Volunteers are being sought to assist a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher with a study into the use of computer games technology to portray Einstein's Theory of Relativity. PhD student Mr David Carr says that there has been growing interest in both research and industry in the use of computer games - so-called ‘Serious Games’ - for teaching and training. “Virtual worlds can be programmed to behave according to Newtonian laws of physics, or other rules, that enable us to experience things that are not possible or feasible in real life,” said Mr Carr. “Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, which is concerned with travel at close to the speed of light, is a subject which can be visualised through the use of computer software. The aim of my research is to evaluate how this physics can be portrayed in an interactive game, and whether such a game can help people to learn the concepts of relativity. The game was designed with the HSC physics curriculum in mind, so it would be good to hear from high school students in particular, although anyone is welcome. I want to find out if it's fun and if you learn anything from the game.”

Radio and television sports broadcaster and host, Ms Tracy Holmes, will discuss the politics of the Olympics during her visit to visit Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Bathurst Campus on Thursday 15 May. Ms Holmes, working with students enrolled in the sports/journalism double degree offered by the School of Human Movement Studies and the School of Communication, will discuss her journalism career and particularly her ‘insider’ knowledge of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 when she held a senior media position with the Game’s Organising Committee. With experience as a sports broadcaster in Hong Kong and China, Ms Holmes has also been a prominent media commentator on the recent Beijing Olympic torch relay controversy. She was the first woman presenter of ABC Radio’s Grandstand where she interviewed many of the most famous names in world sport. She appears regularly on Fox Sports and is a highly sought national and international speaker.

Construction of the new 200 bed residential development for Charles Sturt University (CSU) students is well under way on the Bathurst Campus. Joss Constructions is building ten modular concrete and corrugated iron buildings that will each house 20 students in self-catering accommodation. The development will include open plan kitchens and living areas in each block, with paired buildings enclosing an open courtyard. The corrugated iron, which is light, strong, adaptable and durable, highlights the heritage of Australian agricultural buildings while shielding the internal concrete walls from the summer heat. This will enable the buildings to maintain a more constant temperature without the use of expensive air conditioning. Rainwater collected from roofs will be used to flush toilets and for irrigation. The buildings are due to be finished in time for the start of the 2009 academic year.

Now one of the largest festivals of its type in the world, the 2008 Australian International Animation Festival (AIAF) will be held in Wagga Wagga from Friday 16 May to Sunday 18 May. “This event will give local audiences an up-to-date snapshot of the international creative animation scene,” said Festival co-director, Mr Andrew Hagan from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Visual and Performing Arts. “There will also be digital animation, puppet films and Australian-made films. Young children and teenagers are catered for in the 2008 program as well as a ’Late Night Bizarre’ program for those with a desire for the truly odd and unfathomable.” From more than 2 000 entries, the 2008 Festival will show more than 120 films from 26 countries. The full program for the AIAF 2008 at the Forum 6 Cinema in Trail Street, Wagga Wagga can be found here. Through the Wagga Wagga-based School of Visual and Performing Arts, CSU offers Australia’s only bachelor degree dedicated to the art of animation and visual effects.

Around 20 students from the Belvoir Specialist School in Wodonga, Victoria, will tour Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Thurgoona site on Friday 16 May to study the local environment and how we can reduce our environmental ‘footprint’. The tour by CSU environmental education lecturer Mr John Rafferty will also include students enrolled in CSU education degrees offered by the Murray School of Education. “The students from the Belvoir Specialist School have been learning about the role of science and technology in understanding and investigating our local environment. Now they can see it in action on our campus,” Mr Rafferty said. The CSU Thurgoona site has won numerous NSW, national and international awards for its buildings and water management systems, which aim to reduce water and power use and wastage across the campus.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student is one of 20 young people from around the world selected to attend the World Council of Churches’ international dialogue centre, the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey in Switzerland, in July. Second year agricultural science student, Mr David Gale, will take part in the first Summer School on Water organised by the Ecumenical Water Network (EWN). The diverse group will study the global water crisis and its local, regional, and international causes and manifestations. They will examine the situation and challenges from a perspective of Christian faith and ethics and look for possible ecumenical responses. “I’m very excited and privileged to have been selected to be a part of this small international group,” said Mr Gale, who lives in the residential college, St Martin’s, on CSU’s Wagga Wagga Campus.  St Martin’s is hoping to raise money from the local community to fund Mr Gale’s travel costs.

The standing of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia is the topic of a keynote address at a seminar organised by researchers based in the Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Education in Wagga Wagga. Known as RIVET or Research in Vocational Education and Training, the group will hold its bi-annual research seminar on Friday 16 May. Educator, researcher and author, Professor Stephen Billett, from Griffith University, will address the seminar from 9.30am on the value that Australia places on vocational education. The seminar will be held from 9am to 12.30pm at the Wine and Food Industry Training Centre, McKeowen Drive, on CSU Wagga Wagga Campus.

Bullying in schools is the topic of the first forum for 2008 in the Edversations series hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council. Academics from the University’s School of Education in Wagga Wagga will join guests from schools, support agencies and members of the the wider community to discuss the many issues surrounding the problem of bullying. The forum will examine what is bullying, how is it changing in schools, what can schools do  and what are the roles of teachers, parents and students. The forum will involve comment, conversation and questions. CSU wine and cheese will be available after the forum on Wednesday 14 May from 6pm in the council meeting room, Civic Centre, Baylis St, Wagga Wagga.  

A joint awards ceremony for the faculties of Science and Business will be held at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Dubbo Campus on Thursday 8 May. Two students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery in the Faculty of Science and two students from the Faculty of Business will receive Dean’s Awards at the ceremony. They will be acknowledged for their outstanding academic performance by achieving Distinction or High Distinction grades in their studies.