Recordings
Check out our recorded webinars and video footage from past events to listen to inspiring stories, learn from engaging discussions, and stay digitally connected and informed.
To view upcoming webinars and other virtual events, click here.
Island Lecture Series: The Ecosystem Restoration Project at Basin Head with Dr. Irene Novaczek
The April 2023 Island Lecture Series featured marine ecologist Dr. Irené Novaczek speaking about the Ecosystem Restoration Project at Basin Head, Prince Edward Island. Basin Head was designated as a “Marine Protected Area” under the Oceans Act in 2005, to conserve and protect a unique strain of Irish moss (Chondrus crispus) which is thought to exist only within the confines of Basin Head. The talk focuses on adaptive management of the Marine Protected Area to ensure that the unique giant form of Irish moss at Basin Head is able to survive in the coastal lagoon environment which is challenged by impacts of local agriculture, invasive European green crabs, and ongoing climate changes. A graduate of the Marine Studies Program at University of the South Pacific in Fiji, Dr. Irene Novaczek was the Director of the Institute of Island Studies from 2001 to 2013. She then went on to become senior research scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans from 2014 to 2019, where she led a research and ecosystem restoration program at Basin Head Marine Protected Area in Eastern PEI. Over the years, as an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Arts in Island Studies (MAIS) program, she has supervised several MAIS students. In addition to running her company, Oceana Seaplants, she is Mayor of Breadalbane, PEI.
Island Lecture Series | Enshrined: Island Tourism and the Confederation Story with Dr. Ed MacDonald
Recorded November 15th, 2022 as part of our Island Lecture Series
Due to technical difficulties, the video was cut off at 40 minutes. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
For over a century, the three staple constants in Prince Edward Island tourism have been our pastoral landscape, Anne of Green Gables, and the Island’s claim as the “Birthplace of Confederation.” But becoming the “Cradle of Confederation” was not as easy as it sounds, and the story of how Island tourism promoters recognized the tourism potential of that claim, then gradually convinced Canadians that it was both true and important presents a fascinating case study of “site sacralization” and branding in Canada’s Garden Province.
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Island Lecture Series | “What’s law got to do with it! Islands And Their Status In International Law” with Dr. Donald Rothwell
Our September 13 lecture featured Dr. Donald Rothwell exploring the international conversation on the legal status of islands, a notion increasingly contested in various parts of the world. Can international law resolve these issues or just make them more contentious?
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Island Lecture Series: Trade in the Nicobar Islands with Shaina Sehgal March 2022
the eastern Indian ocean. However, these islands were ports-of-call along the ancient sea route from West Asia to South-East Asia and reported by traders and sea-farers throughout history. In this talk, Sehgal sketches the trading world of the Nicobar Islands between the 18th and 19th centuries. Analysis of historical texts, maps and images from this period shows the connection between seasonal trade within the archipelago and trade with the Nicobar Islands. This study concludes that these islands were a site of sustained contact within the bustling Indian Ocean world until the early 20th century.
Island Lecture Series: Arts and Climate Adaptation – Ilse van Dijke
In the first installment of the 2022 Island Lecture series, Ilse van Dijk presents the findings of the research she conducted as an intern with Island Studies and the School of Climate Change and Adaptation at UPEI. The research was funded by the Climate Sense project. In her research project, Ilse aimed to identify possibilities for the integration of artistic processes into climate change adaptation policies on Prince Edward Island.
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Celebrating Poetry Month: Laurie Brinklow and Bren Simmers in conversation with Richard Lemm
For our April Island Lecture Series session, we celebrated Poetry Month and launched two new books of poetry from Laurie Brinklow and Bren Simmers. Laurie and Bren each read from their new books and were joined in conversation by Richard Lemm, who brought some great questions and lots of laughs.
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Learning from Financial Crisis: Towards Sustainable Island Futures for Iceland and Newfoundland & Labrador
For our March Island Lecture Series session, Prof. Mark Stoddart (Memorial University of Newfoundland) and Dr. Ásthildur Elva Bernharðsdóttir (Reykjavík Akademían; University of Iceland) discuss the financial crises of Iceland (2008–2009) and Newfoundland & Labrador (currently). What have these experiences had in common and what lessons can they teach us?
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Factors influencing change in the Prince Edward Island Lobster Fishery
In this video, Master of Arts in Island Studies student Ian McIsaac defends his thesis, “Factors influencing change in the Prince Edward Island Lobster Fishery” via Zoom.
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Music-making and the experience of community life on an Irish island
For our Island Lecture Series January session, Irish ethnomusicologist Dr. Rory McCabe joined us live from Clare Island, Ireland, to discuss music-making as a fundamental part of island community life and an important measure of island vitality. Following his presentation, Rory was joined in conversation by Dr. Laurie Brinklow (Institute of Island Studies, UPEI) to discuss the intersection of music-making and island studies and how this can help us to understand islandness, followed by a lively Q&A session with questions from the audience.
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Writing the Island
October’s Island Lecture Series event featured JoDee Samuelson, author of The Cove Journal, reading from her collection of essays about life on the South Shore of Prince Edward Island. JoDee will also be joined by Bren Simmers (Island Studies Press; Pivot Point) in a conversation about her inspiration for the book, her writing process, and the art of place-based writing. We had a wonderfully engaged audience who submitted some excellent questions for JoDee and Bren to discuss. Click here for more details
Islands and COVID-19 Recovery Plans: Promoting Resilience and Sustainability
In this virtual panel, Dr. Jim Randall (UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability) and Dr. Francesco Sindico (Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance) were joined by representatives from islands around the world to share lessons on how islands are demonstrating resilience as they respond to COVID-19 and discuss the challenges and opportunities that communities are navigating around the world and right here on Prince Edward Island. Click here for more details