Thomas V. Hilton will present his Master of Education Thesis Defense on Thursday, March 13 at 4:00 pm in Kelley Building, room 237. Thesis Title: "Schooling and Practices of Freedom of ‘Out’ Queer Youth on Prince Edward Island." Jeela Palluq-Cloutier will present her Master of Education Thesis Defense on Friday, March 21, at 3:30 pm in Memorial Hall, room 417. Thesis Title: "The Standardization of Inuktut in the Education System in Nunavut." All are welcome.

There will be a presentation by Dr. Hossein Ahari, School of Science and Engineering Technology, Durham College, on March 10 at 1:30 pm in AVC-C. Dr. Ahari is a candidate for a 36-month replacement in Engineering. Dr. Ahari's talk is on evolutionary-based computing and its application to engineering. All are welcome to attend.

Heckbert Studio is on campus for graduation portraits March 28, March 31, April 1, and April 2. These are the final dates for 2014. Students can book appointments online now for these dates. Heckbert Studio will be located at the UPEI Student Union Office, 2nd floor W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Students who book a campus session receive 50% off (only $20 plus tax) and help support the UPEISU. Please encourage all students to book now at www.heckbertstudio.com or 566-5500.

All are invited to attend the installation of the University’s eighth Chancellor, Dr. Don McDougall on Sunday, March 30 at 2:00 pm in McMillan Hall, W.A. Murphy Student Centre. A reception will immediately follow in the Faculty Lounge, Main Building. McDougall is an alumnus, donor, and a UPEI honorary degree recipient and was unanimously elected for a four-year term beginning in 2014. He and his wife Marion currently reside in Stratford, Ontario, and they also have a summer residence in Ebbsfleet, PEI. McDougall replaces the University’s seventh chancellor William E. “Bill” Andrew. Please RSVP by March 19 to Rebecca Gass at (902) 566-0949 or to communications@upei.ca. Parking will be available in gated lot B, C, and RP.

Sarah McConnachie, Department of Pathology and Microbiology will present a seminar called "Retention and viability of microsporidial (Loma salmonae) spores within the Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis): use of an established experimental laboratory model probing pathogen transfer within an integrated multitrophic aquaculture setting (IMTA)" on Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30 pm in AVC Lecture Theatre C. Everyone is welcome.

Do you need support in your qualitative research project? Looking to connect and share ideas with other researchers on campus? We can help! Young Lives Research and its UPEI Qualitative Research Lab is offering informal workshops for qualitative researchers across campus. You're invited to meet with other qualitative researchers from various departments/disciplines to share your research ideas and methods, talk about particular challenges you have faced, and help build a qualitative research community here at UPEI. The forum is open to anyone on campus, student, staff, or faculty who conducts qualitative research and wishes to share/hear about experiences of members of the qualitative research community. Informal workshops will be held on Fridays once a month from 2:00-4:00 pm. The first forum will take place on March 14 in Dalton Hall, Room 414. For more information, please email cyct@upei.ca

UPEI will host its second annual Mental Health Week March 10-14. An initiative by Student Affairs and supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association (PEI division), the week showcases a series of events designed to educate and encourage action among UPEI students, staff, and faculty while building a culture of care. Events this year include: UPEI's first TEDxTalk; guest lecture by Frank Warren from PostSecret; visits from the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program, and more! All events are free to attend. See the full schedule of events at upei.ca/mentalhealthweek.

A short conference entitled “My Island, My Heart” will take place March 14, 1:00-3:00 pm, at UPEI’s Chaplaincy Centre. The conference, led by UPEI arts student Faith Robinson, focuses on three themes—island fragility, island sustainability, and island community. Special guest speakers include: Deirdre Kessler, writer and UPEI professor; Laurie Brinklow, accomplished poet and UPEI professor; and Millefiore Clarkes, filmmaker to name a few. A short docu-film Island Green, about organic farming on PEI, will also be featured as part of the conference. Today, it is more important than ever to realize the limitations and magnificence of our environment, so keenly felt by Islanders worldwide. It is crucial that we not forget the roots from which we ourselves grow, to envision a better future. For more information on the conference, contact Faith Robinson at frobinson@upei.ca. Admission is free, and snacks and beverages will be provided. All are welcome to attend.

