Students from around Australia and overseas will gather with families and friends at Parramatta in western Sydney on Friday 13 June to graduate from the Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Theology. Almost 100 students will receive their undergraduate and postgraduate awards from CSU, which is the largest provider of theological studies in the Asia Pacific region. Professor Tom Frame, Head of the School of Theology said that the University has become a premier venue for theological learning and research in Australia. “The collaboration between St Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra and the United Theological College brings a very significant ecumenical focus to bear on a range of disciplines including biblical studies, ethical reflection and pastoral care. The increasing number of students graduating with postgraduate degrees is particularly encouraging as we seek to meet the needs of Australian churches, educational institutions, welfare organisations and the health care sector,” he said. CSU Chancellor, Mr Lawrence Willett, AO, will preside over the graduation ceremony. The Occasional Address will be delivered by theologian Emeritus Professor Peter Matheson, of Knox Theological Hall, Otago, New Zealand. The Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Councillor Paul Barber, will be a special guest at the ceremony.

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews. The CSU School of Theology graduation ceremony will be held at The Sebel Parramatta, 350 Church St, Parramatta, at 5.30pm on Friday 13 June.  The CSU School of Theology consists of St Mark’s National Theological Centre in Canberra and United Theological College (UTC) at Parramatta. Founded in 1957, St Mark’s is the administrative centre of CSU’s School of Theology. UTC joined the School in 1999.

 

Microscopes have been enlisted in the fight against the summer perennial weed Silverleaf Nightshade. Researchers at the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, an alliance between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Primary Industries, are half way through a project to look for innovative solutions to tackle the invasive weed. Silverleaf nightshade is estimated to cost agriculture millions of dollars every year in reduced crop and pasture production. Project leader Dr Rex Stanton says new research has shown that trichomes, or fine hairs, on the underside of the leaves may hold the key to tackling the invasive weed."Under a microscope the hair like structures are visible and they penetrate deep into the leaf, so understanding the basic anatomy of the plant may help us come up with better techniques to manage it," said Dr Stanton. The researcher is about to start planting trials with pasture species such as lucerne, phalaris, coxfoot and biserrula at sites across NSW. The project is funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

Detecting heart disease before the symptoms start is the subject of new research by Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher Dr Geoff Currie, a senior lecturer with the University’s School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Wagga Wagga. Dr Currie is looking at the role that the sympathetic nervous pathways can play in that detection. An examination of the body using thermography, or digital infrared imaging, can also screen for other conditions including diabetes, breast cancer and auto-immune disease. Dr Currie, who lectures in nuclear medicine, is researching the potential for thermography as a cheap, effective and mobile instrument for the early detection of disease in rural and remote Australia. He is part of the CSU-initiated Cardiovascular Research Group, which also includes researchers from Wagga Wagga Base Hospital who work collaboratively with other Australian and international universities and hospitals on research projects, from the diagnosis to treatment for heart failure, coronary heart disease and cardiovascular risk factors.

For interviews with Dr Geoff Currie, contact CSU Media.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research student in the School of Human Movement Studies on the Bathurst Campus needs healthy, physically active males aged 18 to 35 years for her research into the central nervous system and exercise. Ms Katrina Onus said that her study will investigate fatigue and athletic performance, and how to possibly overcome or delay the onset of fatigue. “Findings from this research may be able to be applied to diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the military and industry,” Ms Onus said. Research participants should preferably live in the Bathurst area as they will need to be available for five tests over three weeks on the CSU Bathurst Campus. They need to be physically active at least three times per week, and will be required for one session of 90 minutes and four sessions of 2.5 hours each session. People interested in participating should contact Ms Onus on 02 6338 4211. The study will start as soon as volunteers are recruited, briefed on the research and checked for medical clearance. The study will continue until August 2008.

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with CSU PhD student Katrina Onus. The research entitled, The Central Nervous System and exercise endurance in a warm environment following ingestion of a dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor is supervised by Associate Professor Frank Marino and Dr Jack Cannon. The study has been approved by the Charles Sturt University Ethics in Human Research Committee.

The annual Scholarships Presentation Ceremony for students at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Orange Campus will be held on Friday 6 June. Two notable scholarship recipients are Ms Claire Walker, an agricultural business management student who will receive the Ian Smith Memorial Scholarship, and Mr Joshua Adamson, a clinical sciences student who is receiving the inaugural Rotary Club of Orange Scholarship. This new scholarship is awarded to encourage local students to return to the NSW Central West to practice in the field of dentistry. Official guests at the presentation are CSU’s Deputy Chancellor, Ms Kathryn Pitkin, Chair of CSU Pharmacy Foundation, Mr Dick Marris, Head of Orange Campus, Professor Kevin Parton, and all scholarship donors. The scholars’ vote of thanks will be delivered by Mr William Hunt, a first year student enrolled in clinical sciences, who will receive one of the 2008 GP Logic Foundation Scholarships.

For interviews contact CSU Media. The Scholarship Presentation Ceremony will be held at the Templers Mill Student Function Room, CSU Orange Campus, Leeds Parade, Orange. Afternoon tea will be served at 3pm and the Ceremony will start at 3.30pm.