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ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ President and Vice-Chancellor H. Wade MacLauchlan will be stepping down in 2011. All alumni of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, St. Dunstan's University, and Prince of Wales College are invited to provide their input as ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ develops the search criteria for a new president. An alumni consultation meeting will take place in the KCI Chemistry Centre at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ, lecture theatre 128, on Wednesday, May 12, at 6:00 p.m. A representative of Janet Wright & Associates Inc. will be present to lead the discussion.

More information is available by emailing alumni@upei.ca or calling 566-0761.

The Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ will be filled with proud graduates, families, and friends on Saturday, May 8, as they celebrate Convocation Day 2010. Over 675 students will receive their degrees, diplomas, and certificates during two ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Honorary degrees will be conferred upon Patrick G. Binns and Harry E. Snow during the morning ceremony, and Judy Bragg and Donald N. MacKenzie in the afternoon. Binns will give the convocation speech to the morning graduates, and Bragg will address those at the afternoon ceremony.

Christy Coulson Cullen, who will receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at convocation, will give the valedictory address in the morning, and Hicham (Shawn) Younis, who will be awarded his Bachelor of Arts, is the valedictorian for the afternoon convocation.

This year's graduating class includes ten students who are receiving their Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The record number of reflects the increasing commitment to graduate programs at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ.

During the morning ceremony, the following degrees and diplomas will be awarded: Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Business Administration - Cooperative Education, Bachelor of Business in Tourism & Hospitality, Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Education - French immersion, Bachelor of Education in Human Resource Development, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Master of Science - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Master of Veterinary Science, Master of Education, Master of Applied Health Services Research, Doctor of Philosophy.

Students attending the afternoon ceremony will receive the following degrees and diplomas: Adult Connections in Education (ACE), Public Administration Diplomas, Engineering Diplomas, Bachelor of Applied Arts in Print Journalism, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Arts - Honours, Bachelor of Child and Family Studies, Bachelor of Integrated Studies, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Applied Science in Radiography, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science - Honours, Bachelor of Science - Cooperative Education, Master of Science - Faculty of Science, Master of Arts.

Students will assemble in the Duffy Science Centre at 9:00 a.m. for the morning convocation and at 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony. A reception for graduates, guests, and faculty will be held in the Wanda Wyatt Dining Hall immediately following each ceremony. Visitors may park in any of the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ parking lots, and there will be security officers on campus to answer questions and direct traffic. More details about Convocation 2010 are available at .

Islandora, an open-source software platform developed by ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Robertson Library to manage and archive large amounts of digital data, has been selected for a national innovation achievement award by the Canadian Association of College and University Libraries (CACUL). The annual award recognizes institutions that have made a significant contribution to the development and advancement of academic librarianship.

'Islandora represents a massive undertaking and an impressive result, built by a very small library whose work will have a vast impact as it is replicated elsewhere,' stated CACUL in its announcement of the award.

Islandora was born two years ago when University Librarian Mark Leggott was building Virtual Research Environments, or VREs, at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. Each VRE makes it possible for teams of researchers to collaborate and communicate, and manage and archive their work in a secure online environment. More than 50 research groups currently use the VRE system, including the Mollusc Health Lab, Marine Natural Products Lab, and the L.M. Montgomery Institute.

The VRE software is also the basis of the library's digital collections, including newspapers, magazines, books, audio, and video. Islandora is being used to create a range of digital resources that are valuable and accessible to the broader community, including , which archives community and church histories from around Prince Edward Island, and , a repository for ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ scholarly publications.

'As a society we benefit from knowledge created in the past because so much printed material has survived,' says Leggott. 'Now we must effect the same level of protection and stewardship of information that is digital. We have developed Islandora to help libraries and other institutions to do this.'

Islandora is catching the attention of researchers and universities around the world. The University of New Brunswick and the University of North Texas and Los Alamos have installed Islandora to manage and archive some of their data; and other major institutions are expected to follow.

This is the second time in the past year that Islandora has been nationally recognized. The Canadian Association of University Business Officers selected it as the top project in the Atlantic region for quality and productivity in 2009.

