Kevin Ryan, a clinical nursing instructor and graduate student in the UPEI Faculty of Nursing, will present “Nursing Stories and Songs” in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, Steel Building, UPEI, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

A tribute to the nursing profession, the show includes personal stories and original songs written and performed by Ryan. It includes themes familiar to nurses such as death, suicidal ideation, horizontal violence, and judgment, as well as reflections on the causes of compassion fatigue and burnout in nurses.

The show is intended for nurses, but anyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge for tickets. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nurses in attendance will be offered an opportunity to participate in a research study as part of Ryan’s thesis for his Master of Nursing program. This involves completing an anonymous online questionnaire following the event. Participation is voluntary, and audience members do not have to be part of the study to attend the show.

In the case of inclement weather, the two performances will be rescheduled to Thursday, April 24, at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

To learn more about Ryan, visit his website.

Convocation exercises are being held from May 13 to 16, at 10:00 am each day at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Each ceremony is preceded by a procession of graduates across campus. 

• May 13—Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Nursing
• May 14—McDougall Faculty of Business and Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering 
• May 15—Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Graduate Studies 
• May 16—Faculty of Science 

Faculty members who have regalia and wish to participate in the Academic Procession are asked to line up with the graduates in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building concourse 45 minutes before each ceremony.  

For those faculty members who would like to order regalia online through UPEI’s official gown supplier, GradCo, they are encouraged to do so ASAP at https://www.gradco.ca/upei/

The deadline for ordering is Wednesday, April 23, at 11:59 pm.  

Any faculty members who wish to purchase their regalia may contact GradCo at info@gradco.ca for information.  

In order to accommodate UPEI computer classroom and lab software adds, drops, or modifications for the 2025 fall semester, we have set a firm deadline of June 1, 2025.

It is critical that you email requests to smahar@upei.ca by the date above indicating the following.

• New Software Requirements (Licensed or Freeware).  Provide both Software name and Vendor
• Version Upgrades to existing software. Are multiple versions required? If yes, please provide specifics
• Software that can be decommissioned

NOTE:

• Software must be Windows 11 compatible
• Software must be licensed as network installation. Single workstation installations cannot be accommodated

Please begin to obtain and prepare any installation media (CD’s, DVD’s, thumb drives etc.) and related licensing information such as serial numbers. I will contact you after reviewing your email requests to coordinate a time to drop off media if file size permits, upload the installation file(s), zip them, if necessary, to Google drive and share for download.

Please do not drop off any media to the ITSS Help Desk.

The June 1, 2025 deadline is necessary to allow sufficient time to plan and implement the installation of new and upgraded software. This ensures our students will have the software resources they need. Any requests received after the deadline will be applied in the next round of software updates.

Click on the link below for a list of the currently installed software and their versions installed in the student labs and classrooms on campus.

UPEI LAB AND CLASSROOM SOFTWARE

Ms. Yasmin Koop-Monteiro is a candidate for the Sociology position at UPEI and a PhD candidate (ABD) in Sociology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on social movements, climate change, environmental sociology, social network analysis, discourse analysis, and animal studies.

She has published in Energy Research & Social Science, Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Environmental Sociology, among others.

The title of Ms. Koop-Monteiro’s talk is: "The Influence of Human & Nonhuman Network Ties on High-Risk/Cost Animal Advocacy."

Friday, April 25, 2025, at 11:00 am, in SDU Main Building, Room 211.

PhD in Environmental Sciences

Presenter: Ryan Guild

Title of the Thesis: "Nesting in a Changing Climate: Investigating Climate-Driven Risks, Habitat Change, and Management Strategies for Piping Plovers"

