Charles Sturt University (CSU) has signed on as a sponsor of the 2012 Newton’s Nation gravity sport festival at Bathurst’s Mount Panorama from Friday 27 to Sunday 29 April after its students gained valuable work experience at previous Newton’s events. Ms Cheryl Howell, manager of market development in the CSU Division of Marketing, said, “Newton’s Nation provides a supervised, safe environment for young people to have fun and compete at an elite level. As part of our commitment to regional communities, Charles Sturt University saw an opportunity to support an event for young people that also features national and international competitors. Part of the sponsorship includes the opportunity for a number of our public relations, communications and marketing students to gain practical experience working with the organisers in the lead up to and during the event.”   In addition, Mr Pat Sproule, lecturer in TV production  and Associate Head of the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries in Wagga Wagga, is taking CSU’s outside broadcast (OB) van , three staff and 15 students to Newton’s Nation to video the various skateboard, street luge and other downhill wheeled competitions, as well as the BMX bike events and bands that are performing over the weekend. “This is an excellent opportunity for our TV production students because it’s technically more advanced than other outside broadcasts we’ve done,” Mr Sproule said. “We are required to film approximately 1.5 kilometres of track and need specialised technical assistance to enable us to live-stream footage to a large screen for spectators at the top of the Mount as well as to YouTube and iiNet channels. The footage will also be used by other ‘extreme sports’ TV shows.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic has been named one of four heroes of science in a new book promoting various fields of science to Australian school students. Former CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Kath Bowmer, has been recognised for her work in improving the management of water flows through inland rivers to improve water quality, particularly in the Murray Darling Basin. Her work was particularly important in addressing the blue-green algae scares in the Darling River during the 1990s, and in developing Australia’s first water sharing plan along the Murrumbidgee River in the 2000s. “The books have been written to encourage children to take an interest in science. I was amazed by being included in a book on the Heroes of Australian Science, and slightly astounded when I saw that the other three scientists featured in the book included former Australian of the Year and leading environmentalist Professor Tim Flannery.” The book was written by Ms Jane Fitzpatrick and published by Macmillan Education.

The US Consul General in Australia, Mr Niels Marquardt, will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 16 March to learn about the work of the University and to deliver a lecture to staff and students. The Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner, said, “I look forward to welcoming Mr Marquardt to the University and showing him some of the excellent facilities here. We will tour the campus, and visit the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre, and the International Centre of Water for Food Security. We will also discuss the work of the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Mr Marquardt will then present a lecture for staff and students about his experience in the US Peace Corp.” Mr Marquardt’s lecture, The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love: Volunteering in the Developing World, will explore his experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda from1977-79. The Peace Corps is an independent US government agency established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to encourage young Americans to serve their country in the cause of peace by volunteering to live and work in developing countries that request assistance. Mr Lindner hopes meeting and listening to Mr Marquardt’s experiences will inspire current CSU students to get involved and make a positive contribution in developing countries.

The move to university is being made easier for new students with the introduction of a mentor program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst and Wagga Wagga. The Student Mentor Program offers new on-campus and distance education students extra support during their first year at CSU. The student mentors are trained by the University’s Division of Student Services and then matched with new students in a similar course. The support offered by the new program includes information from the student mentor on where to go for academic assistance or information about CSU. The contact between mentor and the new student can be direct or via the telephone or by email. The volunteer scheme has so far attracted 35 mentors.  . “I found my first year at university rather daunting and confusing, so I feel the Student Mentor Program is one way these feelings can be alleviated in new students,” Bachelor of Arts (Psychology, Animation and Visual Effects) student Ms Georgina McMahon explains. “My role is to oversee the program, making sure mentors are offering new students the correct support. It is hoped this program will discourage any struggling new students from giving up and dropping out of university.”

Recent years have seen a rise across Australasia in the construction of new glasshouses and other controlled growth chambers for plant research to replace outdated facilities from the 1950s and 1960s. Scientists, technicians and managers involved in plant biology research in controlled environments will meet at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga from Tuesday 1 May to Thursday 3 May. The A will hold its 6th conference to discuss new facilities in Australia and overseas, the latest technology supporting glasshouses or controlled environments including lighting, electronic controls and robotics, along with the latest research. The conference is being held at the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, at CSU in Wagga Wagga, where preparations are underway to open a $45 million National Life Sciences Hub in June, which includes a glasshouse complex for advanced research into the interactions between soil, climate and plant biology, and pathology. “It is important to know how plants interact with the climate, particularly the changing climate, in relation to productivity. These facilities are a key part of the research infrastructure required to investigate such interactions,” said Senior Lecturer in Viticulture Dr Dennis Greer. The conference’s keynote speaker is Professor Bruce Bugbee from the Department of Plants, Soils and Biometeorology at Utah State University in the USA.

The cultural diversity at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will be on show when the national 2011 Harmony Day is embraced with the theme of ‘Everyone Belongs’. Staff and students will celebrate Harmony Day on 21 March by coming together to taste foods from around the globe. “We are urging staff and students to come along to our local Harmony Day celebrations dressed in their traditional national costume, and with music from their country of origin,” Student Support Officer (International) Ms Jacquie Blomfield said. The local event is being organised by the University’s Division of Student Services and supported by the Health Promotion Service, Rivcoll Student Representative Council and Halls of Residences at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer who will be a guest speaker at a political forum at CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Wednesday 23 March is predicting the NSW election could be an acid test for the role of independents in Australian politics. Dr Troy Whitford, from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU, is keeping a close watch on the performance of independent candidates in regional electorates. "The federal scene may have people second guessing the role of independents and their ability to contribute to good government," he said. With widespread predictions of a Coalition victory in the Saturday 26 March poll, Dr Whitford says the makeup of the NSW Legislative Council could be interesting. "It really depends on how much of a mandate voters want to give the prospective coalition government," he said. "A new government won't want to be stuck in negotiations with minor parties and independents." Read more here.  

While most spend their holidays relaxing, a group of Charles Sturt University (CSU) students has been learning how to generate positive environmental change. Six CSU students are taking part in the Green Steps  training and internship program. The program aims to bridge the gap between study and work, by equipping young leaders with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle sustainability issues. CSU environmental science and management student Ms Karina Maloney took part in the training program held in Wagga Wagga from Monday 4 to Friday 8 April. “I wanted to broaden my understanding of environmental issues and gain practical skills to take into the workplace,” she said. The training will be put into practice during internships between April and October. During this period students will work with an organisation to reduce its environmental footprint. CSU is the first regional university to host the Green Steps program following its introduction by Monash University in 2000.

A key part of the graduation celebrations later this month at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga is the Town and Gown ceremonial parade through the city’s central business district. The annual parade of academics, local councillors and graduates will be held from 4pm on Tuesday 29 March. The procession will be led by the Riverina Concert Band and follow a route down Baylis Street to the Civic Theatre where a reception will be hosted by the Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga Mr Adrian Lindner and the Mayor of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Wayne Geale. More than 3 000 graduates are eligible to attend six ceremonies to be held at CSU in Wagga Wagga from Wednesday 30 March to Friday 1 April. The Town and Gown is open to members of CSU’s governing body, the CSU Council; CSU general and academic staff; Wagga Wagga City Councillors; CSU graduates. Eligible staff from the Riverina Institute of TAFE NSW, UNSW’s Rural Clinical School, and the Wagga Wagga City Council have also been invited to participate in the colourful annual event.