The UPEI Alumni Association hosted its 18th annual Distinguished Alumni Awards luncheon on Thursday, September 25, in Room 142 of the New Residence.

This year, the Association honoured sports enthusiast Billy Mulligan (PWC’65), veterinarian Emery Leger (DVM’94), pentathlon Olympian athlete Kara Grant (B.Sc.’02) and engineer Ted Tam (SDU’69).

The Distinguished Alumni Award was created in 1990; the first recipient was SDU'49 alumnus Bill Ledwell. Awards are presented to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to knowledge, the arts, the university, or who have made a special contribution to an area of service to humanity.

The luncheon marked the beginning of Homecoming Weekend 2008.

The Director of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development (CSDD) will visit the UPEI campus on September 23 to speak about the challenges of bringing new pharmaceuticals to market.

Entitled “Perspectives on the Drug Development Process: Current Challenges for the Research-Based Industry,” the talk by Dr. Kenneth I. Kaitin runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the New Residence, Room 142.

“In today’s competitive marketplace, research-based drug and biotech companies must not only maintain their focus on R&D efficiency and output,” says Kaitin, “but they must also retain their ability to adjust to a rapidly changing and highly volatile R&D environment.”

In his presentation, Kaitin will show how Tufts CSDD data will be used to document the current status of pharmaceutical innovation and explore the current economic, regulatory, and political challenges and opportunities facing drug developers today. He will also look at cost savings and efficiency gains that can be attained by adopting new strategies for R&D improvement and some of the challenges associated with the development of stratified and personalized medicines.

Kaitin is Director of the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, an academic drug policy research group providing strategic information to help drug developers, regulators, and policy-makers improve the quality and efficiency of the drug development process. He is also Professor of Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, and he serves on the faculty of the European College of Pharmaceutical Medicine at the University of Basel.

He conducts research, lectures and writes on pharmaceutical development, regulation and public policy. He has written extensively on factors that contribute to the slow pace and high cost of pharmaceutical R&D and the impact of regulatory and legislative initiatives to speed new drug development and review.

Kaitin has provided public testimony before the U.S. Congress in hearings on pharmaceutical innovation and FDA reform, and he has worked closely with the U.S. Council on Competitiveness. He is on the board of directors of the New England Institute for Health Care Research and Innovation, and he served on the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ bioterrorism task force, “National Strategy for Anti-Biothreat Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics.”

He is a former president of the Drug Information Association (1997-98) and editor-in-chief of the Drug Information Journal (2002-04). He currently serves on the editorial boards of several prestigious journals and on the boards of directors of two publicly held companies, Curis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Phase Forward, Inc., and the privately held company Bio-Tree Systems, Inc.

The University of Prince Edward Island is hosting this talk in collaboration with the province of Prince Edward Island and the BioScience Networking Committee. To register, please contact Tammie at (902) 566-0564 or tmrose@upei.ca  by Monday, September 22, 2008. Everyone is welcome.

As part of its annual Homecoming Week, the University of Prince Edward Island will host its ninth annual Founders’ Day ceremonies on Friday, September 26, focusing on the heritage and evolution of the historic campus and some of the people who have played key roles in that process.

“Founders’ Day is a great opportunity for alumni and the general public to see the many wonderful enhancements that we have made to our beautiful campus,” says UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan. “We encourage everyone to join in our Founders’ Day celebrations and to take part in our full slate of exciting and fun-filled Homecoming Weekend activities.”

The celebration begins at 1 p.m. with the dedication of three new plazas that have been created in the newly refurbished Main Quadrangle to promote social interaction. The plazas will be named in honour of the first three presidents of the university: Dr. Ronald J. Baker, Dr. Peter M. Meincke and the late Dr. C.W.J. Eliot.

In keeping with the historic architecture of the Quadrangle, the pathways have been rebuilt with cobblestone-style pavers, and new heritage-style light fixtures and benches have been added. The Quad is more user-friendly, welcoming, and safe for the campus community and for visitors.

At 3 p.m. two former UPEI staff members will be honoured as Founders of UPEI during a ceremony on the front steps of historic Main Building. They are Gilbert “Buddy” Quinn, who co-ordinated the work of UPEI’s Physical Plant and was later UPEI’s purchasing agent until his retirement in 1994, and Sheila Winters, the “go to” person in the Physical Plant who retired in 1998.