Mental Health Week 2014 (March 10-14) is still looking for staff and faculty volunteers for two initiatives. Like we did last year, we hope to use Twitter to encourage the campus community to think and communicate about mental health. Our Mental Health Week Twitter Champions will be asked to tweet at least once a day about mental health week. Last year we generated over 500 tweets and we'd like to beat that record this year. A second initiative is a wrap-up event that will feature firsthand narratives of how mental health can affect us, whether we have to cope with symptoms ourselves, whether we are supporting friends or family, or even as teaching and service staff. If you'd like to share your story, we will provide some training and support and give you a chance to speak to a dedicated audience. Anyone interested in either of these initiatives is asked to email James Reddin at jareddin@upei.ca.

The AUS women's basketball championships are gearing up this weekend, with games beginning on Friday, March 7. To show our support for the UPEI women's basketball team, UPEI staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to wear green on Friday. Need a green shirt? The UPEI Bookstore and Panther Central have Panther Green T-shirts available. The women's team will take on CBU at 8:15 pm in quarterfinal action Friday night. For a full schedule, visit: http://gopanthersgo.ca/aus-womens-bball-championship Go Panthers Go!

Two fourth-year biology students of the University of Prince Edward Island are conducting a survey on urban foxes on Prince Edward Island as part of a project designed to gain insight into the food resources being used by foxes on the Island. The students are asking the general public to complete the short survey (2-3 minutes) which asks questions about observations and sightings of foxes on PEI. Anyone can participate in the study on the condition that they limit themselves to disclosing information about PEI foxes only. Participation in the survey is completely voluntary and all data and information collected is completely anonymous. For more information please contact Dr. Marina Silva-Opps at the UPEI Biology Department and/or Ellen VanKampen (eevankampen@upei.ca) or Melody Chang (cchang@upei.ca). The survey can be accessed via the following link: https://docs.google.com/a/upei.ca/forms/d/18DxJ0IWbTBHJxIicdl4QnSBi5u3X…

A short conference entitled “My Island, My Heart” will take place March 14, 1:00-3:00 pm, at UPEI’s Chaplaincy Centre. The conference, led by UPEI arts student Faith Robinson, focuses on three themes—island fragility, island sustainability, and island community. Special guest speakers include: Deirdre Kessler, writer and UPEI professor; Laurie Brinklow, accomplished poet and UPEI professor; and Millefiore Clarkes, filmmaker to name a few. A short docu-film Island Green, about organic farming on PEI, will also be featured as part of the conference. Today, it is more important than ever to realize the limitations and magnificence of our environment, so keenly felt by Islanders worldwide. It is crucial that we not forget the roots from which we ourselves grow, to envision a better future. For more information on the conference, contact Faith Robinson at frobinson@upei.ca. Admission is free, and snacks and beverages will be provided. All are welcome to attend.

Mental Health Week 2014 (March 10-14) is still looking for staff and faculty volunteers for two initiatives. Like we did last year, we hope to use Twitter to encourage the campus community to think and communicate about mental health. Our Mental Health Week Twitter Champions will be asked to tweet at least once a day about mental health week. Last year we generated over 500 tweets and we'd like to beat that record this year. A second initiative is a wrap-up event that will feature firsthand narratives of how mental health can affect us, whether we have to cope with symptoms ourselves, whether we are supporting friends or family, or even as teaching and service staff. If you'd like to share your story, we will provide some training and support and give you a chance to speak to a dedicated audience. Anyone interested in either of these initiatives is asked to email James Reddin at jareddin@upei.ca.

The AUS women's basketball championships are gearing up this weekend, with games beginning on Friday, March 7. To show our support for the UPEI women's basketball team, UPEI staff, faculty, and students are encouraged to wear green on Friday. Need a green shirt? The UPEI Bookstore and Panther Central have Panther Green T-shirts available. The women's team will take on CBU at 8:15 pm in quarterfinal action Friday night. For a full schedule, visit: http://gopanthersgo.ca/aus-womens-bball-championship Go Panthers Go!

