Competing views on the role of God will be the subject of a public lecture in Orange next week. Titled Richard Dawkins’ burka – is his world view too narrow?, Professor David Goldney, Adjunct Professor at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Rural Management, will discuss The God Delusion, by British scientist and academic Professor Richard Dawkins. Although both are scientists, Professor Goldney is a self-described ‘Christian in the evangelical-orthodox tradition’. Professor Dawkins is an atheist, who currently holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. “In the lecture I will examine Professor Dawkins’ major arguments and what I see as the common ground between Dawkin’s and my views, as well as areas where there is significant disagreement,” Professor Goldney said. “I will also chart a way forward to ensure that this debate will be constructive and life-changing, rather than vitriolic and life-denying.” The public lecture will be held at the conference room, CSU Orange Campus, Leeds Parade, at 6pm on Wednesday 24 October. CSU wine and cheese will be served after the lecture.

The economy of the Orana region was resilient in the face of continuing drought conditions, according to a new report released on Monday 15 October by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Western Research Institute (WRI). The Reliance Credit Union Orana Regional Business Survey for the September quarter of 2007 shows that although sales performance remained below the NSW average, profit levels reported for the September quarter were the strongest this year for the Orana region. “All industries, with the exception of transport and manufacturing, reported positive overall profit levels,” said Mr Tom Murphy, WRI Chief Executive Office. “Strong consumer demand had a positive effect on industry, and three of the six sectors reported improved sales performance. Decreases in the costs of inputs and material also contributed to an overall decrease in the rate of increase in operating costs in the Orana region. In the coming December quarter businesses anticipate improvements in sales performance and profitability, with 48 per cent of businesses expecting good or very good sales performance for the Christmas period. Full-time staff numbers are expected to increase in the December quarter.”

Can farm productivity and the environment benefit from the innovative use of ecological pest management rather than the use of genetic engineering? Professor Geoff Gurr from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Rural Management in Orange will present a seminar entitled "Ecological engineering for sustainable pest management" on Thursday 11 October. Professor Gurr says “Ecological engineering is about manipulating farm habitats, making them less favourable for pests and more attractive to beneficial insects. Though they’ve received far less research attention and funding, ecological approaches may be safer and more sustainable that their controversial cousin, genetic engineering”. The seminar, which is being hosted by the E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation, will take place in the Conference Room of the Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute from 3.30pm, Thursday 11 October.  

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research project aims to estimate the number of people aged 55 to 75 years with respiratory disease in the Federal electorate of Calare. Dr Debbie Burton, a senior lecturer and Associate Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU’s Orange Campus, says the project will screen a sample of people for asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). “People generally know if they have asthma but because the loss of lung function occurs slowly and progressively with COPD many people don’t know they have the problem until their lung function is reduced to 50% of normal. They put their shortness of breath down to ageing or lack of fitness,” Dr Burton said. “The delay in diagnosis of COPD increases the risk of also getting heart problems, but once a diagnosis is made, people can be managed medically, so the quality of life can be improved and the diseases progresses at a slower rate”. The results of this study will be used to identify ways to more easily screen people in the age range most likely to have COPD so as to detect the disease earlier. If you are aged 55 to 75 years, live in the Calare electoral district and are interested in participating in the lung health screening project, please call Dr Debbie Burton on (02) 6365 7828 or Ms Natalie Milic (02) 6365 7774.

Healthy and physically active men aged between 18 and 35 are required for Charles Sturt University (CSU) research into the central nervous system and exercise. The research is being carried out by Ms Katrina Onus, a PhD student at the University’s School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst. Ms Onus said that her study will investigate fatigue and athletic performance and how to possibly overcome or delay the onset of fatigue. “This research is important because the findings may be relevant to other areas such as diseases like Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as the military and industry. Any men interested in participating in the research must be available for five weeks from late October until December 2007. They need to be physically active at least three times per week. Ms Onus can be contacted on (02) 6338 4161.

The Dubbo Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a two day conference for about thirty CSU indigenous staff on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 October. Head of Dubbo Campus and Director of the University’s new Centre for Indigenous Studies, Mr Gary Shipp, said that this was the first time a CSU Indigenous staff conference has been held in Dubbo. “Indigenous staff from all CSU’s major campuses will attend and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Goulter, will address staff at the opening dinner on Tuesday evening, 9 October. This is an important meeting because it not only allows the Indigenous staff at CSU to establish contacts, but it will inform all staff of the recent developments at CSU with the establishment of the new Centre for Indigenous Studies and the development of an Indigenous education strategy. This will place CSU as a lead higher education provider in progressing Indigenous education nationally and in particular within inland Australia.“ A number of speakers will address the conference including Ms Lynette Riley-Mundine, Academic Coordinator at the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney, who was raised and attended school in Dubbo.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) sent a 115-strong team of students to compete in the annual Australian University Games on the Queensland Gold Coast from Sunday 23 to Friday 28 September and came away with a Silver Medal in the Women’s Hockey and a Bronze Medal in Beach Volley Ball (Division 2). “Our athletes did well against some tough competition,” CSU team manager Niklaus Granger said. “There were about 6 000 students competing from over 40 universities Australia-wide in a range of sports. The CSU Women’s Hockey team did particularly well with only 12 team members (1 sub) in its 3-1 loss to the University of Sydney in the finals.” In addition, at least four CSU students were selected for the Green and Gold Merit teams. These are students chosen from all competitors based on their performance during the week. They include Kate Davis (Bathurst) and Amanda George (Wagga Wagga) in women’s hockey, Duncan McPhee (Bathurst) in men’s hockey, and Will Stuart (Bathurst) in men’s rugby.

Applications have opened for students seeking financial assistance in 2008 through the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Equity Scholarships. The scheme offers students three types of scholarships; the Commonwealth Accommodation Scholarships, Commonwealth Education Costs Scholarships and CSU Equity Scholarships. The Commonwealth Scholarships are offered by the Federal Government for students from a low socio economic background, especially Indigenous students and students from rural and regional Australia. The CSU Equity Scholarships were introduced in 2006 when the University’s allocated $3.25 million from 2006 to 2008 to assists students from disadvantaged backgrounds. “The scholarships, which vary from $2 000 to over $4 000 each, are an integral part of the University’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to national and internationally recognised educational opportunities, “ said Mr Les Burr, acting Executive Director of Student Services at CSU. Students have until the end of November 2007 to complete their application forms. More information is available at the Equity Scholarships website here. 

With increasing links being identified between occupational organophosphate-based pesticide exposure and cancers, the need for a more sensitive screening test than the existing test has become apparent. Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer in biomedical sciences, Dr Helen Moriarty will present a seminar entitled A novel screening test to detect low level occupational exposure to organophosphate-based pesticides on Thursday 27 September 2007 that suggests a solution. Dr Moriarty has identified a simple test that uses blood from a finger prick sample. Since many users unknowingly expose themselves to pesticides, a successful screening test will enable safe handling practices to be monitored and adjusted as necessary. This application is anticipated to make a major impact on the prevention of many environmentally induced cancers.