Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Ms Hannah McKenzie has been awarded for her support of moves to reduce bottled water at the institution. The animal science student from Young won a bicycle after completing a quiz to promote student awareness about the environmental, financial and health benefits of using tap water over purchasing bottled water. It is part of CSU Green’s Free Water Project which includes new bubblers and bottle refilling stations and the sale of reusable bottles at CSU retail outlets. CSU Green Manager Mr Ed Maher said, “The prize of a bike aims to encourage students to cycle to and from campus as well as around campus instead of driving. This benefits their health and wellbeing, hip pocket and the environment. As part of our sustainability targets, Charles Sturt University wants to reduce waste, save water and cut carbon emissions.” The bike was supplied by local business, Kidsons Cycles. You can read more about CSU Green’s Free Water Project here.

High school students in the NSW Mid-North Coast, central and southern NSW and regional Victoria can learn vital life skills while running a simulated business in an online game to be hosted by Charles Sturt University’s Faculty of Business. The GameOn! organisers at CSU are now calling for teams of Years 10 and 11 students from high schools around regional NSW and Victoria to participate in the game in 2013. The game was first staged in 2012. “The student teams will make vital business decisions about marketing, human resources, operations and finance for an online, simulated business. Apart from developing problem-solving skills in their businesses, GameOn allows students to develop important life skills such as leadership, group work, critical thinking, negotiation and time management,” said GameOn coordinator Dr Abbey Dwivedi.  Teams will need to be nominated by the extended deadline of Friday 5 April, with eight rounds of ‘decisions’ to be made during the year and winning teams due to be announced in September 2013.

Racehorse injuries and performance are the subject of new research led by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dr Brian Spurrell from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga. While the equine industry contributes up to $6.3 billion annually to the Australian economy, of which racing contributes around $3.9 billion and equestrian events $0.87 billion, the management of equine athletes and detection of injuries remains a significant problem. The relationship between a horse’s gait and the performance surface may contribute to the incidence of lower limb injuries. “As many as 70 per cent of two year-old thoroughbreds suffer stress related injuries in their lower limbs and up to 35 per cent of racehorses never resume racing as a consequence,” Dr Spurrell said. “The aim of the research is to develop a system which can be used in the field to measure important biomechanical parameters of a horse such as how hard the hoof hits the ground, the way the limb moves and how that relates to joint movement and muscle activity. The system will hopefully also indicate how quickly the horse is tiring, post-event recovery and a comparison to its last monitoring.” The research is expected to produce results in various stages by October 2011 and mid-2012.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students and staff will puff and pant to work and study on Wednesday 12 October as part of the annual Ride to Work Day 2011. Cyclists from CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange and Wagga Wagga will participate in the morning event, which will finish with a free breakfast. Event coordinator, Ms Nicole Maher from CSU Green, said the Ride to Work Day is a great way to, “enjoy some exercise, travel with low emissions and enjoy a free breakfast. More and more people are riding to work for fitness, health and to reduce their environmental footprints, as well as to enjoy a relaxing period before the pressures of daily work.” Tips on cycling to work are available from the Ride to Work official site here.

Three days of hands-on science will be presented in a workshop at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga with Year  10 students from the NSW Riverina and Central West regions. The Science Experience at CSU workshops will be introduced at 9am on Wednesday 12 January by science media personality and Dean of CSU Faculty of Science, Professor Nick Klomp. The workshops will cover topics as varied as everyday chemistry, oral health, forensic science, bones and the science behind putting food on the table. The event finishes on Friday 14 January with a panel discussion between the participants and recent CSU graduates, who will explain where their science education has taken them. The program will be held at various venues on the University’s Wagga Wagga campus.

An expert in the study of paranormal events from Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes the only scary thing about Halloween is the risk of tooth decay from all the sweets that children have an excuse to guzzle on the day. Dr Krissy Wilson, Head of CSU’s Science of Anomalistic Phenomena research unit, said the celebration of Halloween most likely started as a pagan tradition that coincided with the new harvest. “It later became a Christian celebration of All Hallows or All Saints Day. Modern times have seen it evolve into ‘Halloween’ – which came literally from ‘hallowed’ or ‘holy’ – that typically involves trick or treating, dressing up in silly outfits and watching horror movies!”

Sixteen medical science students from the Fiji National University (FNU) are spending a week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga. The group of final year students will be accompanied by their lecturer Mr Manasa Mainaqelelevu. With a theme of food and nutrition in Australia, the FNU students will attend a food and nutrition research workshop and visit local food production facilities at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 August. Their visit to Albury-Wodonga on Tuesday 14 August coincided with the 2012 Science Fair at CSU as part of National Science Week. The week-long visit is supported by the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences based in Wagga Wagga and CSU Global.

Awards for excellence in research, teaching, leadership, innovation and sustainability are just some of the honours to be presented to Charles Sturt University (CSU) staff by Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Vann during the coming week. The 2012 Vice-Chancellor’s Awards will be handed out at two ceremonies in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 15 August and in Bathurst on Monday 20 August. The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence will be presented to Dr Jade Forwood from the School of Biomedical Sciences in Wagga Wagga. Dr Stephen Bird from the School of Human Movement Studies in Bathurst will receive the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Professor Excellence. The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Teaching Excellence will be presented to Dr Geoff Burrows from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences in Wagga Wagga. The presentation ceremonies will be held from 1pm to 3.30pm on Wednesday 15 August, Convention Centre, CSU in Wagga Wagga and from 1pm to 3.30pm on Monday 20 August, James Hardie Room, Centre for Professional Development, CSU in Bathurst.

A Nobel laureate will speak about the expanding universe headlining activities at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga during National Science Week. Hosted by CSU and the Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga, the winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics, Dr Brian Schmidt, will give a public lecture starting at 7pm on Wednesday 18 August, CSU in Albury-Wodonga. The annual Science Fair, which will continue until Thursday 16 August, also includes a public lecture by CSIRO scientist Mr John Sarkissian, who will show the lost footage of the Apollo missions and Australia’s part in these historic events. Guest speakers, interactive workshops, exhibits, stargazing and other activities will be presented on each day of the three-day event to pupils from local and regional schools at the CSU campus.