The Faculty of Science will host visitors from the University of Namibia, May 10 to May 14, 2010. The University of Namibia (UNAM) is the national university of the Republic of Namibia, located in Windhoek, the capital. Established by an act of National Assembly on 31 August 1992, UNAM has a student population of close to 10,000 students, and seven faculties: agriculture and natural resources, economics and management science, education, humanities and social sciences, law, medical and health sciences, and science.

On May 13 & 14, three presentations will be made on campus to inform the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ community about potential opportunities between the two institutions:

Thursday, May 13, 9:30 am, McDougall Hall 246

'The University of Namibia' by Professor O.D. Mwandemele, Pro Vice-Chancellor Academic Affairs and Research, University of Namibia.

Thursday, May 13, 10.00 am, McDougall Hall 246

'The Namibian Experience' by Drs. Larry Hale & Stephen Howard, Departments of Biology & Computer Science, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ.

Friday, May 14, 9.15 am, McDougall Hall 246

'Science and Agriculture & Natural Resources at the University of Namibia' by Dr. M. Schneider, Executive Dean, Faculty of Agriculture & Natural Resources, and Professor E.M.R. Kiremire, Dean of Science, University of Namibia.

Everyone is welcome to attend. Contact Carol MacDonald at 902-566-6018 or carmacdonald@upei.ca for further information.

The first annual Graduate Research Recognition Day will take place on Tuesday, May 18, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, in the Alex H. MacKinnon Lecture Theatre (Room 242) and Schurman Market Square in McDougall Hall. This event is being planned and presented by the Office of Graduate Studies, the Graduate Studies Advisory Committee, and the Graduate Student Association.

This showcase of graduate student research and scholarship will include oral and poster presentations from graduate students from all programs across campus. There will be a presentation on, and celebration of, graduate student scholarship and award success over the past year. Lunch and refreshments will also be served.

Everyone is invited to attend this event to learn about the range, quality, and impact of graduate student research at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. For more information, contact Colleen Gallant at cgallant@upei.ca.

ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ students have until May 17 to apply for up to twenty $5000 scholarships to attend the second annual Middle East Studies Program in Egypt from July 25 to August 19. Misr International University (MIU) is partnering with ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ for the program, a four-week study period based in Cairo, and during which students learn about the culture and history of the region while gaining 2-3 credit-hour courses towards their ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ degree.

Along with taking in the sights and sounds of a new culture, students attend classes at MIU to learn about the history of Egypt. According to last year's student participants, Louise Cockram and Conor Leggott, the experience included discovering favourite and exotic foods, observing social customs, and developing an understanding of an unfamiliar religion.

They said, 'One thing is for sure; it was a phenomenal experience that we'll remember for the rest of our lives.'

Sherilyn Acorn, ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's International Mobility Co-ordinator says, 'We are so pleased to partner again with Misr International University in offering a quality program that allows ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ students to immerse themselves in Egyptian culture.'

Acorn, who accompanied the students during the 2009 program, adds, 'There is no better way to gain knowledge than through a combination of experiential and traditional learning opportunities.'

The available scholarships cover tuition, field trips, and transportation to and from accommodations and airports. ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ Exchange Applications are available now at .

Eighteen participants from Lennox Island and Abegweit First Nations and employees of the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI recently completed a 210 hour Certificate in Project Management that was delivered in Charlottetown and Summerside by the Centre for Life-Long Learning at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ.

The content was based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge and supplemented by content on team work, writing project proposals, effective communication, presentation skills and evaluation.

'The Centre for Life-Long learning at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ is proud to have partnered with the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of PEI in presenting this customized project management program. The uniqueness of this program is in its focus on developing skills which go beyond the usual transfer of knowledge. The participants had the opportunity to exchange with, and learn from, expert practitioners in the field and facilitators well-versed in adult education,' says Gilbert Ladéroute, Manager of Conflict Resolution Studies and Professional Development.

Chief Brian Francis of the Abegweit First Nation and Jeanette MacAulay, Director of the , presented participants with their certificates.

Contact: Gilbert Ladéroute, Manager, Conflict Resolution Studies and Professional Development, (902) 566-0707.

