Today's athletes are a marvel of evolution - their stamina a product of modern training and deep understanding of physiology - or is it? Over 10 years of research, Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Associate Professor Frank Marino has found stamina is closely related to the function of the brain and central nervous system. His public lecture on Wednesday 23 August will discuss modern theories on human endurance and limits of human physiology. His presentation will interest sportspeople, the health professions and anyone with an interest in sport and human performance. Professor Marino is Associate Professor of Exercise Physiology and Head of CSU's School of Human Movement. The lecture will start at 6pm in the Nowik Lecture Theatre, Guinea St, Albury.

Riverina schools will have their first chance to compete in the RoboCup Junior Challenge when Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga hosts the 2013 event on Thursday 13 June. Following a training session at CSU in Wagga Wagga earlier this year, 65 local students will compete in the Challenge in the University’s Convention Centre to build and operate mini robots. Associate Head of the School of Computing and Mathematics, Dr Michael Antolovich, said, “Staff from the CSU School of Computing and Mathematics will provide technical advice to students and their teachers, and will be the judges at the 2013 RoboCup Junior Challenge.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU)’s academic excellence and work within the Orange community will be celebrated and highlighted at a special Community Day to be held at the University’s new Orange Campus on Saturday 9 September. The Orange institution has been part of the City of Orange since 1973 but with its recent addition to the CSU family, there is plenty to celebrate. Local citizens can visit the campus and see how the university and its staff have incorporated their work into Orange and beyond. Highlights will include a pet parade and vet checks, wine appreciation sessions, public lectures and music. Head of the Orange Campus Professor Kevin Parton believes it is a great opportunity for local residents to visit the campus who have never seen the grounds before. “We are always open to the public but the Community Day gives everyone a reason to visit,” he said.

The Australian, Indigenous and NSW flags are flying high as part of a redevelopment of the entrance to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. The entrance on Boorooma Street now features a 16 metre-wide ceremonial wall with a planter box, new signage and flag poles. New lighting also makes the new wall an impressive scene at night. The $150 000 face-lift was prompted by the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Farrer Road and Boorooma Street which meant the old ceremonial wall had to be demolished. Meanwhile, the University has spent $ 1 million re-surfacing and repairing the campus road network in Wagga Wagga, and there are plans for the construction of two new link roads from James Hagen Court to Valder Way past the new student accommodation project, and from the main campus entry around to the CSU Winery, as well as the reconstruction of part of Valder Way later in 2013.

Reminiscences will flow like beer after a Rugby game at the inaugural Charles Sturt University (CSU) Rugby Fundraiser on Friday 1 September. Well known author and sports journalist Peter FitzSimons is the guest speaker at the fundraiser, which will be held at the Northern Suburbs Rugby Club in Sydney, where CSU alumnus and Rugby Old Boy John Tully is CEO. Also attending is Ross Reynolds, another Old Boy, ex-Wallaby and current forwards coach of the Brumbies. Michelle Fawkes, CSU Alumni Officer says funds raised will go towards registration and insurance costs for the five CSU Rugby teams (including a women’s team) entered in the Central West Division 1 Competition, as well as providing for an accommodation placement and a scholarship.

The latest cohort of veterinary students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will promise to practice their profession 'ethically and conscientiously' when they take the Veterinarians’ Oath at a ceremony on Saturday 6 July. The 65 Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science students will celebrate their transition to the workforce with family, friends and staff from CSU’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences. Head of the School Professor Nick Sangster said this is the fourth group of students to complete the CSU veterinary science program. “Our graduates are keenly sought by the profession and are recognised by their practical skills and ability to excel in rural practice,” he said. “Each year is better prepared than the last and these students are now poised to make a huge contribution to veterinary science and be future leaders in Australian agriculture.” The ceremony will also be attended by National Veterinary Director of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) Dr Kevin Doyle while students will be lead in the Oath by President of the Veterinary Practitioners’ Board of NSW Dr Ruth Thompson. Students hope to register as veterinarians in early August and will receive their degrees in a formal graduation ceremony at CSU at the end of 2013.

The 2013 Central West RoboCup Junior Challenge for schools in the central west returns to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 11 June. The coordinator of the competition, Mr Allen Benter, who is also a PhD student and researcher at the Mining Research Laboratory in the School of Computing and Mathematics in Bathurst, said, “We expect about 76 enthusiastic students from seven central west schools to build and operate mini robots at this annual robotics competition. As with previous events, University staff have provided technical advice to students and their teachers, and will be the judges at the RoboCup Challenge. It’s great to see that students and schools in the region have embraced the concept and the opportunity that the RoboCup offers, as robotics is an important and rapidly developing field.”

Wangaratta businesses are vying to be known as top retailer for the Good Access Awards, to be presented in November. Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology and podiatry courses will assess nominated businesses around Wangaratta for their level of physical and communication access for people with disabilties. Organised by Ovens and King Health and CSU staff, people with disabilities from the Wangaratta disAbility Access Group have helped the students appreciate the importance of access to their lives. The CSU students will assess the Wangaratta businesses on Wednesday 30 and Thursday 31 August.

Eleven final-year Charles Sturt University (CSU) commercial radio students have devised three promotional campaigns about the University’s ‘Doctors4theBush’ medical school proposal. The students worked in three teams, then presented the finished campaigns for assessment by an expert panel at the University on Monday 3 June. Mr David Maxwell, lecturer in advertising, media sales and commercial radio in the School of Communication and Creative Industries in Bathurst, said, “We always try to give our students real-world learning challenges, and this exercise has an important social focus for all people in regional Australia. The expert panel considered the work to be of a professional standard suitable for broadcast.” The presentation was attended by the University Secretary and Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Mark Burdack; manager of radio 2BS (Bathurst), Mr Phil Cole; Mr Steve Golfin, general manger of Southern Cross Australia Broadcast Centre (Orange); Head of the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries, Professor Chika Anyanwu; and course director, Mr Brett Van Heekeren.