The peak body for Australian agricultural scientists and technologists has honoured the life-time professional work of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe. The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST), representing professionals working in agricultural science and natural resource management, has made Professor Wolfe a Fellow of the Institute. He has a lengthy involvement with agricultural education at the University which in recent years has seen him lead international student exchanges between CSU and the University of Delaware, USA. Professor Wolfe has also been recognised for his work in building the agricultural capacity of countries like North Korea and Eritrea, visiting and building ties with both countries. He believes strongly in the benefit of these visits to scientific agriculture and to farmers, not only in the host country but also in Australia. “Following the recent run of poor seasons, the Australian agricultural sector deserves on-going community support for the valuable role it plays in food security, land care and earning export income,” said Professor Wolfe. Outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Science Professor Jim Pratley said this was a fitting and richly deserved reward for Professor Wolfe for his tireless commitment to agriculture and AIAST.

Videoconferencing will be a significant component of teaching in the future according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) mathematics lecturer Michael Kemp who spoke at a public seminar today about the challenges facing lecturers who are not always teaching in the same room as their students. “As the world evolves into a smaller place with email and videoconferencing becoming an everyday occurrence, Australia’s largest regional university CSU has trained their academics to use the latest technology and present lectures to students throughout NSW and across the country.” Having taught mathematics via videoconferences and forums during the past semester at CSU, Mr Kemp looked at his practices through a survey with students to present a public seminar on lessons learnt titled Lessons Learned About Remote Teaching.

Maintaining and upgrading skills, continuing professional education and accessing the latest research and expertise has been cited as major problems for attracting and keeping health professionals in regional Australia. Charles Sturt University (CSU), the NSW Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and Occupational Therapy Australia (NSW) are collaborating to bring vital professional development to health clinicians in southern NSW. Over 30 occupational therapists from the region will update their skills and explore new forms of professional education at a two day workshop in Gundagai on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 August. CSU’s Professor of Occupational Therapy Gail Whiteford, Dr Michael Curtin and Clare Wilding will lead discussions in how to better train future occupational therapists for the region. GSAHS allied heath director Ros Bauer said the partnership between CSU, GSAHS and OT Australia will provide much needed professional support for clinicians in communities across the region and to explore new ways of delivering health services.

A public forum looking at major questions surrounding prescribed burning in forests will be hosted by Charles Sturt University tomorrow night Tuesday 15 August. Prescribed burning is used to manage bushfires and maintain a healthy bushland. However, smoke from these burns has caused concerns for tourism and public health, particularly for asthma sufferers. Hosted by CSU’s Institute of Land, Water and Society director Professor Allan Curtis, four speakers will talk on different perspectives on the issue, followed by a panel discussion and public “question and answer” session. Speakers include US social scientist Professor Bruce Shindler who has studied how to gain social acceptability for prescribed burning in the US Pacific North West region, as well as representatives from the Victorian Country Fire Authority, local health authorities and CSU ecology expert Dr Ian Lunt. The forum will be held at the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Guinea St, Albury, starting at 6pm.

Charles Sturt University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences is hoping to unearth young people who are making a difference in their communities with the inaugural Making a Difference Social Justice Innovation Award. The award is aimed at Year 11 or 12 high school students or TAFE students who are doing a community services or welfare related qualification. Mr Bill Anscombe, senior lecturer in the School says the two winners will be announced in October. They will receive a $500 cash prize, as well as a $500 donation to a charity of their choice. He says the number of enquiries so far has been very encouraging, and “we already have entries logged onto our website. We want to hear about the fantastic things that young people are doing.”

The vexed questions of "is my child ready for school?" and "is this school ready for my child" will be addressed by a Charles Sturt University expert in early childhood education tomorrow night, Wednesday 16 August. Dr Richard Taffe from the University’s Murray School of Education will address interested parents on the characteristics of an “average” five-year-old, how children best adapt to school life and what children, parents and teachers think about starting school. "Starting early on the process of transition to school is fundamental to making the best decision for your child," said Dr Taffe. The public forum, titled the "Early Years Parent Information Evening", will be held at the primary school section of The Scots School, Young St, Albury, starting at 7pm.

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP will officially open the new Veterinary Science Pre-clinical Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus on Thursday 24 August. The $4.5 million centre for teaching anatomy and physiology is the first purpose-built facility for CSU’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree which began with 45 students in 2005. CSU is the first regional university in Australia to train veterinary science practitioners to meet the shortage of veterinarians in rural practices and work in the area of herd management. While visiting CSU, Minister Bishop will also launch a report on the impact of drought on secondary education access in rural Australia, written by Professor Margaret Alston and Ms Jenny Kent from CSU’s Centre for Rural Social Research. The Minister will also launch a Senior Women’s Network of academics and administrators with the goal of increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions at Charles Sturt University. Minister Bishop will open the Veterinary Science Centre in Nathan Cobb Drive, CSU Wagga Wagga Campus at 10am on Thursday 24 August.

Commonwealth Learning Scholarships for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students studying on all CSU’s campuses in 2007 are now open for applications. The Federally-funded scholarships aim to improve access for students from geographically remote locations or lower socio-economic circumstances to a university education. The program includes accommodation scholarships worth over $4 000 per year for up to four years; and education scholarships worth over $2 000 per year for up to four years. In 2006 CSU students were successful in gaining 105 accommodation scholarships and 128 education scholarships. In addition the University has funded 30 new Professional Placement Equity Scholarships as part of the CSU’s leadership in practical and industry based training. The scholarships are aimed at assisting CSU students to take part in compulsory professional placements required for their courses. Applications for Professional Placement Scholarship support close on Friday 25 August. Worth a total of $30 000, each successful applicant is eligible for up to $1 000 each.

Like a scene from Hitchcock’s horror movie The Birds, one minute you are strolling along and the next you are being attacked from behind by a magpie. Dr David Watson, senior lecturer in Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Environmental & Information Sciences, says to expect the magpie swooping season to begin this week or next. “The first thing to realise is they are just parents looking after their kids, they are not crazy birds with a ‘bee in their bonnet’.” He recommends avoiding the nesting trees and carrying an umbrella or wearing a wide brimmed hat. Dr Watson says the magpie problem on the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus is caused by hand feeding which has made some of the birds so tame they wander freely into University buildings, including lecture theatres. “Hand feeding can lead to problems and eventually the bird becomes too bold for its own good. As with swooping, it can cause problems.”