During the ceremony, the late Dr. Dennis Howell, former dean of the Ontario Veterinary College, will be honoured posthumously with a 2008 Honourable Eugene F. Whelan Green Hat Award. Jean MacDonald, Dr. Howell’s long-time administrative assistant, will also receive a Green Hat award. This prestigious award was established in 2000 to pay tribute to individuals who have had a significant and positive impact on the Atlantic Veterinary College and veterinary medicine in Atlantic Canada.

The Rev. Gail Hopkirk (UPEI’81) will give the invocation, and UPEI Chaplain Father Charlie Cheverie will be the guest speaker. Music will be provided by the Charlottetown Rural Jazz Ensemble. A reception will follow in the Schurman Market Square in the recently named Don and Marion McDougall Hall. Everyone is invited to attend.

In case of inclement weather, the plaza dedications and the Founders’ Day ceremony will be held in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall.

Founders’ Day serves to build a sense of UPEI heritage and traditions, acknowledge as Founders people who have contributed in an exceptional way to the University, and inculcate a sense of UPEI heritage and community among incoming and returning students.

The Institute of Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island is hosting the Constance MacFarlane Seaplant Symposium, from September 24 to 27, at the Haviland Club in Charlottetown.

Named in honour of famous Island marine botanist Dr. Constance MacFarlane (1904 to 2000), the symposium will look at Prince Edward Island’s Irish moss industry, report on regional research and consider opportunities for new business development. Several events are open to the public.

On Wednesday, September 24, starting at 7 p.m., the public is invited to a celebration of MacFarlane’s life and work. This will be followed by a presentation from Dr. Alan Critchley on “Sex, Slime and Seaweeds! An exposé of Irish Moss and other seaplant aphrodisiacs.”

Starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, there will be an exhibition of products made from seaplants--from edibles and compost, to health and beauty products and undergarments. Also on Thursday at 7 p.m., Dianne Bernard, known as “the Seaweed Lady,” of Vancouver Island, will give a lecture called “Developing Seaplant Enterprises in BC.” This will be followed by a panel discussion on opportunities for women in the seaplant industries.  

The public is also invited to tour School Street House at 54 Walthen St., MacFarlane’s childhood home, on Saturday, September 27, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Visitors can view artifacts and NFB films from her life and times, and see her childhood graffiti on the wall.

MacFarlane’s life work focused on fostering the seaweed industry, especially research and development of Irish moss. The symposium will reflect on this history, take stock of current research and commercial developments in Atlantic Canada and the world, and look to the promising future for Atlantic seaplant products--whether they be in the realm of food processing, culinary arts, medicine, handcrafts, ecotourism, agriculture or cosmetics.

Dr. Irené Novaczek, Director of the Institute of Island Studies, says, “Now is a critical time for the Island’s Irish moss industry, which is struggling to survive. We have invited Canadian and international speakers to discuss how sea plants can be used in a wide range of value-added products and services that could be developed here by entrepreneurs who are open to the emerging opportunities.”

The Haviland Club is located on the corner of Rochford and Water Streets in downtown Charlottetown. For information, contact Novaczek at (902) 566-0386 or inovaczek@upei.ca.

The UPEI Alumni Association has issued a challenge to its members to raise $500,000 to name the 2009 Canada Games venue now being constructed on the UPEI campus.

The association’s board unanimously accepted the challenge to raise the funds at its annual general meeting held today during UPEI’s second annual Homecoming Weekend.

“The 2009 Canada Games venue will have a strong presence on campus, in the community, and across the nation,” say Phil MacDougall, outgoing president of the Association. “The UPEI Alumni Association is committing to the challenge of ensuring that the venue will bear the name, UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place.”

The new venue now under construction will house a 400-metre track with eight competition lanes on an artificial surface surrounding a natural grass infield--MacAdam Field--with seating for more than 1,200 spectators. During the Canada Games next summer, the campus will be the site for the athletics competition, swimming, diving, men's soccer, volleyball, and during the second week of the games the athletes' village.

“We are asking 100 UPEI alumni to participate in this special naming project by committing to a $1,000 charitable donation per year for five years,” says MacDougall. “The first 100 alumni who support the appeal at this leadership level before December 31 of this year will be named on a plaque permanently displayed in the hospitality suite located at UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place.”

“We are so excited to be partnering with UPEI Alumni for this fundraising challenge, and sharing in the many benefits that the name offers,” says Wayne Carew, vice-president of the Friend of the Games for the 2009 Canada Games Host Society, and a UPEI alumnus.

"Dollars raised will, in part, support the staging of the 2009 Canada Games, much of which will take place on the UPEI campus. I’ve already signed up to contribute to the association’s naming campaign as a proud UPEI graduate."

