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WAGGA WAGGA
Home > Regional News > Wagga Wagga
Research and learning in Southeast Asia
17 Feb 2009
 Final year agricultural students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will resume their studies shortly with their sights firmly set on international experience in the middle of the year. Third year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) degree will spend two weeks visiting sites of agricultural significance in the south of Vietnam. The group will visit the fertile Mekong Delta, spending much of the time at Can Tho University in Cantho City, a major centre for agricultural education. Accompanied by CSU lecturers Dr Jason Condon and Dr Alison Southwell, the students will look at tropical farming systems, agricultural research and markets, with some time set aside to visit Long Tan, a place of Australian historical significance. “The study tour is a great opportunity for CSU agriculture students to experience the many differences between Australian and Vietnamese farming whilst still being able to appreciate the similarities that exist, such as, the loss of small family farms, the effect of rising costs of inputs and increased urbanisation on rural communities,” said Dr Condon. Travelling with the students will be CSU Honours student Ms Melanie Bower. Supervised by Dr Condon, Melanie will undertake three months of research in Vietnam investigating the advantages of using compost with small rates of fertilizers rather than relying on fertilizers alone. “With the cost of fertilizer rising, a reduction in its use would greatly benefit small farmers in Vietnam,” said Ms Bower.
Media Note: CSU lecturers Dr Jason Condon and Dr Alison Southwell, the Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) students and Honours student Ms Melanie Bower are due to leave CSU at Wagga Wagga for Vietnam at the end of June. The new academic year for continuing students starts Monday 23 February. Print this story Land of the unexpected
17 Feb 2009
 A beach-side holiday was not on the minds of two Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturers as they headed north to the tropics and Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) second largest urban centre, Lae, in January. Dr Peter Rushbrook from CSU’s School of Education in Wagga Wagga and Dr Peter Wilson from the University’s School of Teacher Education in Bathurst spent a fortnight at the Balob Teachers’ College in Lae. Amid a frustrating dial-up internet service, earth tremors, the city’s notorious security problems and potholes, the educators worked with lecturers from the College, including teaching subjects from CSU’s Master of Education. “This was my third trip to the country and I greatly admire the PNG spirit,” said Dr Rushbrook. “PNG is the ‘Land of the Unexpected’.” His travel companion, Dr Wilson said, “our work at the Balob Teachers’ College reminded us how well resourced we are in Australia which we take for granted. College staff were keen to get our support for their institution’s move to become the Lutheran University in 2010.” Eager to return to PNG, Dr Rushbrook said, “there is something about working and living on the edge, using your wits to make things work in adverse or challenging conditions”.
Media Note: Dr Peter Rushbrook is a Senior Lecturer in Education and Vocational, Education and Training in the CSU School of Education at Wagga Wagga. Dr Peter Wilson is the coordinator of the Master of Teaching (Primary) course in the School of Teacher Education at CSU Bathurst. For interviews, contact CSU Media. Print this story Out of the ashes
17 Feb 2009
 Bigger and better is an apt description for the new Sutherland Laboratory, which will be opened at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 17 February. The building is a teaching and learning facility for the CSU School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and serves a range of Schools within the Faculty of Science. Classes in the multipurpose laboratory will include microbiology, plant science and animal nutrition. The laboratory complex was damaged in a fire at the University in 2007. “With the immediate and future needs of students in mind, the $1.05 million construction project began in the middle of 2008 and is ready in time for the imminent return of students in 2009,” said Head of the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Associate Professor John Kent. The new facility will accommodate 72 students with a preparation room, solvents room, wash-up area and incubator room.
Media Note: The Sutherland Laboratory is near building 268, car park 16, Nathan Cobb Drive, CSU at Wagga Wagga. The opening takes place at midday. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers will cut a ribbon to mark the official opening at midday. Print this story Digging deep for a national tragedy
13 Feb 2009
 Ahead of the official start of the academic year on Monday 23 February, students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) have raised almost $3 000 for the Victorian bushfire appeal. Ninety Residential Student Advisors from CSU at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga collected $2 883.70 for the Australian Red Cross appeal during training at the University this week. The money was raised when a ransom was paid by the student leaders for the return of props used during the training. The Residential Student Advisors were undertaking training as part of CSU’s Residential Support Scheme. “This initiative is a credit to these students from across CSU’s campuses. It exemplifies the widespread commitment to assisting Victorians after the great loss of life and property,” said Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Lyn Gorman. Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Professor John Hicks, has agreed to contribute $1 to the Red Cross appeal for every dollar donated by a Faculty of Business student up to $1 000. As other individual and group staff and student fundraising efforts get underway, the University cashiers’ offices on each campus are now donation points for the Australian Red Cross appeal. CSU is also offering its support to students affected by the Victorian bushfires. See here.
Print this story Back to the future for Orientation 2009: Wagga Wagga
12 Feb 2009
 Retro is the theme adopted for Charles Sturt University’s Orientation activities, which commence on Monday 16 February. The week of academic and social activities and events aims to prepare about 1 000 new CSU students for university life at Wagga Wagga. Orientation 2009 also marks CSU’s 20th anniversary this year. Under the direction of the University’s Division of Student Services, 52 Orientation Student Leaders, including five Orientation Student Coordinators, have been busy fine tuning the program. Wearing green Retr-O-Week t-shirts, the student coordinators and leaders will assist new students through their transition to higher education. New students, including those living on and off campus, can participate in campus and library tours, attend compulsory academic information sessions and complete online enrolment as well as a range of social activities. The week aims to assist the new students in their transition and provide relevant information and support.