"Coastal nesting birds face intensifying threats from climate and human-induced stressors that transform habitats and nesting conditions far beyond historical precedents. One such species is the Atlantic Coast piping plover (PIPL; Charadrius melodus melodus), among North America’s most endangered shorebird, which nests in dynamic, exposed shoreline environments where multiple stressors can severely undermine productivity and survival. In this thesis, I investigate how climate-related stressors, habitat change, and management strategies shape nesting outcomes for a key sub-unit of the Eastern Canadian PIPL population on Prince Edward Island (PEI). Through a comprehensive review of climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems, I first demonstrate how factors such as sea-level rise, storms, warming temperatures, and changes in freshwater availability are reshaping habitat conditions for coastal biota. With this knowledge, I develop a spatiotemporal model to identify key environmental correlates of PIPL nesting success on PEI, including positive effects of maximum temperature (to date), diminished success with later nesting, and lower hatchability near high-recreation areas. A case study of habitat changes following a record-setting fall hurricane – informed by satellite imagery and geospatial analyses – revealed that although the storm created new nesting habitat, PIPL largely returned to their pre-existing nesting areas in the first post-storm season. Consequently, nest failures from flooding increased, yet overall productivity remained high – largely thanks to a single, remote nesting site that continues to subsidise otherwise low productivity rates on the island. A systematic review of management strategies across the Atlantic Coast is then undertaken, which reveals few targeted measures to address threats from nest flooding or severe weather events, despite their growing significance. Finally, I evaluate the roles of tidal, lunar, and wind dynamics in nest flooding and propose a proof-of-concept forecasting tool that integrates nest coordinates, topographical data, and tidal information to alert managers to imminent flood risks. Overall, this research advances knowledge of both environmental and anthropogenic influences on PIPL breeding dynamics and highlights key management interventions that may be necessary to support productivity and population recovery on PEI amid a rapidly changing coastal environment."

April 22, 2025, 1:00 pm via web conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome.

Art-Based Pedagogy has roots in both Education and Psychology. It can also be a very powerful tool for emotional debriefing to build resilience in undergraduate nursing students. Using Art-Based assignments can compliment traditional teaching methodologies in preparation for real-world holistic practice. Art can help students reconstruct knowledge - which can strengthen their experiences and creativity. Join us in viewing Art-Based projects from a Nursing Ethics course, linking their lived nursing experiences to ethical issues in everyday practice on May 21, at 12:00 pm, in the Teaching and Learning Centre - Robertson Library Annex, Room 230.

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) will showcase the best in sustainable design engineering by its students at the annual Student Design Expo on Tuesday, April 22 starting at 1 pm. Projects can be viewed through the afternoon until 3:30 pm. Student projects will be presented in person. Each project is the result of collaboration between FSDE students and an industry or community partner. Students were tasked with designing and creating solutions to their partners’ unique challenges. 

We look forward to seeing everyone.

The Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, invites all to attend Joy Nnadi's public dissertation defense presentation of her PsyD research titled: “Value Congruence, Identity, Adaptation and Well-being in Immigrants to Canada: An Exploratory Study on their Relationships”. 

Date and Time: April 22, 2025 at 3:00 pm 
Location: Memorial Hall, Room 104

This 2-day workshop is designed to immerse participants in the world of AI. It is aimed at students and professionals interested in discovering and applying Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) techniques. Day 1 dives into the fundamentals of ML. In Day 2, we explore advanced DL techniques. Understand the key concepts and algorithms of ML, participate in practical sessions to strengthen your skills, and obtain a globally recognized NVIDIA certification for Fundamentals of Deep Learning. Prerequisites: Basic computer skills, statistics, basic programming in Python.

This two-day virtual workshop will be held on April 23 from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and April 24, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. To register, go to https://www.acenet.training/courses

UPEI Procurement Services is currently taking bids on a used Steinway 6ft grand piano. 

Bids are being accepted in the University's e-tendering portal Bonfire until April 23, 2025, at 2:00 pm. This portal requires you to register by creating a username and password as your UPEI credentials are not connected to this system. When registering for the Bonfire portal, please put your name in the vendor name and contact name fields. You can access the information about this opportunity at https://upei.bonfirehub.ca/projects/91908/details

If you require assistance, please email tenders@upei.ca

Dr. Daphne Esquivel-Sada, a candidate for the Sociology position at UPEI, is currently a Lecturer in Sociology at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research focuses on the sociology of science and technology, biotechnology, and the environmental humanities. She has published in Technology in Society, Healthcare Policy, Journal of Community Genetics, Journal International de Bioéthique, among others. 

The title of Dr. Esquivel-Sada’s talk is: "BioTechdiversity : Conserving Colonialism in the Climate Change Era.” 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:00 am, SDU Main Building, Room 211. 

