partnership involving the university, federal and provincial levels of government, and the private sector, a new world-class centre of discovery and development is now operating on the UPEI campus. Its work will build on existing research strengths at UPEI and those of the broader PEI biosciences cluster.

On Friday, February 16, our partners in this new initiative celebrated the official opening of the NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (NRC-INH). The NRC-INH is the major tenant in the UPEI-owned building.

It is over six years since the planning process began for this new multi-disciplinary centre. The richness of the partnerships, the rightness of the strategic focus, and the sureness of our commitment to succeed have been the three most important qualities that have kept this initiative moving forward. These same qualities will serve us well as we launch ourselves into the real work of discovering new sources of knowledge, health, and wealth for Prince Edward Island, for Atlantic Canada, and for the entire country.

The University of Prince Edward Island is proud to play a pivotal role in this development. We look forward to many years of rich collaboration with our federal, provincial, and private-sector partners as we work together to take hold of our own future, and to turn our shared vision into a bio-economy success story that will benefit generations to come.

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NRC Opens Institute for Nutrisciences and Health on UPEI Campus

February 16, 2007, Charlottetown, PEI and#151; The National Research Council of Canada (NRC) today officially opened the NRC Institute for Nutrisciences and Health (NRC-INH) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The $13.5 million state-of- the-art facility creates a dynamic research and commercialization hub for the province's emerging bioresources sector. Here, NRC scientists will work with their counterparts from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and researchers from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) to see how compounds found in nature can be used to tackle critical health problems such as infection and immunity-related issues, neurological problems such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis, and complications related to obesity.

"This project corresponds to Canada's New Government's new economic plan, Advantage Canada, and solidifies our commitment to support research excellence,'' noted the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for NRC. "Today, we are not only unveiling a new building, we are celebrating an innovative approach to addressing health issues. Collaborative research carried out at this facility will translate into health benefits for all Canadians."

Researchers at the Institute will also be working with their private-industry counterparts to help turn PEI's expertise in bioresources into marketable products for disease prevention and therapy and#151; positioning Canada to further capitalize on a global nutrition market valued at more than $182 billion annually.

Nutrisciences, a field of research focusing on the health benefits of renewable and naturally occurring land and marine-based resources (bioresources), is a fast-growing global industry. Growth in PEI's bioresources cluster has been impressive. The province is home to more than six major research organizations and to a host of private-sector companies with expertise in life sciences.

The NRC-INH, located on UPEI's campus, features open-concept labs and offices where 60 scientists, technical staff, and students share space,resources, and ideas. By 2008, the number of scientists is expected to rise to at least 100. This facility will enable nutriscience companies in the early stages of research to work in the facility's "incubator labs" to

benefit from the equipment and collaborative expertise offered on site.

NRC President Dr. Pierre Coulombe noted that NRC facilities maximize the benefits of collaboration and commercialization, producing the most value for Canada. "This new facility helps address one of Canada's key priorities and#151; health and wellness. Here, scientists will come together to undertake cutting- edge research, working closely with industry to ensure that opportunities for economic benefits are maximized, not only for this community, but for the whole country."

The NRC-INH was established through a cooperative funding arrangement between NRC, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Province of Prince Edward Island, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the University of Prince Edward Island.

"Canada's New Government is committed to research that will benefit the nutrition and health of people and animals. The work of our scientists will support the growing functional food and nutraceutical sector and create new opportunities for agriculture and agri-food producers," said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board.

"The Government of Prince Edward Island is pleased to be involved in this successful partnership with the federal government and UPEI," said the Honourable Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island. "It's one thing to talk about innovative ideas for our province's future prosperity, but it's another thing to stand here today and see the hub of activity taking place as a result of this partnership. NRC and partners are helping to create jobs and wealth for our province, and our growing biosciences cluster will only continue to flourish as we move forward."

UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan remarked that the Nutrisciences and Health research facility builds on existing research strengths at the university and in the broader PEI biosciences cluster. "This whole initiative represents a spectacular bringing together of talent, facilities, and special collaborations to address health issues of national and international importance."

Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National Research Council is a leader in developing an innovative, knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.

David McMurray, a Canadian professor of Humanities and Intercultural Studies from the International University of Kagoshima (IUK) in Japan, met recently with students and faculty at UPEI to share information about an exchange program between the two universities. The International University of Kagoshima is located in southern Kyushu, south west of Japan's main island of Honshu. With approximately 5000 students, IUK integrates a graduate school, three faculties, and a junior college. Professor McMurray is the leader of the Canada Project, a multi-disciplinary research team of linguists, anthropologists, education, and childcare specialists based at IUK's Canadian Studies Centre.