Two fourth-year biology students of the University of Prince Edward Island are conducting a survey on urban foxes on Prince Edward Island as part of a project designed to gain insight into the food resources being used by foxes on the Island. The students are asking the general public to complete the short survey (2-3 minutes) which asks questions about observations and sightings of foxes on PEI. Anyone can participate in the study on the condition that they limit themselves to disclosing information about PEI foxes only. Participation in the survey is completely voluntary and all data and information collected is completely anonymous. For more information please contact Dr. Marina Silva-Opps at the UPEI Biology Department and/or Ellen VanKampen (eevankampen@upei.ca) or Melody Chang (cchang@upei.ca). The survey can be accessed via the following link: https://docs.google.com/a/upei.ca/forms/d/18DxJ0IWbTBHJxIicdl4QnSBi5u3X…

The UPEI Music Department Recital series continues on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 pm with Montreal classical guitarist Patrick Kearney. He represents a rare balance between sheer technical virtuosity and intense musicality. A true artist, he consistently spellbinds audiences through his deep musical insight and natural dramatic flair, interspersing his performances with narration and anecdotes discovered through deliberate research into the guitar repertoire. Mr. Kearney teaches guitar at Concordia University in Montreal as well as at Vanier College. He is the founder and director of the Montreal International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition (www.guitaremontreal.com), which is hosted by Concordia Music. The repertoire for his concert at UPEI will include Spanish and Mexican guitar repertoire as well as one of Mr. Kearney’s own compositions. UPEI vocal professor Sung Ha Shin-Bouey will also be joining Patrick in performance. Admission for this recital at the Dr. Steel Recital is $15 Adults / $10 for Seniors and Students, and tickets are available at the door or in advance, by calling 566-0507 or by emailing music@upei.ca

UPEI voice major Nadine Haddad will present her senior recital on Thursday, March 13 at 7:30 pm at the Dr. Steel Recital Hall. Frances McBurnie will be accompanying Nadine on works by Mozart, Handel, Brahms, Ravel, Granados, Agustín lara, Bolcom and Gershwin. Nadine is in her final year as a voice major at UPEI. She has studied with UPEI voice professors Sung Ha Shin-Bouey and Stephen Bouey. Nadine recently competed as a finalist in the 2014 UPEI Music Competition, and also performed with the UPEI Concert Choir as a featured soloist in Vivaldi's “Gloria” and Bach's “Christmas Oratorio.” Nadine is excited to be presenting many of her favourite songs from classical to cabaret. In the future, Nadine hopes to pursue a career in arts administration. Admission is free. For more information regarding UPEI recitals contact 566-0507 or music@upei.ca.

Please note: Yoga, which is held on Wednesdays at noon, is cancelled March 5 for Ash Wednesday services. We'll see you next week at noon!

Mental Health Week 2014 (March 10-14) is still looking for staff and faculty volunteers for two initiatives. Like we did last year, we hope to use Twitter to encourage the campus community to think and communicate about mental health. Our Mental Health Week Twitter Champions will be asked to tweet at least once a day about mental health week. Last year we generated over 500 tweets and we'd like to beat that record this year. A second initiative is a wrap-up event that will feature firsthand narratives of how mental health can affect us, whether we have to cope with symptoms ourselves, whether we are supporting friends or family, or even as teaching and service staff. If you'd like to share your story, we will provide some training and support and give you a chance to speak to a dedicated audience. Anyone interested in either of these initiatives is asked to email James Reddin at jareddin@upei.ca.

The UPEI Music Department Recital series continues on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 pm with Montreal classical guitarist Patrick Kearney. He represents a rare balance between sheer technical virtuosity and intense musicality. A true artist, he consistently spellbinds audiences through his deep musical insight and natural dramatic flair, interspersing his performances with narration and anecdotes discovered through deliberate research into the guitar repertoire. Mr. Kearney teaches guitar at Concordia University in Montreal as well as at Vanier College. He is the founder and director of the Montreal International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition (www.guitaremontreal.com), which is hosted by Concordia Music. The repertoire for his concert at UPEI will include Spanish and Mexican guitar repertoire as well as one of Mr. Kearney’s own compositions. UPEI vocal professor Sung Ha Shin-Bouey will also be joining Patrick in performance. Admission for this recital at the Dr. Steel Recital is $15 Adults / $10 for Seniors and Students, and tickets are available at the door or in advance, by calling 566-0507 or by emailing music@upei.ca