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Please forward your submissions to the NSAC E-Bulletin to the newsdesk at (news@nsac.ca). for inclusion in the next edition, which run on Monday and Thursday of each week. Remember you can post notices anytime on the NSAC Forums at http://nsac.ca/forums

Open Session with Co-Presidents

Faculty and staff are invited to attend an open session with Co-Presidents, Dr. MacLaren and Dr. MacDonald, on Tuesday, April 13 at 10 a.m. in Cox, room 31. Topics to be discussed include governance and other campus initiatives. Tracy Crowell, Chief Transformational Director for the Governance Project, will also be on hand to answer questions. Specific questions or concerns can be forwarded in advance to Theresa Blois at tblois@nsac.ca or 893-6720.
 
We look forward to seeing you there and answering any questions you may have.
 
Sincerely,
Leslie MacLaren, Co-President, Vice President Academic
Bernie MacDonald, Co-President, Vice President Administration

New Print Centre Service

Citing increasing concerns among print and other media buyers who feel that printing on paper kills trees, Xerox has introduced a digital press that prints on meat. The new Bif-Tek 5000 is a 25-inch digital press that uses a new patented edible toner to print on a large variety of meats, from bologna and salami, to roast beef, to lower-fat alternatives such as turkey breast. And thanks to a strategic partnership with Morton's Steakhouse, Xerox is also able to offer higher-end substrates such as porterhouse and filet mignon. The company is also working on vegetarian options, such as printing on tofu using soy toner.

"We feel the new Bif-Tek 5000 is the first major step the printing industry has taken to help protect our forests," said Carl Carnivore, product manager for the new Bif-Tek division. "But the real advantage from an end-user point of view is that the final printed piece can be eaten."

The new press also offers inline finishing options, such as aqueous coatings, spot varnishing, or mayonnaise. A special application in the machine's front end can also help determine what wine best complements a particular project. "A short-run postcard mailing would go well with a refreshing white, like a pinot grigio, while something heartier like a catalog is best served by something like a cabernet," said Carnivore.

Said the Print Society in response to the new press, "The Xerox Bif-Tek will further help the industry prove the power of print."

The new press is not without its detractors, but Xerox is addressing those concerns by developing Spam-blocking software.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was very upset with the new technology, but said it could have an upside. A spokesperson stated "we demand that laws require the printing of nutritional information directly on all meat." Xerox claims to be working on a Tofu version of its technology.

NSAC hopes to be offering this service soon in the on-campus print centre.

Sustainable Procurement Workshop

Procurement Services will be offering workshops on sustainable procurement on Monday, April 26 at the Public Service Commission Learning Center, 4th Floor, World Trade and Convention Center, 1800 Argyle Street, Halifax.

To be eligible for these workshops, you must have first completed the "Introduction to Sustainable Procurement - Online Course" at gov.ns.ca/tenders/sustproc

Course: Purchasing More Sustainably Course for Technicians and Co-ordinators
Date: Monday, April 26
Time: 9 a.m. - noon
Location: Public Service Commission Learning Center, 4th Floor, World Trade and Convention Centre

- This workshop has been developed for procurement technicians, procurement consultants and other staff who regularly purchase a variety of goods and services as part of their role within their department.
- This hands-on workshop is designed to help government purchasers incorporate sustainability into their purchasing decisions.

Course: Sustainable Purchasing for Administrative Staff
Date: Monday, April 26
Time: 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Public Service Commission Learning Center, 4th Floor, World Trade and Convention Centre

- This workshop has been developed for administrative staff who regularly purchase from the Stationery Stockroom and who plan meetings and events for their offices.
- This hands-on workshop is designed to help administrative staff incorporate sustainability into their purchasing decisions.

To register, first select the session that best suits your role within government. Then send an e-mail to sustproc@gov.ns.ca with the workshop name in the subject line of your e-mail. Registration e-mails must be received by Monday, April 12. Demand for these workshops has been high, so register early as spots will be filled on a first come-first served basis.

Atlantic Agricultural Forum Hosted by NSAC

The world’s biggest challenges today directly relate to agriculture and the keys to addressing these challenges can be found at the Atlantic Agricultural Forum April 22 and April 23.

With a theme to connect, innovate and renew, this two-day workshop, hosted by NSAC, will focus on the changing face of agriculture and will aim to connect all players in the  industry by providing a forum for learning and innovation and by fostering renewal, ideas, growth and partnerships.

The complete program and registration details can be viewed at nsac.ca/aaf 

There is limited seating for this event, so please register early. Registration deadline is April 16. 

For more information please contact Sara Murphy at 893-6028 or by e-mail at scmurphy@nsac.ca  

Click here for the event poster

Graduate Research Day

Graduate Research Day is an opportunity for NSAC graduate students to showcase the broad spectrum of exciting and innovative research they are conducting and allow time to interact with fellow students, faculty and staff. 

Please mark your calendars and join us upstairs in Cumming Hall on Friday, April 9, starting at 10 a.m.

The day begins with poster presentations and then continues throughout the day with oral presentations. A wine and cheese reception will be held from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you at the event and coming out to support our graduate students!

Free Fitness Classes

"Bust a Move" and "Take a Break from Studying"

For all interested NSAC Students and Staff, Langille Athletic Centre is offering free fitness classes with Shock Conditioning Fitness Solutions certified trainer
Sara Mills.

Turbo Kickboxing
Tuesday, April 6
4 p.m.
Langille Athletic Centre main gym

Zumba
Thursday, April 8
4 p.m.
Langille Athletic Centre main gym  

For detailed class descriptions visit shockconditioningsystems.com or contact the Athletic Centre at 893-6660.

Library Hours

The Library will be observing the following schedule of service from March 29 - April 19.
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

The library will be open as follows from April 2 - 5.
Friday, April 2: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Saturday, April 3: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday, April 4: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Monday, April 5: 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Scholarship Spotlight

Cliff & Grace Retson Memorial Bursary Awarded
Yuyi Chen, Chenglicun, Fujian Province, China, a fourth year B.Sc.(Agr.) Plant Science student, was selected as the 2009 recipient of the $600 Cliff & Grace Retson Memorial Bursary. In memory of Cliff (Class of '34) & Grace Retson, this bursary is awarded to an International student studying at NSAC. Selection criteria include financial need, academic performance and interest in and involvement in multi-cultural activities on campus. Mrs. Mavis Yorke, daughter of the late Cliff & Grace Retson, attended NSAC’s Scholarship Banquet to make the presentation. 

Photo of the Day

Signs of Spring on-campus! Photo taken March 2010. Courtesy of Varvara Satanina.