Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will celebrate its scholarship and prizes ceremony on Tuesday 3 May, with special recognition of the Indyamarra Scholarship program, which is celebrating its 10th year. “Over the past nine years more than $38,000 has been awarded to Indigenous students from regional NSW who have a desire to work in areas that benefit the Indigenous community,” said CSU Head of Campus, Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty. Three new scholarships will be awarded this year, including two Tony McGrane Scholarships and the Macquarie Matrons Scholarship. “Charles Sturt University students can benefit financially thanks to more than 40 scholarships on offer every year. A large number of these scholarships are funded by individuals or organisations that hold a strong belief in supporting the University and its students.”

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers and lecturers at the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences,  Dr James Crane and Dr Andrew Delaney, will explore the nature of human emotions when they present a two-part public lecture, ‘The Emotional Brain’, at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 3 May. Dr Crane will examine the research questions that have fascinated psychologists and neuroscientists for more than 100 years; ‘what are emotions?’ and ‘how does the brain generate an emotion?’. “I will discuss the early anatomical research that uncovered the brain regions involved, and the more recent advances made in tracing the neuronal pathways, some of which are involved in generating the emotional response to pain,” Dr Crane said. Dr Delaney will discuss how emotion is an integral aspect of pain. “I will highlight the current research Dr Crane and I are doing to address how the emotional circuits of the brain are activated during a painful experience, and how changes in these circuits might contribute to the high rate of depression and anxiety in sufferers of chronic pain,” Dr Delaney said.

A philosophical play written and directed by two Charles Sturt University (CSU) acdemics will have a second performance on Thursday 28 April due to popular demand as part of the current Greek Festival in Sydney. The play, Wise After the Fact, is by Dr Edward Spence, and is directed by Mr Ray Harding, both lecturers at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst. “Wise After the Fact examines the origins and development of Wisdom in ancient Greece, and juxtaposes this with the dilemmas confronting individuals and society in the present Age of Information,” Dr Spence said. “I also discuss philosophy with the audience, and the first performance (on 14 April) was so successful the festival organisers invited us to return.”

Three months working with traumatised children in a developing country has given a Charles Sturt University (CSU) social work graduate a new perspective on life. Ms Rhonda Emonson, from Albury, will be among the first four graduates of the Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying). As part of her postgraduate studies at CSU, Ms Emonson worked with orphans on the island of Negros Occidental, west of the Philippines. “We’ve all heard about communities that survive without sewerage, electricity, shelter, and on a cup of rice a day,” she said. “To live in these circumstances is heartbreaking yet inspirational.” She said the international work placement has been a highlight of her studies. “It’s created a yearning to work with those who have so few resources and struggle to survive from day to day as a result of poverty and lack of infrastructure,” she said. The Master of Social Work (Professional Qualifying) allows students with a prior degree to gain professional accreditation with the Australian Association of Social Workers. Read more about the six graduation ceremonies at CSU in Wagga Wagga from Wednesday 30 March to Friday 1 April 2011.

A former Charles Sturt University (CSU) student has discovered the value of research isn’t just the results but the skills learnt along the way. The Bachelor of Science (Agriculture) Honours, student from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr David Gale investigated using compost as a replacement for synthetic fertilisers. His research involved a glasshouse trial at CSU in Wagga Wagga and a four month field trial in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam in late 2010. Mr Gale found compost can increase plant yields but because large volumes need to be applied, the strategy is not likely to be widely adopted in the short term. He said while the research has added to industry knowledge, the real benefit is a personal one. “People were right when they said that I couldn't expect to change the world through this project,” said Mr Gale. “But it's also about thinking critically about one aspect of the world in which we live, which ultimately results in a deeper thinking and understanding of the world as a whole.” Mr Gale is now a Graduate Trainee with NSW Primary Industries at the Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute at Camden.

Six separate ceremonies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will see about 1 000 graduates awarded degrees and higher qualifications for their studies completed at the University by the end of 2010. As in past years, thousands of friends and family members are expected to visit Bathurst to share the graduation celebrations. The morning and afternoon ceremonies are on Wednesday 11 (Faculty of Business), Thursday 12 (Faculty of Education), and Friday 13 May (Faculties of Science and Arts). In a move to more closely align graduation ceremonies with the year of completion of studies, CSU will introduce graduations in December, starting in 2011.