The exchange agreement makes it possible for UPEI students to spend one or two semesters at the International University of Kagoshima while obtaining credits towards their UPEI degrees and paying UPEI tuition rates. Staff and faculty are also eligible to take part in the exchange. Students, staff, and faculty from IUK enjoy equivalent opportunities at UPEI.

"We've been working hard to make our campus in Kagoshima comfortable and attractive to Canadians. We've developed a vibrant Canada Studies Centre on campus. Our students, staff and professors go to great lengths to learn about Canada from Canadians," says Professor McMurray.

While he was on the UPEI campus Professor McMurray met with business, education, and modern language students as well as staff and faculty who work with international students.

The University of Prince Edward Island has signed a new agreement with a university in Egypt for faculty and student exchanges. This is the first such agreement between UPEI and a university in the Middle East.

The new exchange is with Misr International University (MIU) in Cairo. MIU is a leading university in the Egyptian private university system. Its areas of specialization include Business Administration, Engineering, Communications, and Computer Sciences, among others.

The agreement provides UPEI faculty members with teaching opportunities at MIU. Support for faculty includes air fare, an honorarium, accommodation arrangements, orientation programs and organized social activities.

"Misr International University has exchange agreements with universities in Germany, Lichtenstein, the United Kingdom, Austria, and the United States. Because it is an internationally-focused university, it offers excellent support through its international office," says Mamdouh Elgharib, Career Development Specialist with UPEI Student Services. He adds that the exchange offers participants a unique opportunity to appreciate the culture of the Middle East.

As with other UPEI exchange programs, opportunities to attend MIU are available to full-time students from all faculties who are in their second year or up and are in good academic standing. They will obtain credits towards their UPEI degrees while studying in Egypt and will pay UPEI tuition rates. Applications are now being accepted for the fall semester.

Anyone interested in learning more about UPEI's exchange program with Misr International University should contact Mamdouh Elgharib at 628-4358.

Today, March 8, is International Women's Day and no day could be more fitting to pay tribute to Doris Anderson, the powerful, inspirational, and warm-hearted woman who served as the Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island from 1992 to 1996. Members of the UPEI community were deeply saddened to learn that Ms Anderson had passed away on March 2 in Toronto at the age of 85.

"I have worked with many women, on local and on national committees, but I have never met anyone with Doris's special wisdom and compassion," says Dr. Elizabeth Epperly, former President of UPEI. "Doris was fearless and resourceful; never did she walk away from a situation where her presence could have helped to further the causes of equality and justice."

Although Doris Anderson's term as Chancellor ended in 1996, she remained closely connected to the Island and the University over the subsequent decade. Says President Wade MacLauchlan, "Former Chancellor Anderson cherished her connections to PEI and UPEI. She was proud to have those ties represented at her 80th birthday party, which filled two ballrooms at the Royal York Hotel. She relished her summers at St. Peter's. And she kept fully up-to-date on UPEI and our achievements and well-being."

Anderson House, PEI's shelter for women and children who are fleeing abusive relationships, is named for Doris Anderson. "Her spirit lives on in every woman and child who finds hope there," says Lisa Murphy, a UPEI alumna who now heads the PEI Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Doris Anderson was born on November 10, 1921, in Calgary. In 1951 she took a position at Chatelaine magazine as an editorial assistant in the advertising promotion department and six years later she had risen through the ranks to become editor. She went on to make Chatelaine the best-read magazine in the country. She wanted to give readers "something serious to think about" and to "shake them up a bit" with well-written, hard-hitting investigative pieces on reproductive choice, discriminatory divorce laws, and the wage gap. And she hired excellent (and now famous) journalists to write them, including June Callwood, Christina McCall (later Newman) Michele Landsberg, Barbara Frum and Sylvia Fraser.

In 1979, she accepted a federal appointment as chair of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women, a position she later resigned from as she led the fight to reword the government's Charter of Rights legislation to state that women and men are equal under the law. She went on to head the National Action Committee on the Status of Women. She was active in Equal Voice, a multi-partisan group dedicated to increasing women's participation in political life. In recent years, she expressed her commitment to equality and inclusion by championing the movement for electoral reform and proportional representation. Doris Anderson was also a widely-respected writer of four books including, The Unfinished Revolution: Status of Women in 12 Countries, published in 1991.