Kevin Ryan, a clinical nursing instructor and graduate student in the UPEI Faculty of Nursing, will present “Nursing Stories and Songs” in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, Steel Building, UPEI, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

A tribute to the nursing profession, the show includes personal stories and original songs written and performed by Ryan. It includes themes familiar to nurses such as death, suicidal ideation, horizontal violence, and judgment, as well as reflections on the causes of compassion fatigue and burnout in nurses.

The show is intended for nurses, but anyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge for tickets. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nurses in attendance will be offered an opportunity to participate in a research study as part of Ryan’s thesis for his Master of Nursing program. This involves completing an anonymous online questionnaire following the event. Participation is voluntary, and audience members do not have to be part of the study to attend the show.

In the case of inclement weather, the two performances will be rescheduled to Thursday, April 24, at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

To learn more about Ryan, visit his website.

Dr. Daphne Esquivel-Sada, a candidate for the Sociology position at UPEI, is currently a Lecturer in Sociology at the Université du Québec à Montréal. Her research focuses on the sociology of science and technology, biotechnology, and the environmental humanities. She has published in Technology in Society, Healthcare Policy, Journal of Community Genetics, Journal International de Bioéthique, among others. 

The title of Dr. Esquivel-Sada’s talk is: "BioTechdiversity : Conserving Colonialism in the Climate Change Era.” 

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 11:00 am, SDU Main Building, Room 211. 

Kevin Ryan, a clinical nursing instructor and graduate student in the UPEI Faculty of Nursing, will present “Nursing Stories and Songs” in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, Steel Building, UPEI, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

A tribute to the nursing profession, the show includes personal stories and original songs written and performed by Ryan. It includes themes familiar to nurses such as death, suicidal ideation, horizontal violence, and judgment, as well as reflections on the causes of compassion fatigue and burnout in nurses.

The show is intended for nurses, but anyone is welcome to attend. There is no charge for tickets. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Nurses in attendance will be offered an opportunity to participate in a research study as part of Ryan’s thesis for his Master of Nursing program. This involves completing an anonymous online questionnaire following the event. Participation is voluntary, and audience members do not have to be part of the study to attend the show.

In the case of inclement weather, the two performances will be rescheduled to Thursday, April 24, at 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.

To learn more about Ryan, visit his website.

Convocation exercises are being held from May 13 to 16, at 10:00 am each day at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre. Each ceremony is preceded by a procession of graduates across campus. 

• May 13—Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Faculty of Nursing
• May 14—McDougall Faculty of Business and Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering 
• May 15—Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Education, and Faculty of Graduate Studies 
• May 16—Faculty of Science 

Faculty members who have regalia and wish to participate in the Academic Procession are asked to line up with the graduates in the Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering building concourse 45 minutes before each ceremony.  

For those faculty members who would like to order regalia online through UPEI’s official gown supplier, GradCo, they are encouraged to do so ASAP at https://www.gradco.ca/upei/

The deadline for ordering is Wednesday, April 23, at 11:59 pm.  

Any faculty members who wish to purchase their regalia may contact GradCo at info@gradco.ca for information.  

In order to accommodate UPEI computer classroom and lab software adds, drops, or modifications for the 2025 fall semester, we have set a firm deadline of June 1, 2025.

It is critical that you email requests to smahar@upei.ca by the date above indicating the following.

• New Software Requirements (Licensed or Freeware).  Provide both Software name and Vendor
• Version Upgrades to existing software. Are multiple versions required? If yes, please provide specifics
• Software that can be decommissioned

NOTE:

• Software must be Windows 11 compatible
• Software must be licensed as network installation. Single workstation installations cannot be accommodated

Please begin to obtain and prepare any installation media (CD’s, DVD’s, thumb drives etc.) and related licensing information such as serial numbers. I will contact you after reviewing your email requests to coordinate a time to drop off media if file size permits, upload the installation file(s), zip them, if necessary, to Google drive and share for download.

Please do not drop off any media to the ITSS Help Desk.

The June 1, 2025 deadline is necessary to allow sufficient time to plan and implement the installation of new and upgraded software. This ensures our students will have the software resources they need. Any requests received after the deadline will be applied in the next round of software updates.

