Like a scene from Hitchcock’s horror movie The Birds, one minute you are strolling along and the next you are being attacked from behind by a magpie. Dr David Watson, senior lecturer in Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Environmental & Information Sciences, says to expect the magpie swooping season to begin this week or next. “The first thing to realise is they are just parents looking after their kids, they are not crazy birds with a ‘bee in their bonnet’.” He recommends avoiding the nesting trees and carrying an umbrella or wearing a wide brimmed hat. Dr Watson says the magpie problem on the University’s Albury-Wodonga Campus is caused by hand feeding which has made some of the birds so tame they wander freely into University buildings, including lecture theatres. “Hand feeding can lead to problems and eventually the bird becomes too bold for its own good. As with swooping, it can cause problems.”

Commonwealth Learning Scholarships for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students studying on all CSU’s campuses in 2007 are now open for applications. The Federally-funded scholarships aim to improve access for students from geographically remote locations or lower socio-economic circumstances to a university education. The program includes accommodation scholarships worth over $4 000 per year for up to four years; and education scholarships worth over $2 000 per year for up to four years. In 2006 CSU students were successful in gaining 105 accommodation scholarships and 128 education scholarships. In addition the University has funded 30 new Professional Placement Equity Scholarships as part of the CSU’s leadership in practical and industry based training. The scholarships are aimed at assisting CSU students to take part in compulsory professional placements required for their courses. Applications for Professional Placement Scholarship support close on Friday 25 August. Worth a total of $30 000, each successful applicant is eligible for up to $1 000 each.

Australian Skeptics have retained their $110 000 prize after 84 tests were performed during the annual Mitta Muster near Albury-Wodonga on Sunday 10 March to see if anyone could demonstrate an ability to ‘divine’ water. In what was the world’s largest scientific test of water divining, 20 two litre bottles full of sand or water were placed randomly in an open area to see if water diviners could identify the contents of each bottle. There was no time limit and bottles were moved periodically throughout the day to ensure fairness. “The results showed no doubt,” said Charles Sturt University psychology lecturer and event organiser, Dr Krissy Wilson. “All results fell into the expected pattern for random results and no pattern for any ‘diving’ abilities. We had participants from across NSW and Victoria take the test, and none were scientifically proved to have any particular psychic ability to find water.” Chief investigator from Australian Skeptics, Mr Ian Bryce, observed that, “The results when charted revealed a classic ‘bell curve’ showing results that we would expect from random chance”. Australian Skeptics remain willing to search for the evidence that divining is a real phenomenon. The $110 000 prize remains available for anyone able to demonstrate any paranormal claim under controlled conditions.

Two Charles Sturt University (CSU) scientists will be guest presenters at the ABC’s ‘Science at the Club’ informal forum at Dubbo RSL Club on Thursday 14 March where participants can ask questions and express their views on a range of scientific topics. Professor Heather Cavanagh, Acting Executive Dean of the CSU Faculty of Science, and Dr Nigel Urwin, senior lecturer in genetics and gene technologies in the CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, will address the topic, ‘What are your fears and hopes about new directions in biotechnology and nanotechnology?’. Professor Cavanagh has a background in microbiology and medical science including biotech and virology, and Dr Urwin has expertise in plant molecular biology, plant/animal biotechnology, and plant breeding. “Science underpins modern society and is changing our world at an incredible rate,” Professor Cavanagh said. “The very near future will be filled with leaps in technology that will change every aspect of our everyday lives, making a world that, to us, will be like a science fiction movie. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to discuss the relevance and impact of science more broadly, as well as how science at Charles Sturt University contributes to our regional communities, the nation and the world.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) scientist Dr Rebecca Doyle is doing her bit to encourage young people to study and pursue a career in science. Dr Doyle, from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, will take part in the I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here! program over the next two weeks. Over 1 600 students from Years 5 to 12, will chat to 15 Australian scientists, including Dr Doyle - deciding along the way which ones should be evicted, and which scientist will be left standing to win a $1 000 prize. Up until Friday 22 March, the students will use blogs and instant messaging to meet and chat with the scientists. They’ll have an opportunity to ask scientists questions about their careers, their interests and general science topics. The scientists will be evicted one by one. Program co-producer, Dr Kristin Alford, said the competition, originally conceived in the United Kingdom, is now in its fourth year in Australia. Dr Doyle is a researcher and lecturer in animal physiology and welfare. Read more about the scientist on CSU News here.

The Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP will officially open the new Veterinary Science Pre-clinical Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus on Thursday 24 August. The $4.5 million centre for teaching anatomy and physiology is the first purpose-built facility for CSU’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree which began with 45 students in 2005. CSU is the first regional university in Australia to train veterinary science practitioners to meet the shortage of veterinarians in rural practices and work in the area of herd management. While visiting CSU, Minister Bishop will also launch a report on the impact of drought on secondary education access in rural Australia, written by Professor Margaret Alston and Ms Jenny Kent from CSU’s Centre for Rural Social Research. The Minister will also launch a Senior Women’s Network of academics and administrators with the goal of increasing the proportion of women in leadership positions at Charles Sturt University. Minister Bishop will open the Veterinary Science Centre in Nathan Cobb Drive, CSU Wagga Wagga Campus at 10am on Thursday 24 August.

A child and family health nursing textbook edited by Charles Sturt University (CSU) nursing academics will be launched at Bathurst Base Hospital on Wednesday 13 March. The text book, Child and Family Health Nursing in Australia and New Zealand, was edited by Ms Christine Haley and sub-edited by Ms Amanda Stott, both lecturers at CSU's School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health in Bathurst. There were about 25 contributors, including seven clinicians from Bathurst Base Hospital, and others from local health services and academics from Monash University, who all edited and revised chapters of the textbook. Ms Haley says, "Until now we have only had US textbooks. Our textbook applies a nursing and midwifery focus in its evidence-based approach to child growth and development. It establishes the core skills necessary to recognise illness in children before moving onto clinical areas such as management of childhood diseases. The region-specific references to statistics, drug names, legislation, culture, community and public health systems are all pertinent to Australia and New Zealand.”

A touch of the Irish will come to Charles Sturt University (CSU) when a group of Connemara ponies and riders gather in Wagga Wagga on Saturday 16 March, the day before St Patrick’s Day. Known as Aonach Australia, it was originally an annual ‘assembly’ of tribal chieftains in Ireland where laws were discussed and disputes settled, followed by horse racing and games. In more modern times, riders compete with their horses in a friendly atmosphere. CSU equine science lecturer, Mr Hunter Doughty, said it is fitting the event is held at the University’s Equine Centre because of the ongoing relationship with the Connemara breed in Australia and Ireland. “The aim of the event is to educate and entertain owners, breeders and the general public, and to provide some competition for ridden Connemara pure-bred and part-bred ponies,” Mr Doughty said. “Charles Sturt University has a history with the Connemara breed including the purchase of a Connemara stallion called Glenormiston Celtic Pride in 2011.” Event organiser, Zita Denholm said good support has been promised with ponies coming from the central west, the NSW south coast, and the Victorian Alps, as well as locally.

The vexed questions of "is my child ready for school?" and "is this school ready for my child" will be addressed by a Charles Sturt University expert in early childhood education tomorrow night, Wednesday 16 August. Dr Richard Taffe from the University’s Murray School of Education will address interested parents on the characteristics of an “average” five-year-old, how children best adapt to school life and what children, parents and teachers think about starting school. "Starting early on the process of transition to school is fundamental to making the best decision for your child," said Dr Taffe. The public forum, titled the "Early Years Parent Information Evening", will be held at the primary school section of The Scots School, Young St, Albury, starting at 7pm.