Campus Notices
Have you ever considered offering students the option to choose an AI-free or AI-integrated learning experience? Read about this and a few other ideas in this blog post -
MSc in Mathematical and Computational Sciences Thesis Defence
Presenter: Paul Seward
Title: 鈥淎dvancing Particle Swarm Optimization through Deep Reinforcement Learning鈥�
Metaheuristic algorithms like Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are widely used for complex optimization but often suffer from premature convergence and stagnation. This thesis integrates Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) with PSO to develop intelligent, adaptive strategies that address these inefficiencies. We model the swarm of particles as an agent-controlled environment and explore different DRL architectures that enable discrete, continuous, and subswarm-based interventions. Extensive experiments on the IEEE CEC鈥�13 benchmark suite demonstrate that hybrid DRL-driven policies consistently outperform standard PSO, highlighting the value of multi-action and parallel interventions. This research provides new insights into adaptive metaheuristics and outlines promising directions for intelligent optimization.
Date and Time: May 14 at 9:00 am via Web Conference
To receive the link to the public presentation, please email the graduate studies coordinator at gsc@upei.ca
Everyone is welcome to attend.
The campus community is invited to a research presentation by candidate, Dr. Leandro Passarini, for the Assistant Professor tenure track position cross-appointed between the Environmental Studies and the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation programs. The title of the presentation is "Toward a net-zero future through the advancement of low embodied carbon bio-based materials for climate-resilient and affordable housing in Canada".
Date: May 13, 2025
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: Duffy Science Centre, Room 204
黑料网 Chaplaincy Centre is partnering with 黑料网 Filipino Society [KABAYAN] to remember the lives lost at the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy in Vancouver last month. A display will be mounted at the Chaplaincy Centre and remain for three days, Monday May 12 to Wednesday May 14. The display will include an opportunity to leave a written message for our campus Filipino Society.
All are invited to gather on Tuesday May 13 at 4:00 pm for a simple vigil, remembering the 11 lives lost and the impact the tragedy on all who mourn.
The Department of Religious Studies is offering a free showing of the movie Conclave (2024) followed by a Q&A on the film and the current election of a new pope.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 pm in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, Steel Building.
All are welcome to attend this free event.
Shop for your favourite 黑料网 grad and save 20% on clothing and giftware from May 12 to 16. We're open Monday to Friday 9:00 - 4:00 or shop online 24/7 at .
The Department of Student Affairs is offering drop-in academic advising for undergraduate students.
Drop-ins will be held from 2:00鈥�4:00 pm and 5:00鈥�7:00 pm, Thursday, May 15 at Robertson Library, Room 264 鈥� LINC Lab.
Advising will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
**These are short, drop-in sessions so please do as much planning as possible before you attend.
For questions, please contact Student Affairs at: studentserv@ upei.ca or 902-566-0488.
The Class of 2025, family and friends, are invited to celebrate the Mass for Graduates at the 黑料网 Chaplaincy Centre on Wednesday, May 14 at 4:30 pm. Presider and homilist will be Bishop Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA. For more information contact Sister Sue at sukidd@upei.ca, or Lauren at lvanvliet@upei.ca
The ACENET Embedded Technical Support program is designed to assist researchers in any discipline at Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institutions to adopt or improve their use of advanced computing techniques and resources in their research.
These tools have the potential to accelerate discovery in almost any discipline. However, the expertise necessary to optimize code, successfully migrate workflows from a desktop to an HPC cluster, build a cloud platform, or simply explore the capabilities and benefits of advanced computing may not be readily available, especially in smaller projects.
This program pairs our technical experts with innovative projects that have high potential for success and impact and require advanced computing resources, programming support, and/or in-depth technical expertise. Some examples of areas we can help are
- code parallelization and performance optimization for HPC systems
- scientific or data visualization
- data analytics
- workflow migration from the desktop to a cluster
- applying research data management practices
- tailored training
Successful projects under this program are able to access focused and dedicated support from one to two of ACENET鈥檚 research consultants for a period of two to four months. During this period, the ACENET staff member will spend up to 50 per cent of their time working on the project.
The current call is open from 14 April until 18 May 2025.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at applications@ace-net.ca.
More information and submission form:
The next Island Lecture Series, hosted by the Institute of Island Studies at 黑料网, will feature guest speaker Heidi Hearing presenting, 鈥淭he 鈥渇amily farm鈥�: A keyword in Prince Edward Island land politics. The lecture will be held in the Faculty Lounge of SDU Main Building on May 20 at 7:00 pm. (This lecture was previously scheduled for March but was postponed due to weather.) Admission is free and all are welcome.