Click on the link below for a list of the currently installed software and their versions installed in the student labs and classrooms on campus.

UPEI LAB AND CLASSROOM SOFTWARE

Ms. Yasmin Koop-Monteiro is a candidate for the Sociology position at UPEI and a PhD candidate (ABD) in Sociology at the University of British Columbia. Her research focuses on social movements, climate change, environmental sociology, social network analysis, discourse analysis, and animal studies.

She has published in Energy Research & Social Science, Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Environmental Sociology, among others.

The title of Ms. Koop-Monteiro’s talk is: "The Influence of Human & Nonhuman Network Ties on High-Risk/Cost Animal Advocacy."

Friday, April 25, 2025, at 11:00 am, in SDU Main Building, Room 211.

PhD in Environmental Sciences

Presenter: Ryan Guild

Title of the Thesis: "Nesting in a Changing Climate: Investigating Climate-Driven Risks, Habitat Change, and Management Strategies for Piping Plovers"

"Coastal nesting birds face intensifying threats from climate and human-induced stressors that transform habitats and nesting conditions far beyond historical precedents. One such species is the Atlantic Coast piping plover (PIPL; Charadrius melodus melodus), among North America’s most endangered shorebird, which nests in dynamic, exposed shoreline environments where multiple stressors can severely undermine productivity and survival. In this thesis, I investigate how climate-related stressors, habitat change, and management strategies shape nesting outcomes for a key sub-unit of the Eastern Canadian PIPL population on Prince Edward Island (PEI). Through a comprehensive review of climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems, I first demonstrate how factors such as sea-level rise, storms, warming temperatures, and changes in freshwater availability are reshaping habitat conditions for coastal biota. With this knowledge, I develop a spatiotemporal model to identify key environmental correlates of PIPL nesting success on PEI, including positive effects of maximum temperature (to date), diminished success with later nesting, and lower hatchability near high-recreation areas. A case study of habitat changes following a record-setting fall hurricane – informed by satellite imagery and geospatial analyses – revealed that although the storm created new nesting habitat, PIPL largely returned to their pre-existing nesting areas in the first post-storm season. Consequently, nest failures from flooding increased, yet overall productivity remained high – largely thanks to a single, remote nesting site that continues to subsidise otherwise low productivity rates on the island. A systematic review of management strategies across the Atlantic Coast is then undertaken, which reveals few targeted measures to address threats from nest flooding or severe weather events, despite their growing significance. Finally, I evaluate the roles of tidal, lunar, and wind dynamics in nest flooding and propose a proof-of-concept forecasting tool that integrates nest coordinates, topographical data, and tidal information to alert managers to imminent flood risks. Overall, this research advances knowledge of both environmental and anthropogenic influences on PIPL breeding dynamics and highlights key management interventions that may be necessary to support productivity and population recovery on PEI amid a rapidly changing coastal environment."

April 22, 2025, 1:00 pm via web conferencing

If you wish to attend the public presentation, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator at gsc@upei.ca to receive the link.

Everyone is welcome.

Classes are over; you just have to make it through exams. The library is here to help, and not just with books and research advice. April 10-22, in the Robertson Library Lobby, we've scheduled 10 surprises, featuring a treat, craft, or activity to give your brain a break. Follow @RobertsonLibrary on Instagram and Facebook so you never miss a Pop-Up Surprise. (Here's a freebie: we're co-hosting a coffee break with Dana Hospitality, Thurs April 17 at 1:00 pm!)  

We have transformed the lobby lounge into the Stress-Free Zone for the duration of exams. Relax with colouring pages, yarn, origami, and so much more!   

Good luck on your finals! 

The University of Prince Edward Island’s Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering (FSDE) will showcase the best in sustainable design engineering by its students at the annual Student Design Expo on Tuesday, April 22 starting at 1 pm. Projects can be viewed through the afternoon until 3:30 pm. Student projects will be presented in person. Each project is the result of collaboration between FSDE students and an industry or community partner. Students were tasked with designing and creating solutions to their partners’ unique challenges. 

We look forward to seeing everyone.