In addition to the naming of the venue, this special alumni appeal will also support Panther Sport through scholarships and the branding of a 48-seat “smart” Trius bus that will allow UPEI teams to travel safely and with pride. Teams will travel exclusively on the branded bus, which will be equipped with wireless Internet access, allowing athletes to reduce lost study time while on road trips. This weekend, UPEI is recognizing 46 Academic All-Canadian athletes.

“Panther Sport retains athletes in PEI, and draws talented students to our province and community,” says MacDougall. “Through this project, we will create greater pride for UPEI students and alumni.”

To become involved in the campaign, please contact the UPEI Alumni Department at (902) 566-0354 or alumni@upei.ca.

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) and the Foundation for Educational Exchange between Canada and the United States of America (The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program) will introduce the university’s inaugural Fulbright Chair during a public panel in the Don and Marion McDougall Hall on Tuesday, September 30, from 3 to 6 p.m.

Starting in April 2009, Dr. Steven Casper, director of the Master of Bioscience program at the Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California, will be the inaugural Fulbright Visiting Chair in Biomedical Sciences at UPEI. During his stay at UPEI, he will investigate whether public policy can successfully create biotechnology clusters in Prince Edward Island.

During the panel on September 30, Casper will give a talk called “Creating Successful Biotechnology Clusters: An International Perspective.” In addition, Dr. Harold Bathelt, Canada Research Chair in Innovation and Governance at the University of Toronto, will give a presentation called “Local, global and virtual buzz: The importance of face-to-face contact and possibilities to go beyond.”

Discussants will be Dr. Michael Mayne, deputy minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning and Elizabeth Beale, president and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council.

Casper is an associate professor and the director of the Master of Bioscience Program at the Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, California. Casper’s research interests include comparative studies of the development of new technology industries, with a special interest in processes by which biomedical science has been commercialized across European countries. He is also interested in using computational social science methods to examine the emergence of social networks within biotechnology clusters.

Bathelt is a professor in the Department of Political Science and the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto, where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Innovation and Governance. He is also research associate of the Viessmann Research Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University, Canada. Bathelt has published extensively on topics, such as relational economic geography, knowledge-based conceptions of clusters, local buzz and global pipelines, temporary clusters, innovation systems and socio-economic impacts of regional and industrial change.

The Canada-U.S. Fulbright Program is supported by the Government of Canada, through the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Government of the United States, through the Department of State, and public and private sector partners. Its mandate is to enhance mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the people of the United States by providing support to outstanding graduate students, faculty, professionals and independent researchers.

The tension and issues in seeking a balance between heritage and development is the subject of a public forum being organized by the Institute of Island Studies on the UPEI Campus on Thursday, October 2.

The public forum will be held in Lecture Theatre 242, in the recently completed Don and Marion McDougall Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. Attendance is free.

Titled “Sharing the Land,” the event capitalizes on the presence of various national and international delegates, who will be attending an international conference discussing the issues surrounding heritage management and land use conflict on island jurisdictions. This conference will bring together scholars, planners and practitioners who will explain how various islands regulate the use of land, especially when there are competing visions of how such land may be preserved or developed.

The panel will be opened and moderated by Island photographer John Sylvester, who will present some of his stunning images of P.E.I. to frame the conversation. The panel includes members with both local and international expertise: Judy MacDonald (TIAPEI and Barachois Inn, Rustico), Andrew Lush (Trees in Trust, Hunter River), Mark Lapping (University of Southern Maine, USA) and Lionel Johnson (College of the Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas). Time has been reserved for audience participation and interaction.

"Islands like the Bahamas, Malta, Hawaii, Guernsey, Jersey, as well as Newfoundland, St Pierre-et-Miquelon and the islands in Maine must contend with the effective use of that very limited resource--land. Their experiences as they manage and regulate contending interpretations of such an asset can be instructive for such places as Prince Edward Island, the most densely populated province in Canada," says Godfrey Baldacchino, Canada Research Chair in Island Studies at UPEI and academic coordinator for the event.

"We are fortunate to have John Sylvester lead such a distinguished panel for what promises to be a frank and candid conversation on how to develop P.E.I. in a way that does not sacrifice heritage or growth," says Dr Irene Novaczek, Director of the Institute of Island Studies (IIS) at UPEI.

For more information, contact the Institute of Island Studies at UPEI at (902) 566-0386 or iis@upei.ca.

The public is invited to a special tour of the Experimental Farm on Friday, October 3, starting at historic Ravenwood on Mount Edward Road at 9:30 a.m.

 The Experimental Farm was established on the edge of Charlottetown in 1909. The land was previously a private estate with owners who included a P.E.I. politician, and a potter.

