The educational potential of computer games that emphasises cooperative rather than aggressive behaviour, has landed a Charles Sturt University academic a $60 000 Federal Government grant.

Research projects that work towards securing sustainable futures for Charles Sturt University’s regions form the bulk of projects that have received $1.2 million in funding from the Australian Research Council.

Should Australia have a nuclear industry? According to the Prime Minister John Howard, this is a debate we have to have. Dr Roderick Duncan is a lecturer in economics at Charles Sturt University (CSU). He says nuclear power is probably not economically feasible in a country like Australia.

After the recent rejection of water recycling from sewerage by Toowoomba residents in southern Queensland, a Charles Sturt University expert in the social impact of water management says the “no” vote reflects public perceptions of risk in public health and environmental issues.

A hundred years ago, Sydneysiders were concerned about a lack of water, congestion in the CBD, the problems caused by public-private development and a severe skills shortage. Sound familiar? According to Dr Clive Beauchamp, Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Social Sciences and Liberal Studies School, "in some ways, public expectations never seem to change".

Cooperative agricultural research projects between the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Charles Sturt University (CSU) was a feature of the Cambodian Prime Minister’s visit to Wagga Wagga yesterday (Thursday 12 October).

"Frankly, it’s been so low this whole season so far, that we haven’t started reporting it yet!" says Dr George Car of CSU’s School of Biomedical Sciences. He says the pollen count is the lowest ever in the ten years he has been monitoring it in the Wagga Wagga area. "In previous years, the grass pollen count would have been well into the moderate or even into the high range by mid-October."

Leading Charles Sturt University research ranging from addressing the scourge of cereal cropping in southern Australia - annual ryegrass - to developing a computer game to simulate a major national crisis has won major funding in the latest round of Federal Government grants.

In light of the national emergency summit on the current poor state of water storage in the Murray Darling Basin to be held today, Tuesday 7 November in Canberra, Charles Sturt University has researchers who can comment on the problems facing irrigators and communities in the region.