The country's top economic reform agency has called for the introduction of carbon taxes as a way to cut greenhouse emissions. The Productivity Commission, the Australian Government's principal review and advisory body on microeconomic policy and regulation, last week submitted the proposal to the Prime Minister's task force on emissions trading. Dr Roderick Duncan, lecturer in economics at Charles Sturt University (CSU), says if we are serious about cutting emissions, a carbon tax is inevitable. “But to reflect the true cost of our energy, we are going to have to drastically increase the price of petrol and electricity. People say they are very concerned about global warming, but when I tell them we could triple the price of energy, then they become a lot less enthusiastic.”

Students of Australia’s largest inland university Charles Sturt University (CSU) have been awarded seven of the nine Pharmacy Guild of Australia 2007 scholarships as part of the Guild’s Rural Pharmacy Scholarship Scheme. Faculty of Science Dean Professor Mark Burton was “thrilled” with the announcement. “It’s a testament to our health-based courses at CSU that our students receive such positive recognition. The scholarships encourage recipients to seek work in rural and remote areas which ties in with CSU’s commitment to providing trained professionals who will enhance rural communities,” said Professor Burton. To be eligible, Pharmacy students must be from a regional, rural or remote area. The students then make a presentation to the scholarship committee. Each scholarship is worth $40 000 per student over four years.

In what’s been described as a "U-turn of dramatic proportions", the same study that in 2002 warned menopausal women to abandon Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has now released findings that show HRT risks are not as bad as first thought. The Women's Health Initiative Study (WHIS), a major 15-year research program to address the most common causes of death, disability and poor quality of life in postmenopausal women, last week stated any additional risks may apply only to older women. Charles Sturt University (CSU) biomedical researcher Dr Christopher Scott says he is not surprised by the new findings. “The initial findings were quite scary, but since then they have done a lot more thorough number-crunching. HRT is considered to be beneficial to deal with the symptoms of menopause, but a woman with a strong family history of breast cancer and cardiovascular should not take HRT long term. You have to look at the particular person and what they want to use it for and how long they want to use it.”

The Australian wine industry will benefit from Charles Sturt University (CSU) research to prevent revenue loss for Shiraz growers. A research team, led by senior lecturer in viticulture at the School of Wine and Food Sciences Dr Dennis Greer, is using business intelligence software to investigate water loss from Shiraz grapes. The project has received about $2 million funding from the Australian Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation. Shiraz grapes lose up to 20 per cent of their water content at the end of the growing season which means growers, who are paid on weight, lose up to 20 per cent of their potential revenue. Data including grape bunch weights, carbon dioxide and water vapour emissions is collected every five minutes over several days. According to Dr Greer, "This is relatively new science that has not been done on Shiraz grapes before".

Young people’s access to educational opportunities can be adversely affected by drought, according to new research that will be presented at a national conference soon. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor Margaret Alston and Dr Jenny Kent will present the final report on their research at the conference which will be hosted by the Federal Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), the Foundation for Regional / Rural Renewal (FRRR) and CSU. Former Deputy Prime Minister and conference convenor Ian Sinclair will join with members of the Myer family, who are the major donors to the FRRR, at the official welcome starting at 2pm on Tuesday 17 April at the Nowik Auditorium, CSU Albury City site, Guinea St, Albury.

Prospective students are investigating the hundreds of course options at Charles Sturt University (CSU) as part of the 2007 mid-year intake. Tuesday 1 May is the mid-year deadline for enrolling to study nursing fulltime on the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus or performing and visual arts on its Wagga Wagga Campus. More than 200 courses are available at undergraduate and post-graduate levels through distance education, including courses in business, theology, communication, information technology, applied science, health science, paramedic and rural studies. CSU nursing student Jessica Roennfeldt, from CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus, said: “I’m glad I applied for the 2006 mid-year intake because it’s been a great way to start my professional training. There was no need to wait another six months.”

The sod will be turned on a $10 million development that addresses new ways of learning at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus on Monday 23 April. The new approach to learning will be officially launched by CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Ross Chambers. Relocating the existing library facilities into interactive student-focused learning ‘commons’ has been prompted by the new ways students work and study, with over $20 million invested across all campuses, including $10 million on the Learning Commons on the University’s Thurgoona site. CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter says, “This exciting development demonstrates the University’s flexibility and initiative by providing up-to-date technology and innovative learning resources for our students and staff, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” The Learning Commons building is designed by nationally renowned architect Peter Stutchbury and his team at Stutchbury & Pape, and incorporates library, computer services and student learning services in one space. Zauner Constructions has been selected to construct the facility.

Evolution, water management, local and global action to conserve the environment, and critical thinking in science will be major topics for discussions at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus on Tuesday 24 April. Over 170 final year high school students from NSW and Victoria will gather on the University’s award-winning Thurgoona site to meet with CSU academic staff who will present lively demonstrations and lectures on current environmental issues being faced locally and globally. These issues are also part of the students’ Year 12 studies in biology, environmental science and geography. The Science @ CSU day will run from 10am to 2.30pm, Tuesday 24 April, starting at the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU Albury-Wodonga Campus, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

Top academic performances by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus will be recognised at a CSU Foundation Scholarship ceremony on Thursday 26 April. Seven new Foundation benefactors will also be acknowledged. They include the Bush Children’s Education Foundation, Microsoft Australia, The Co-op Bookshop, WBC Strategic Alliance and the Lions Club of Albury. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, leadership and contribution to the community. Jennifer Potter, who will receive the Rotary Club of Albury-Hume Scholarship, will present a vote of thanks on behalf of scholars. A total of 235 scholarships valued at over $500 000 will be awarded to new and continuing students studying across the University’s five main campuses.