The University of Prince Edward Island, along with the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization), present “Science as a Right”, a panel discussion in recognition of the United Nations Human Rights Day. The event is Monday, December 10 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Beaconsfield Carriage House, 2 Kent Street in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. In this time of alternate facts, fake information, and psychological manipulation by authority figures to make us doubt what constitutes real science, it is important to recognize that even if science seems in conflict with immediate economic or political goals, making the truth public is essential for accurate economic and political decisions. The United Nations has recognized this with the 2017 UNESCO “Recommendation on Science and Scientific Researchers”, which focuses on open science, and transparency. In 2013, there were 160,000 researchers in Canada, and this country produced 4 per cent of the world’s scientific publications. Research has become increasingly focused on the biomedical area and less on social sciences and humanities, which are equally important in understanding how our societies function as their demographics change. Only 17 women have won a Nobel Prize for physics, chemistry, or medicine since 1903, compared with 572 men. Only 28% of the world’s researchers are women. Gender disparity is science is still very evident at scientific seminars. It is also timely to examine various ways of associating traditional indigenous knowledge with scientific research in areas such as the environment, natural resources, and sustainable development. Chaired by Dr. Katherine Gottschall-Pass, dean of the Faculty of Science at the University of Prince Edward Island, this panel discussion will begin to address these issues. “Free and open access to science is the best way to improve society, and this panel discussion will emphasize the importance of science in policy and decision-making. Science is the gathering of hypotheses and the endless testing of them,” said Dr. Gottschall-Pass. “It involves checking and double-checking, self-criticism, and a willingness to overturn even fundamental assumptions if they prove to be wrong. But none of this can happen without open communication among scientists and with the public. Without it guarantees public ignorance.” The panel will include: Dr. Adam Fenech, director of the Climate Research Lab at the University of Prince Edward Island, on the suppression of federal government scientists. A five-year study by Canada’s information commissioner, Suzanne Legault, concluded this year that complaints that former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was muzzling scientists were “well founded”, and that some federal scientists say they still feel muzzled by the current government. Dr. John McIntyre from the University of Prince Edward Island, on events south of the border. Contradicting the scientific consensus, president Trump has declared climate change a hoax and vaccines a source of disease. Like Harper, he has gagged government scientists, telling them not to reveal the results of their research to the public. Dr. Joshua MacFadyen, the Canada Research Chair in Applied Communication, Leadership, and Culture at the University of Prince Edward Island, on communicating the science of sustainability. Stephanie Arnold, graduate student at the University of Prince Edward Island, on communicating climate science to the younger generations. All are welcome.

The Faculty of Science Graduate Studies committee invites the UPEI community to Qammar Almas' PhD-MMS defense entitled "Data-Driven Quantum Chemistry Predictions for Unique Lewis Acid-Base Pairs and Small Organic Molecules" Everyone is welcome.

Jessica Brimacombe, Recruiter of Graduate and Professional Programs, is hosting an information session on the Bachelor of Education – Français Langue Seconde. The event is taking place at the Future Inns Halifax Hotel & Conference Centre from 6:30pm-8:30pm. To register for this event, please contact jebrimacombe@upei.ca.  

The Faculty of Education invites all to attend Amanda Brazil's public presentation of her PhD research titled: Everyone goes home: Exploring the implicit learning of critical incidents in the volunteer fire service. Originally scheduled for Tuesday, December 18 at 9:30 am, the presentation has been moved up to Monday, December 17 at 2:45 pm in Memorial Hall 417 due to impending weather.

The Role of Emotional Entropy in Dismantling Ethnocentric Paradigms: American Student Encounters with Power, Privilege, and Global Agency through Service-Learning in India.

Dr. Jason Hickey (UNB, Fredericton) will describe his experiences working as a nursing instructor and doing research in Qatar, a traditional Muslim country in the Middle East.

The Office of the President cordially invites you to attend the MacLauchlan Prizes for Effective Writing Celebration. Please join members of the MacLauchlan family, guest speaker Dr. Laurie Brinklow, and the UPEI community on Friday, January 25, 2019 at 1:30 pm in Schurman Market Square, Don and Marion McDougall Hall to celebrate the writing achievements of UPEI students and faculty and staff.

Join the UPEI Faculty of Nursing and Graduate Studies Coordinator, Dr. Janet Bryanton, for a Master of Nursing Open House on Tuesday, January 8 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm in room 106 of UPEI's Health Sciences Building. Talk with current Master of Nursing students to hear about their journey in the program, tour the building, and have your admissions questions answered!   Refreshments will be served.   All nurses in PEI are invited to attend.

Next meeting: Friday, Jan. 18, 12:30-1:15, room AVC 280N. Dr. Paul Bernard (AVC Biomedical Sciences) will lead discussion of the article:  Makowska IJ, Weary DM. 2016. The importance of burrowing, climbing and standing upright for laboratory rats. Royal Society Open Science 3:160136. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.160136 This article looks at optimizing rodent housing from an ethological perspective, which will be of benefit to both the animals and the science. The Animal Welfare Journal Club meets once a month (third Friday, generally) to discuss scientific articles related to animal welfare; for eg in areas of animal welfare science, animal ethics, animal behaviour, anesthesia and analgesia, ethical veterinary practice. Everyone is welcome to attend and to propose articles for future discussion. The club is co hosted by AVC’s Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre and Animal Welfare Club. Email acrook@upei.ca or jdamico@upei.ca to be on the e-mail list for future information.

UPEI Experiential Education and Work Integrated Learning is proud to present the new Career Studio! This new space provides career resources for students, and will offer one-on-one peer mentoring for all things career related. Stop by on Thursday, January 10th between 11:00 and 1:00 to meet our team and learn about the new Career Studio in Dalton Hall! Free snacks will be provided  Thursday, January 10, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Dalton Hall 209