The Federal Government has finally got the plan right for the National Broadband Network (NBN) according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) adjunct researcher Mr Peter Adams. Mr Adams, who has studied household broadband adoption for the past seven years, said today's announcement by the Rudd Government that it would form a public-private partnership to build the NBN is the best outcome from what has been an issue poorly managed by successive governments."Having the Commonwealth control the building of such important national infrastructure will ultimately achieve the best outcome for broadband users by ensuring there is clear separation between the provider of the cables and the commercial companies who compete to service consumers.” The researcher from CSU's Centre for Research in Complex Systems warned the Rudd Government now has a big job: it will manage the building of the network, and needs to convince households they will be better off under the proposed NBN. "Research conducted at CSU in 2008 showed householders are not convinced they should spend their income on higher speed broadband.  Clear information must be provided to consumers about the benefits of NBN services."

Key problems facing Australian horticultural production from climate change have been well documented. In a seminar at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at CSU at Wagga Wagga, researcher Dr Andrew Hall will focus on the impacts for the Australian wine industry.  “Reduced availability of irrigation water, increased pests and diseases, particularly fruit fly, reduction in grape quality and value, and changes to the profitability of other crops are factors that will impact the industry,” said Dr Hall. A NWGIC research fellow, Dr Andrew Hall will present the seminar, Effect of potential climate change on Australian wine-grape growing conditions on Wednesday 15 April.  Current work at the NWGIC involves improving temperature index forecasts for the wine industry. This is being done through improving the estimation of growing season start dates, forecasting temperature index ranges and extreme heat events, and determining which climate models best fit individual wine regions.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has already reached its 2015 target for water savings having slashed its water use by over 40 per cent in the past two years. These figures were highlighted in the 2008 CSU Environmental Scorecard recently released by the University. “This is a fantastic effort across the whole University, all the more important as most of these campuses are or have been in drought declared areas across NSW,” said William Adlong, Manager of CSU’s sustainability office, CSU Green. “Water usage at CSU in 2008 decreased by 16 per cent.” Energy use has decreased by eight per cent since 2006, with a slight increase by 1.5 percent during 2008. “However, there has been an increase in the area of buildings heated and cooled as CSU continued its extensive building program in 2007 and 2008,” said CSU Energy Manager Edward Maher. CSU is also addressing the carbon emissions caused by its staff travelling in cars and aircraft by replacing its large petrol cars with hybrid, diesel and small four cylinder cars in 2009.

Fourteen visitors from Indonesia touring Victoria and Tasmania to bring closer understanding between Muslims and Christians will meet with members of the Border community at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Tuesday 3 March. Hosted by the Uniting Church in Australia, the group particularly aims to increase mutual understanding and cultural appreciation between the Muslim majority of Indonesia and Australia’s Christian communities. While in Albury, the group will visit the University’s facilities and speak with CSU students at Thurgoona. “The University hopes the visit will enhance understanding and relations between the faiths and our cultures,” said visit coordinator and CSU student counsellor Mr Geoff Simmons. The visit will include a public forum hosted by CSU Professor The Rev. James Haire from the University’s School of Theology in Canberra.

As part of Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Orange, academics at the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences will meet the 40 students they will spend the next five years teaching. “We are very excited about spending time with the students preparing them for the semester ahead,” senior lecturer Dr Sabrina Manickam said. “As well as theory-based learning, the students will experience hands-on dentistry in Session 2 in the simulation lab and clinical environments.” The introduction session is part of a full schedule of orientation events happening at five of CSU’s campuses this week. New students, including those living on and off campus, can participate in campus and library tours, attend compulsory academic information sessions and complete online enrolment as well as participate in a range of social activities.

Students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will honour the men and women of Australia’s armed services, past and present, when they lay a wreath at the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at the Carillon War Memorial in Kings Parade, Bathurst, on Saturday 25 April. Mr Tim East, a third year student at the School of Teacher Education and the head resident of Chifley Halls at the CSU Bathurst Campus, said that today’s students want to play a part to continue and preserve the ANZAC legacy. “CSU students attended the Dawn Service last year and felt they were missing out,” Mr East said. “We wanted to unite the University’s student community with the rest of Bathurst, and to formally pay our respect on behalf of the residences at CSU. Many of us have family members who served in the armed forces, or have mates who are serving now. We want CSU students to stand proud as Australians and hold the values of determination, courage, compassion and resourcefulness throughout their lives.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) continues to expand with the construction of new student residences set to commence on the Orange Campus. Joss Construction began works associated with the new residences on 30 January so all major earthmoving will be finished before Orientation week. “Student numbers are constantly increasing at CSU,” said Head of Campus Professor Kevin Parton. “With the introduction of the dentistry degree this year, and more courses planned, the new accommodation will be a pleasing addition to the campus.” The new accommodation will house 40 students and will include study bedrooms, kitchens, common rooms and male and female bathrooms. “Our aim is to enhance the university experience for each student by offering all first year students on campus accommodation,” Professor Parton said. The new accommodation is designed to allow the easy addition of up to 60 more study bedrooms as student demand increases.

The Mid-Western Regional Council has committed $30 000 to the Charles Sturt Foundation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) to create an annual scholarship to support local students.   The scholarship will be available to students in any course on any of CSU’s five main campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange or Wagga Wagga.  The scholarship will be valued at $2 500 per year and will be available to students who reside in the Mid-Western Regional Council area, or who have completed the majority of their high school education there.   The Mid-Western Region covers an area of 9 000 square kilometres, includes the towns of Gulgong, Kandos, Mudgee and Rylstone as well as many rural villages, and features agricultural diversity ranging from producing quality wines to fine wools.   “Council is delighted with this opportunity to help young people from our region to obtain a higher education,” said Mid-Western Region Mayor, Cr Percy Thompson. “Students and their families can face numerous financial challenges in fulfilling their dreams of university study. Many students may not take up the opportunity of tertiary study because of the costs involved.  These costs can include travel, accommodation, textbooks, fees and other living expenses. “More than 100 students from this Region are enrolled each year at one of the five campuses of Charles Sturt University. By funding the Mid-Western Regional Council Scholarship, Council looks forward to helping ease the financial burden of a higher education for someone each year,” said Cr Thompson.   “The generosity of donors who support the Charles Sturt Foundation, such as the Mid-Western Regional Council, is assisting the University to recognise and reward our best and brightest students,” said Ms Jan Hudson, Manager, University Relations for the Charles Sturt Foundation. “Scholarships provide students with an excellent start and on-going support during their studies, as well as providing students with vital industry links.   “The establishment of these scholarships is a demonstration of Mid-Western Regional Council’s support for Charles Sturt University and its students, and an example of a local council providing financial support for its students.”   Businesses interested in supporting the Charles Sturt Foundation should contact the Foundation Office on (02) 6338 4832. Information on CSU scholarships can be found here.

Having survived wind, rain, freezing cold, searing heat and a lightning strike, the Peregrine Falcon chick at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) in Orange has come of age and is preparing for its first flight from the campus’ 50 metre-high water tower. “By all recorded accounts, Peregrine Falcons first fly between six to eight weeks old,” says Dr Cilla Kinross, Adjunct Lecturer in Environmental Management at the CSU School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences. “The chick has reached the six week mark so its first flight could happen any minute. It is likely to stay close to the nest-site for the next several weeks and with its parents for two to three months to learn to hunt before becoming independent.” The chick has been named Migii, the Aboriginal name for ‘lightning’, and was the sole survivor of two eggs hatched in October last year.