Media Note: Details of the Orientation 2009 program can be found here. Orientation Student Coordinators are available for interview, as is Mr Paul Shaw from the CSU Division of Student Services. Contact CSU Media. Print this story Natural disasters postpone Timor-Leste President's CSU visit
09 Feb 2009
The planned State visit to Australia and to Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Saturday 14 February by His Excellency the President of Timor-Leste, Dr José Ramos-Horta, has been postponed due to the ongoing natural disasters in Australia, including the devastating bushfires in Victoria. The Acting Vice-Chancellor of CSU, Professor Lyn Gorman, said that the University has been advised by representatives of the President that, after consultation with the Office of the Governor-General of Australia, the visit will be postponed to a mutually convenient time later this year. Professor Gorman said, “We fully understand the position of the President and thank him for his wishes for the victims of the Victorian bushfires. We thank the President for his commitment to reschedule his visit later in the year and look forward to welcoming him at that time. Given that this visit was to be the inaugural event of CSU’s 20th anniversary year, the celebrations will now begin with the Official Opening Ceremony at CSU at Wagga Wagga on Thursday 12 March.”
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with Professor Lyn Gorman. CSU will host a range of celebratory events throughout 2009 at its campuses, including the Official 20th Anniversary Opening Ceremony at CSU at Wagga Wagga on Thursday 12 March; the 20th Anniversary Commemoration Dinner at CSU at Bathurst on Tuesday 2 June; the opening of new facilities; a book launch; and other commemorative presentations. Print this story A flock of dodos flies into Wagga Wagga
09 Feb 2009
 As part of its celebrations of the ‘father of evolution’ Charles Darwin's 200th birthday, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a film presentation and discussion, particularly for Years 10 to 12 high school students and their teachers, to explore the theory of evolution. Participants will view the critically acclaimed documentary film, ‘Flock of Dodos: The Evolution – Intelligent Design Circus’ and be able to discuss evolution and natural selection with CSU scientists attending the event. “Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most significant advancements in our understanding of the natural world. This break-through in our scientific understanding still affects many facets of modern life, despite first being published 150 years ago in his seminal book, On the Origin of Species,” says the University’s Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor Nick Klomp. The event runs from 9.30 to 11.30am, Tuesday 10 February, in the Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross St, Wagga Wagga.
Media Note: For interviews with Dr Skye Wassens and other CSU scientists on evolution and Darwin, contact CSU Media. Print this story Dental facilities take shape
03 Feb 2009
 New buildings at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange and Wagga Wagga are rapidly taking shape as the University prepares to welcome the inaugural students in its new dental and oral health therapy courses in 2009. After receiving hundreds of applications from across Australia and overseas, CSU is preparing to fill 40 places in the Bachelor of Dental Science program starting at Orange and 20 places in the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) program starting at Wagga Wagga. “We are thrilled with the calibre of applicants,” said Associate Professor in Oral Health Barbara Taylor. “The student selection process has been very competitive, particularly for dentistry as it included an online questionnaire and interview.” “We had a diverse and skilled applicant pool and are confident this will result in a committed student group,” added the Head of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Ward Massey. Work on the dentistry buildings in Orange and oral health therapy facilities at Wagga continued over Christmas, as well as progress in the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment such as dental chairs and clinical software.
Media Note: Head of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Ward Massey is based at CSU in Orange. Associate Professor Barbara Taylor is from the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences in Wagga Wagga. Orientation Week at CSU starts on Monday 16 February. More information is available about the dental and oral health therapy courses here, including staff and facilities. Details of new scholarships for dental students are available here.
Print this story Evolution is more than a scientific theory
03 Feb 2009
 Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most significant advancements in our understanding of the natural world, according to the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Nick Klomp. “This breakthrough in scientific understanding still affects many facets of modern life, despite first being published 150 years ago.” CSU will lead the regional scientific communities in celebrating Darwin’s 200th birthday during the week commencing Monday 9 February. Events will include presentations to visiting high school classes on Tuesday 10 February in Albury and Wagga Wagga and celebrations by scientific communities around the two regional centres on Thursday 12 February, complete with birthday cakes. More public events celebrating the life of Darwin and the theory of evolution will be held later in 2009, including discussion of his seminal work, On the Origins of Species, published in 1859.
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with CSU scientists on the importance of Darwin’s theory of evolution and its place in the modern world. A presentation to high school students will be held from 9.30am on Tuesday 10 February in the Nowik Lecture Theatre, CSU, Guinea St, Albury. Read more here. A presentation to high school students will be held from 9.30am on Tuesday 10 February at the Riverina Playhouse, Cross St, Wagga Wagga. Read more here. Print this story Mining job losses to impact regions
03 Feb 2009
 Communities and regions where mining occurs will be severely affected by the downturn in the Australian mining sector due to the global financial crisis. Mr Tom Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Research Institute (WRI) at Charles Sturt University at Bathurst, says that with the current contraction of the Chinese economy, the largest customer for Australia’s mineral resources, Australia will face increasing and probably prolonged reduction of revenue from mining. “Our studies indicate that mining jobs create economic multipliers of four to six in surrounding community economies, or more in some instances,” he said. “That means for each mining job lost you can have four to six other jobs lost in a community. This is because mine wages and local spending are so high. Other industries typically have multipliers of around two to three or even less, so mine jobs are very hard to replace.”
Media Note: Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews with Mr Tom Murphy. Print this story |
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