Volunteers are being sought to assist a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher with a study into the use of computer games technology to portray Einstein's Theory of Relativity. PhD student Mr David Carr says that there has been growing interest in both research and industry in the use of computer games - so-called ‘Serious Games’ - for teaching and training. “Virtual worlds can be programmed to behave according to Newtonian laws of physics, or other rules, that enable us to experience things that are not possible or feasible in real life,” said Mr Carr. “Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which is concerned with travel at close to the speed of light, is a subject which can be visualised through the use of computer software. The aim of my research is to evaluate how this physics can be portrayed in an interactive game, and whether such a game can help people to learn the concepts of relativity. The game was designed with the HSC physics curriculum in mind, so it would be good to hear from high school students in particular, although anyone is welcome. I want to find out if it's fun and if you learn anything from the game.”

Around 20 students from the Belvoir Specialist School in Wodonga, Victoria, will tour Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Thurgoona site on Friday 16 May to study the local environment and how we can reduce our environmental ‘footprint’. The tour by CSU environmental education lecturer Mr John Rafferty will also include students enrolled in CSU education degrees offered by the Murray School of Education. “The students from the Belvoir Specialist School have been learning about the role of science and technology in understanding and investigating our local environment. Now they can see it in action on our campus,” Mr Rafferty said. The CSU Thurgoona site has won numerous NSW, national and international awards for its buildings and water management systems, which aim to reduce water and power use and wastage across the campus.

The tour will run from 10.30am to 11.30am on Friday 16 May, starting near the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. For interviews, contact CSU Media.

Third year adventure ecotourism student at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Mr Peter Barrett has won a Student Achiever Award, to be presented by Tourism Training Australia next week. The award is for students who show outstanding academic and community leadership qualities in their education. Mr Barrett’s academic record has already been recognised through winning the 2006 Albury Freemasons Prize for Academic Excellence as a first year student. He is currently president of the CSU students’ Parks and Eco Club and represents CSU students on the Thurgoona Campus Environmental Advisory Committee. Peter Barrett has also gained practical work experience in Canberra and the United States as a team leader. He will receive his award at a dinner in Sydney on Tuesday 13 May.

Construction of the new 200-bed residential development for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will commence this month at its Thurgoona site. To be built by Joss Constructions, ten modular concrete and corrugated iron buildings will each house 20 students in self-catering accommodation. The development will include ‘open plan’ kitchens and living areas in each block, with two buildings enclosing an open courtyard. The corrugated iron, which is light, strong, adaptable and durable, highlights the heritage of Australian agricultural buildings while shielding the internal concrete walls from the summer heat. This will enable the student accommodation buildings to maintain a more constant temperature for the residents without the use of expensive air conditioning. Rainwater collected from roofs will be used to flush toilets, while wastewater from kitchens and bathrooms or grey water will be pumped into the existing grey water treatment ponds on the CSU Thurgoona site. The buildings are due to be finished in time for the start of the 2009 academic year. Other buildings already underway at Thurgoona include academic offices and the Learning Commons, which will house a library and computing facilities.

For interviews and pictures of the new student accommodation, contact CSU Media.

Award-winning poet, Ms Petra White returns to the Albury-Wodonga and Riverina regions in May for public poetry readings and workshops hosted by the Booranga Writers’ Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU). Her first poetry collection, The Incoming Tide, published by John Leonard Press in 2007 , was short listed for Arts Queensland's Judith Wright Calanthe Prize for Poetry. In 2003, Ms White was joint winner of the Patricia Hackett Prize for her poem 'Grave' and her poems were published in The Best Australian Poems series in 2003 and 2006. “Petra's work was very well received when she came to Wagga Wagga with the Poets-On-Wheels tour last year. This time, as well as reading her poetry, Petra will be running workshops for poets and mentoring a local poet.  Poets of all ages and backgrounds will be able to further develop their writing skills and read their poems in front of an audience,” said the Booranga Writers’ Centre’s Mr David Gilbey. Ms White will read her poetry at the Albury City Library on Thursday 8 May at 5.30pm and at an open mike event at the Wagga Wagga City Library on Monday 12 May at 6.30pm. She will lead poetry writing workshops at Booranga Writers Centre, Wagga Wagga on Saturday 10 May and in Griffith on Sunday 11 May. Ms White is hosted by Booranga Writers’ Centre and her visit is jointly funded by CSU and Arts NSW.

The importance of research into a major Australian agricultural and environmental weed - serrated tussock - has been acknowledged with a national scholarship awarded to Charles Sturt University (CSU) student, Ms Sonia Graham. The PhD student is one of two university students in Australia to be awarded the three year, $15 000 AW Howard Memorial Research Fellowship. Presented to the Canberra-based Ms Graham by AW Howard Memorial Trust chairman, Professor Rob Lewis, the fellowship will be used to assist with her research. Serrated tussock has spread across farming lands making large areas of NSW and Victoria unproductive. Ms Graham’s study looks at the ways farmers and State and local governments work together to control the weed. The AW Howard Memorial Research Fellowship commemorates the unique contribution of the late South Australian farmer, Mr Amos Howard, in the use of subterranean clover as a major pasture plant in Australia. 

Outstanding academic performance by Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate Mr David Waters for his research into the world’s tallest flowering plant, the Mountain Ash, has seen him receive the highly prized Charles Sturt University Medal. Mr Waters, from the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Wagga Wagga, was presented the medal while receiving his first class honours in his Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Horticulture). The medal allows CSU to give special recognition each year to graduates whose academic performances are “superlative”. Mr Waters’ research involved an anatomical examination of the epicormic structure of the Mountain Ash or Eucalyptus regnans. The species regenerates by seed after high intensity fire, in the mountainous regions of Victoria and Tasmania. Previously, there have been suggestions that its poor re-sprouting ability was due to a lack of epicormic buds that have been found in other eucalypts. However, the research proved conclusively that the species has an epicormic structure typical of other eucalypts. “David has provided a unique perspective on why Mountain Ash can resprout in some circumstances but not others,” said CSU senior lecturer and research supervisor, Dr Geoff Burrows.

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews about the Charles Sturt Foundation scholarship.

Contact CSU Media for interviews with Dr Aaron Simmons from the CSU School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences.