Is there such a thing as a balanced assessment of the “Intelligent Design -Creation Science” controversy? Professor David Goldney from Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes so. The well-known scientist and environmental consultant, who has lived and worked in the Bathurst community since 1972, is a committed Christian and an Adjunct Professor at CSU. Professor Goldney estimates almost half the world’s scientists are Christian on some level, but still accept the theory of evolution, including himself. “While I’m a Christian, I’m committed to Darwinian evolution and I think the ‘Intelligent Design’ argument is way off track. There’s a continuum of people, from ‘flat earthers’ to creation scientists, with the view that evolution leads only to atheism and proves there is no God. Somewhere in there might be some middle ground.” Three public lectures are planned for June, where Professor Goldney will “go through the range of creation stories that a Christian might look at and still remain an honest scientist with integrity and accept faith”.

An organisation aimed at lifting the profile of women in the Australian construction industry has honoured the work of a Charles Sturt University (CSU) distance education student with a national award. Fiona Shewring, who is studying for a Graduate Diploma of Vocational Education and Training (VET) at CSU, received an award from the National Association for Women in Construction. During the Association’s annual awards night at Sydney’s Town Hall at the end of May, Ms Shewring was presented the Acoustic Logic Consultancy Award. The annual event was attended by women managers, architects, developers and solicitors involved with the construction sector. The CSU student is employed by the Illawarra Institute of TAFE in Wollongong and during the past four years, has taught more than 100 women painting and decorating skills as part of TAFE NSW’s early pathways program known as Outreach. “The award for Fiona is a credit to her vocational training and work in breaking down the barriers within the trades sector for women,” said VET course coordinator Roslin Brennan-Kemmis.

A Federal Government inquiry into school students’ knowledge of Australia’s history has led to a new Charles Sturt University (CSU) history course for teachers being launched for 2007. Course coordinator and history and politics lecturer Dr Troy Whitford said there is a real gap in the knowledge students and teachers have about Australia’s democratic process and its history. “This course aims to address many teachers’ poor understanding of Australian history and help teachers to address the need to teach about Australia’s democratic processes and citizenship in their classes. The Graduate Certificate in History (Civics and Citizenship) relates to relevant sections in other teaching subjects for social science, geography and modern history giving graduates a big picture understanding, particularly in relation to the organisation and operation of the Australian democratic system,” Dr Whitford said. Enrolments for the postgraduate course, to start in 2007, will run until November 2006. The Federal Government will hold a summit on teaching Australian history in August this year.

The peak body for Australian agricultural scientists and technologists has honoured the life-time professional work of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe. The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST), representing professionals working in agricultural science and natural resource management, has made Professor Wolfe a Fellow of the Institute. He has a lengthy involvement with agricultural education at the University which in recent years has seen him lead international student exchanges between CSU and the University of Delaware, USA. Professor Wolfe has also been recognised for his work in building the agricultural capacity of countries like North Korea and Eritrea, visiting and building ties with both countries. He believes strongly in the benefit of these visits to scientific agriculture and to farmers, not only in the host country but also in Australia. “Following the recent run of poor seasons, the Australian agricultural sector deserves on-going community support for the valuable role it plays in food security, land care and earning export income,” said Professor Wolfe. Outgoing Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Science Professor Jim Pratley said this was a fitting and richly deserved reward for Professor Wolfe for his tireless commitment to agriculture and AIAST.

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) students have been awarded NSW Farmers scholarships and have been described as “outstanding young achievers set to make their mark on country NSW”. Megan McGrice, a Bachelor of Veterinary Science student, and James Christie who is currently completing honours in a Bachelor of Applied Science (Agriculture) both study at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus. James says the scholarship money is a bonus, “especially when you are on a University student budget. Mum and Dad are stoked.” James and Megan each received $5 000 at the Association's Annual Conference on Wednesday 19 July. Chair of the Association's Rural Affairs Committee, Alan Brown, said the high calibre of entries this year was very inspiring and shows that that the future of rural NSW is in good hands, with all the winners planning to use their talents and skills back in regional areas. Megan says the Veterinary Science course “is all about trying to give something back to rural areas. I grew up on the land and I know what it is like to not have a vet around. I want to help farmers and help out in rural areas.”

Videoconferencing will be a significant component of teaching in the future according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) mathematics lecturer Michael Kemp who spoke at a public seminar today about the challenges facing lecturers who are not always teaching in the same room as their students. “As the world evolves into a smaller place with email and videoconferencing becoming an everyday occurrence, Australia’s largest regional university CSU has trained their academics to use the latest technology and present lectures to students throughout NSW and across the country.” Having taught mathematics via videoconferences and forums during the past semester at CSU, Mr Kemp looked at his practices through a survey with students to present a public seminar on lessons learnt titled Lessons Learned About Remote Teaching.

Maintaining and upgrading skills, continuing professional education and accessing the latest research and expertise has been cited as major problems for attracting and keeping health professionals in regional Australia. Charles Sturt University (CSU), the NSW Greater Southern Area Health Service (GSAHS) and Occupational Therapy Australia (NSW) are collaborating to bring vital professional development to health clinicians in southern NSW. Over 30 occupational therapists from the region will update their skills and explore new forms of professional education at a two day workshop in Gundagai on Monday 7 and Tuesday 8 August. CSU’s Professor of Occupational Therapy Gail Whiteford, Dr Michael Curtin and Clare Wilding will lead discussions in how to better train future occupational therapists for the region. GSAHS allied heath director Ros Bauer said the partnership between CSU, GSAHS and OT Australia will provide much needed professional support for clinicians in communities across the region and to explore new ways of delivering health services.

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) resident poet, David Gilbey, will spend five months on a “journey of discovery” as part of his study leave to complete his first full volume of poetry. “There is an ancient connection between travelling and writing,” says David, who is Senior Lecturer in Literature and Creative Writing at CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus and the founding president of Wagga Wagga Writers Writers group. David begins his international sojourn next week in Paris and the Loire Valley in France before travelling to the University of Montana, USA, where he will be featured at the Montana Festival of the Book in late September. He will also read his poetry at seminars in Wales, Ireland, the Robert Menzies Centre in the UK, Shanghai in China and at Sendai in northern Japan, where David was visiting Professor of English at Miyagi Gakuin Women’s College in 2000.

A public forum looking at major questions surrounding prescribed burning in forests will be hosted by Charles Sturt University tomorrow night Tuesday 15 August. Prescribed burning is used to manage bushfires and maintain a healthy bushland. However, smoke from these burns has caused concerns for tourism and public health, particularly for asthma sufferers. Hosted by CSU’s Institute of Land, Water and Society director Professor Allan Curtis, four speakers will talk on different perspectives on the issue, followed by a panel discussion and public “question and answer” session. Speakers include US social scientist Professor Bruce Shindler who has studied how to gain social acceptability for prescribed burning in the US Pacific North West region, as well as representatives from the Victorian Country Fire Authority, local health authorities and CSU ecology expert Dr Ian Lunt. The forum will be held at the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Guinea St, Albury, starting at 6pm.