All members of the campus community are invited to engage with two leading edge e-learning speakers in the Alex H. MacKinnon lecture theatre in McDougall Hall on Wednesday, May 19, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm. The speakers are George Siemens and Alec Couros.

This technology learning session will help the PEI Knowledge Exchange Network (PEI KEN) to develop strategies and plans for the advancement of ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's e-learning capacity. A reception will follow in Schurman Market Square, McDougall Hall, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

is the author of Knowing Knowledge which explores the changing nature of knowledge and what it means to organizations today. He is the founder and president of Complexive Systems Inc. Siemens is currently associated with the Technology Enhanced Knowledge Research Institute (TEKRI) at Athabasca University.

is an assistant professor and ICT Co-ordinator in the Faculty of Education at the University of Regina where he has been responsible for technology planning, and service and professional development for more than a decade.

RSVP to Megan MacLean at megmaclean@upei.ca or 620-5105.

The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) at the ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ (ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ) confirmed its status today as a world leader in animal population health through the announcement of a new 10-million dollar research chair.
'This is an exciting day for ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and AVC,' said university President and Vice-Chancellor Wade MacLauchlan. 'The Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology is the jewel in the crown of research we've developed here over the past two decades. This chair, together with its supporting team and network, responds to the expanding global demand for protein, notably for healthy fish from healthy aquatic ecosystems. This CERC will make a big difference.'
Dr. Ian A. Gardner, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Aquatic Epidemiology, will examine health interactions between farmed and wild fish populations and develop cost-effective testing strategies and surveillance programs for the prevention and control of diseases in aquatic food animals. His research will help aquaculture regulators in Canada make science-based decisions to maintain healthy food production in our marine environments, as well as provide the knowledge needed to help improve nutrition for human populations around the world.
The Canada Excellence Research Chairs program is an initiative of the Government of Canada to attract Canadian and international leaders who can positively contribute to this country's global competitiveness, future prosperity and well-being, as well as provide a deeper understanding of the human dimension of technological change.
'The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of supporting world-class research,' said the Honourable Gail Shea, Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans. 'The CERC program helps to position Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. The cutting-edge research conducted by these global leaders will spur innovation in Prince Edward Island and contribute positively to Canada's competitiveness and future prosperity.'
Dr. Gardner joins ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ from the University of California at Davis. His published works are among the most cited in the world in his field of research. He joins AVC's Centre for Veterinary Epidemiological Research, a world renowned centre of research excellence in animal population health.
"The Atlantic Veterinary College is known around the world as a leader in veterinary epidemiology and fish health," said Dr. Gardner "I'm excited to be a part of this team. This is a new frontier of science that will make a difference in people's lives. This research deals with the health of our oceans, but is also about what goes on our plate at dinnertime."
Dr. Don Reynolds, Dean of the AVC, said the awarding of this chair speaks to the international reputation the AVC has as a leader in animal population health, with a specialty in fish health. It's that reputation that allowed ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ and AVC to attract such a high-calibre candidate for the chair.
'Dr. Ian Gardner is among the best in the world for veterinary epidemiological research,' said Dr. Reynolds. 'Dr. Gardner will anchor our already successful and proven team here at the Atlantic Veterinary College at ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ. With Dr. Gardner's expertise, we will define aquatic epidemiology. We will develop a new frontier of study and provide the knowledge needed to help improve nutrition for human populations around the world.'
The Honourable Allan Campbell, PEI's Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning - a partner in ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's aquatic research - was also on hand for today's announcement.
"By building partnerships between government and researchers, we are building a bright future for our province. Dr. Gardner's research on Aquatic Epidemiology meets a global need for knowledge about diseases that threaten our aquatic food animals, and his discoveries will benefit fisheries at all levels and help preserve our environment. "
ÐãÉ«¶ÌÊÓƵ's Vice President of Research and Development, Dr. Katherine Schultz, said this Canada Excellence Research Chair is the pinnacle of more than 10 years of unprecedented growth in research.
'This is outstanding. Dr. Gardner becomes our fifteenth research chair,' said Dr. Schultz. 'He joins eight Canada Research Chairs, and six endowed or industry-sponsored chairs. These are the best of the best researchers in the world, and they work every day with our students. The energy these people bring to campus is immeasurable.'