Renowned Charlottetown historian Catherine Hennessey will begin the tour at the 1824 historic Ravenwood home, once inhabited by the Research Station Director and now home to the Island Nature Trust. A guided walking tour continues around the grounds, with viewings from the height of the property overlooking the old railway bed, the historic lily pond, the Royal Forest, the Premier's wood and the site of a cricket pitch.

 Former Research Station scientist Dr. Bert Christie will share highlights of the Experimental Farm's 100 years of Research: 1909 -2009. This tour is being offered in conjunction with the Cultural and Heritage Management on Small Islands conference being hosted by the Institute of Island Studies from September 30 to October 1.

For information about the tour, please call (902) 388-1278.

The University of Prince Edward Island has been awarded a Sustainability Innovator Award from the U.S.-based Sustainable Endowments Institute for its advancement of sustainability initiatives.

UPEI won the award for its work to create an academic environmental studies program and to implement “greening the campus” initiatives across all sectors of the university. It was only the second university in Canada--after the University of British Columbia--to follow a campus-wide sustainability strategy.

From 2005 to 2007, UPEI employed a director of environmental studies and sustainability, Dr. Almut Beringer, who led the university’s academic environmental studies program and implemented a pan-university “greening the campus” initiative. Through this initiative, research and development projects linked interdisciplinary Environmental Studies teaching and learning with student advocacy for campus sustainability.

This led to the creation of an Office of Sustainability and Energy Management in August of 2007, headed by manager David Taylor. UPEI’s campus-wide, multidisciplinary academic program is now being further developed and led by Dr. Darren Bardati, Director of Environmental Studies. Taylor and Bardati work closely with the active student–run Environmental Society to move sustainability forward on campus.

A campus sustainability audit and annual reporting, combined with energy, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, and innovative transportation, food and governance initiatives, among others, are aimed at building a culture of sustainability through a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the university. The university’s sustainability strategy also established strategic alliances off-campus.

UPEI’s campus master plan, adopted in 2006, identifies “greening the campus” as a guiding principle. “Green” initiatives taken at UPEI include the use of 100 per cent recycled paper, retrofitting of older buildings to reduce energy use, purchase of its first-ever hybrid vehicle, conscious reduction of electrical energy consumption by turning off lights and equipment, geothermal heating and cooling in the New Residence, and incorporating environmentally friendly building methods, materials and equipment in new construction.

Through research and education, the Sustainable Endowments Institute advances sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices. The Sustainability Innovator Awards are part of the Institute’s College Sustainability Report Card 2009, which evaluates campus and endowment sustainability activities at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Institute is a special project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors.

The Tourism Research Centre (TRC) at the University of Prince Edward Island is pleased to announce the hiring of five new staff members.

Monica MacDonald holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture from York University. Before beginning her doctorate, she spent 10 years in Ottawa working at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Library and Archives Canada and the CBC. Most recently, she was a consultant to the IRIS Group in its comprehensive study of heritage in P.E.I. An adjunct professor of Canadian Studies at UPEI, MacDonald joins the TRC as a research director.

Paul Lewis received his Ph.D. in sustainable economic development from the University of Ottawa. He comes to the Centre as a research director, with six years of economic development experience in Canada’s Arctic, having worked for the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tourism. Lewis has over 25 years of other international work and teaching experience with an emphasis on economic development, corporate governance and ethics.

A graduate of the UPEI School of Business in 2006, Amanda Strongman is now a project manager at the TRC. She was most recently employed as a Junior Consultant at MRSB Chartered Accountants where she was involved in research, survey work, report writing and preparation of financial projections. Prior to this, she worked with DeltaWare Systems in Charlottetown.

Joining the TRC as a data analyst, Hyeonjung Park received her Ph.D. degree in Tourism Management from Kyonggi University in Seoul, Korea. Before coming to Canada, she worked at the Korea Tourism Research Institute as Senior Tourism Researcher and taught various tourism-related courses at several universities. She specializes in tourism data analysis, and her research interests include consumer behaviour, cultural tourism and destination marketing.

Grace McCourt comes to the TRC as a research analyst after a 13-year career in the tourism and hospitality industry both in Canada and abroad. For the past five years, she worked as a corporate sales manager with Rodd Hotels & Resorts Ltd. She holds a bachelor’s degree in tourism and hospitality management from Mount Saint Vincent.

These highly qualified people join the Centre’s current staff of faculty director Dr. Sean Hennessey, senior development analyst Dongkoo Yun, and project manager Jennifer MacPhail.