"Doris Anderson was one of the most generous of colleagues to women and to men; she gave a special level of support to women who were working for change," says Elizabeth Epperly. "She will continue to be one of Canada's finest examples of a powerful, politically astute woman who knew how to share her insights and her breadth of understanding. I will miss her keen mind, her strength, and her warmth."

A memorial service for Doris Anderson will take place in Toronto on May 12. The University of Prince Edward Island and former Chancellor Anderson's PEI family will be represented at the service.

The University of Prince Edward Island is in search of future leaders, and it's prepared to give generously to find them. The university has announced the "Leaders of Tomorrow" scholarships, $2,000 entrance scholarships for students who have proven through their work in school and community that they have leadership skills and potential.

It's a new approach to scholarships for the university, and one that seeks to award students for more than their academic achievement. "We realize that there are all kinds of factors that go into making a leader," says UPEI Registrar Alan Buchanan, "and they can't always be measured by school marks alone."

There are 13 Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarships available, and they will go to first-year entering students who have shown their leadership skills through their work in school organizations like student council, SADD and peer education, through community work in organizations like 4H, Allied Youth and JCs, or through other volunteer work.

"At UPEI, we see our role as educating and cultivating the next generation of leaders," says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. "We have a strong history of UPEI graduates going on to distinguish themselves in public life, in business or in community service. These awards will help us identify students whose past actions have shown that they are likely to be leaders in the future."

In addition to the monetary value of the award, one of the benefits will be membership on the UPEI Student Advisory Committee. The committee will provide university officials with advice and direction on student life and student engagement on campus.

UPEI now offers more than $2 million in student scholarships and awards. The new Leaders of Tomorrow scholarships were created through the University's general scholarship fund. Anyone interested in supporting the fund through a charitable donation may do so by contacting Rose at 566-0615 or donating online at www.upei.ca/legacy.

Applications for the Leaders of Tomorrow scholarships are available at the Registrar's Office, on the UPEI website at www.upei.ca, and at high school Guidance offices. Deadline for applications is April 15, 2007.

UPEI will celebrate Co-operative Education Week March 19and#150;23 as part of a national celebration for all post-secondary institutions in Canada. The goal is to let high school and university students know that they can travel the province, the country, and the world through co-op programs. Since 1996, UPEI students have completed more than 1,000 work placements locally, nationally, and internationally and earned more than $5 million in salaries. Currently, Business Administration, Computer Science, and Physics students are working as far away as the United States, Scotland, Ireland, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand.

Fourth-year Business Co-op student Megan Killorn is someone who knows the program first-hand. The 21-year-old native of Cornwall has just spent seven months in Dublin, Ireland, doing back-to-back co-op placements at the Allied Irish Bank and the Bank of New York Funds Management (Ireland) Limited, working in rates management and investment fund administration.

"I hadn't had much training in capital markets or investment, but my courses from the business school really helped," she says. "I was able to apply what I learned in the classroom to a real life job situation. Working at one of the biggest banks in Ireland was great because I got to experience a different culture while working for a big corporate company. Plus I love the Irish culture. The longer I was there, the more I realized how different my home culture was, and yet how similar."

Tom O'Donoghue of the Allied Irish Bank Global Treasury agrees that the experience is good for both parties. "The work placement is a great idea as it gives students a chance to experience an office environment and helps them form some opinions on the direction they want to take in their later careers. Our team looks after market data so it gives some broad insights into various financial products and how to use various tools to dig deeper and help improve their understanding."

O'Donoghue and his team were so impressed with the results of Megan's work term that they hired another UPEI student for the winter semester. Graeme McKillop, a third-year Business Co-op student from Summerside arrived in Dublin on January 10 to start his work term with the AIB group.

After graduating from Bluefield Megan had planned to go into international business at Carleton, but decided to complete her first year at UPEI. She soon discovered that the program far exceeded her expectations. "It is a lot more comprehensive than other programs. And the co-op program is great. Financial assistance is always available through UPEI and PEI Business Development. In my case, they paid for half my travel, visa, and travel insurance. It helps to be outgoing," she adds. "But I've never talked to a student who has gone abroad to work or study who hasn't said that it was the experience of a lifetime."

She learned recently that she had received an Export Development Canada International Business Scholarship, which is a nationwide scholarship for academic excellence and potential contribution to building Canada's international trade competency. "This is great news," says Megan, who hopes to go on to graduate school to study international business. "We're lucky to live in an age where there are so many opportunities!"

More information about Co-operative Education is available at http://www.upei.ca/co-op/