Hearing鈥檚 talk will deal with the struggle to define the 鈥渇amily farm鈥� in PEI and how this ambiguity helps or hinders the work of farmers, agribusiness, and government. It will discuss how participant definitions of the 鈥渇amily farm鈥� contrasted with how they farmed and were sometimes at odds with their ideals. This talk will also shed light on the possible reasons that agribusiness and governments look to the pastoral romanticism of 鈥渇amily farm.鈥�
Heidi Hearing lives in Charlottetown and has recently completed her MA in Anthropology from Memorial University. Her thesis is entitled: 鈥淭hree keywords in the campaign against farmland consolidation and the loss of small farms through the lens of the Prince Edward Island Chapter of the National Farmers Union."
MSc in Mathematical and Computational Sciences Thesis Defence
Presenter: Paul Seward
Title: 鈥淎dvancing Particle Swarm Optimization through Deep Reinforcement Learning鈥�
Metaheuristic algorithms like Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are widely used for complex optimization but often suffer from premature convergence and stagnation. This thesis integrates Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) with PSO to develop intelligent, adaptive strategies that address these inefficiencies. We model the swarm of particles as an agent-controlled environment and explore different DRL architectures that enable discrete, continuous, and subswarm-based interventions. Extensive experiments on the IEEE CEC鈥�13 benchmark suite demonstrate that hybrid DRL-driven policies consistently outperform standard PSO, highlighting the value of multi-action and parallel interventions. This research provides new insights into adaptive metaheuristics and outlines promising directions for intelligent optimization.
Date and Time: May 14 at 9:00 am via Web Conference
To receive the link to the public presentation, please email the graduate studies coordinator at gsc@upei.ca
Everyone is welcome to attend.
The campus community is invited to a research presentation by candidate, Dr. Leandro Passarini, for the Assistant Professor tenure track position cross-appointed between the Environmental Studies and the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation programs. The title of the presentation is "Toward a net-zero future through the advancement of low embodied carbon bio-based materials for climate-resilient and affordable housing in Canada".
Date: May 13, 2025
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: Duffy Science Centre, Room 204
黑料网 Chaplaincy Centre is partnering with 黑料网 Filipino Society [KABAYAN] to remember the lives lost at the Lapu Lapu Festival tragedy in Vancouver last month. A display will be mounted at the Chaplaincy Centre and remain for three days, Monday May 12 to Wednesday May 14. The display will include an opportunity to leave a written message for our campus Filipino Society.
All are invited to gather on Tuesday May 13 at 4:00 pm for a simple vigil, remembering the 11 lives lost and the impact the tragedy on all who mourn.
The 黑料网 Student Union invites all staff and faculty to the 黑料网 Student Union graduation awards presentation on Monday, May 12, at 1:00 pm at The Fox and Crow. This event will honour the outstanding achievements of students receiving the 黑料网 Senior Class Spirit Award, 黑料网 Class of 1998 Leadership Award, 黑料网 Crescam Serviendo (May I Grow by Serving) Award, and the Owen MacDonald Memorial Award for Student Excellence. We will also recognize the contributions of the 2025 Graduate Class Executives. We hope you will join us in celebrating these students and their dedication to our campus community.
The Department of Religious Studies is offering a free showing of the movie Conclave (2024) followed by a Q&A on the film and the current election of a new pope.
Tuesday, May 13 at 7:00 pm in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, Steel Building.
All are welcome to attend this free event.
The campus community is invited to a research presentation by Dr. Evan Andrews, a candidate for the Assistant Professor tenure track position, cross-appointed between the Environmental Studies program and the Master of Cleantech Leadership and Transformation program. The title of the presentation is "The future of fisheries in Canada: Toward regenerative fisheries for climate-ready coastal communities".
Date: May 12, 2025
Time: 1:30 pm
Location: Duffy Science Centre, Room 204
The Department of Religious Studies will present a free concert celebrating the 黑料网 Class of 2025 on Monday, May 12, from 8 to 9 pm, in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall, Steel Building. The 8th Avenue Players, a choir of talented professional singers, including 黑料网 students, will perform songs from "Godspell, the Musical."
All are welcome to attend this free concert.
Shop for your favourite 黑料网 grad and save 20% on clothing and giftware from May 12 to 16. We're open Monday to Friday 9:00 - 4:00 or shop online 24/7 at .
The Department of Student Affairs is offering drop-in academic advising for undergraduate students.
Drop-ins will be held from 2:00鈥�4:00 pm and 5:00鈥�7:00 pm, Thursday, May 15 at Robertson Library, Room 264 鈥� LINC Lab.
Advising will be offered on a first come, first served basis.
**These are short, drop-in sessions so please do as much planning as possible before you attend.
For questions, please contact Student Affairs at: studentserv@ upei.ca or 902-566-0488.
In order to accommodate 黑料网 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鈥檚, DVD鈥檚, 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.
