Following the death of the former Charles Sturt University (CSU) Chancellor, Dr David Asimus, AO, on Saturday 26 January 2008, the University has today opened an electronic condolences book. The University invites members of the community to express their condolences to Dr Asimus’ family. The condolences book will remain open until Friday 8 February 2008. The University will then collate the correspondence into a bound booklet to present to Dr Asimus’ widow, Jane and her family as a memorial to her late husband’s work with CSU and inland Australia. People wishing to extend a condolence are asked to please email their comments by Friday 8 February 2008.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) study of the links between anxiety and depression in adults needs volunteers to participate in the Australian-wide research. The participants, who must be aged between 18 and 65 years and can live anywhere in Australia, will be required to complete a survey. Ms Nicole Brown, who is a CSU honours psychology student and a registered psychologist working in western NSW, aims to identify the role of factors such as stressful life events, thinking style and problem solving on anxiety and depression. Adults who have experienced anxiety and depression can complete the anonymous questionnaire in less than one hour and return it by mail. “The findings of this research can assist tens of thousands of Australians every year by guiding treatment of anxiety and depression that occur at the same time, or even help in prevention,” said Ms Brown. Anxiety and depression often occur together - a third of adults with anxiety are also believed to experience depression and up to 50 per cent of adults with depression have anxiety problems. For more information about the research or to participate, visit the study website here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has tonight released its first round offers through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC), bringing an end to a nervous wait for many aspiring University students. CSU Executive Director of Student Administration, Mr Geoff Honey, said CSU is confident of meeting its admission targets for its Albury-Wodonga Campus, which hosts all of its courses offered through VTAC. “Our allied health courses, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech pathology, continue to be popular among applicants. Education courses in middle year schooling and early childhood and primary teaching also attracted strong interest, while accounting also showed an increase in demand,” he said. CSU offers through the NSW based Universities Admission Centre will be available at 9pm on Thursday 17 January.

The dedication of a lecturer from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Teacher Education in Bathurst has been recognised by the CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter. Ms Lucia Zundans has been awarded the Vice-Chancellor’s Awards for Teaching Excellence 2007. The annual award recognises and rewards outstanding contributions to learning and teaching within the University. “Ms Zundans was considered to be an outstanding application that illustrates her commitment to, and excellence in, teaching, and especially her contribution to student learning,” said Professor Goulter.  Ms Zundans’ research interests include inclusive education and gifted and talented education. The Head of the CSU School of Teacher Education, Associate Professor Noel Thomas has described Ms Zundans as an “outstanding teacher”. “Her teaching ensures explicit connections between theory and practice, she employs a range of pedagogies to achieve effective learning and she models her passion for learning and teaching. Ms Zundans is a highly competent and dedicated academic which is evidenced by her commitment to students, colleagues and the advancement of learning within the University’s Faculty of Education,” concluded Professor Thomas.   

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Professor of Hydrology, Shahbaz Khan has been presented the highly prestigious Biennial Medal from the Modelling and Simulation Society for Australia and New Zealand (MSSANZ) at a gala dinner in Christchurch New Zealand. The Biennial Medal for Natural Systems goes go to outstanding contributors to modelling and simulation over a sustained period and who have a record of service to the Society. Medallists automatically become Fellows of the MSSANZ. They are recognised for their unselfish dedication to the aims of the Society as well as for their contributions to modelling and simulation. Professor Khan, who’s also with CSIRO Land and Water, leads the Rural Water Use research stream for Water for a Healthy Country Flagship, is Director of the International Centre of WATER for Food Security at CSU and Regional Coordinator UNESCO IHP-HELP. Professor Khan says "the award is a great recognition of the end user driven development and application of innovative systems linking viable production, sustainable environment and real people to help solve real problems in real catchments."

The NSW Government has been successful in encouraging one of the world’s ‘best and brightest’ minds to relocate to inland NSW to carry out innovative research into the development of natural herbicides. Professor Leslie Weston, from Cornell University, one of the United State’s premier research universities, will relocate to the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation at Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus under the government’s Life Science Research Awards. The NSW Minister for Science and Medical Research, Ms Verity Firth said, “Professor Weston is a recognised leader in her field of research and her relocation to the state is a major scientific coup and will cement NSW at the leading edge of scientific research into natural herbicides.” CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research), Professor Paul Burnett has welcomed Professor Weston’s move, stating it is a fantastic outcome for the University. The EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation is a collaborative alliance between CSU and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) research team from the Centre for Inland Health is investigating ways of providing health and veterinary education and services in the community, through university clinics involving students of health and veterinary disciplines practicing under supervision. Educators, students, practitioners and community members with an interest or experience in this area are invited to make written submissions. The submissions must include a brief description of your current role and interest in university clinics. They must address a short discussion of the problems, solutions or benefits in areas such as Community – how would a local university clinic affect local health and veterinary service provision, Education - how would a university clinic affect health and veterinary education for students and educators and Sustainability -  how can university clinics be sustained in your area. Submissions are confidential and should not exceed three pages.

A breeding, teaching and research program involving the Connemara Pony has been given a healthy start thanks to the generous donation to Charles Sturt University (CSU) by Brisbane businessman, Bill Concannon. His three year old mare, Siobhan, has been delivered to the CSU Equine Centre on the Wagga Wagga Campus. A member of the Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society of Australia, Mr Concannon recently visited CSU to inspect Siobhan who will be joined with a Connemara stallion in 2008. The compact size, good temperament and marketability of the Connemara Pony make the breed ideal for the needs of CSU’s equine science and veterinary science students. In welcoming the new links between the University and the Society, equine science course coordinator, Mr Hunter Doughty, has praised the generosity of Mr Concannon and his support for the University. The Connemara Pony Breeders’ Society is establishing a fund to support research and education through the Charles Sturt Foundation to aid in education of their members and to support equine student scholarships.

A leading academic and practitioner in psychology has begun familiarising herself with Charles Sturt University (CSU) following her arrival in Wagga Wagga in recent days. Professor of Psychology, Carmen Moran, is the new Head of CSU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, which has staff at both the Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga campuses. She joins CSU from the University of NSW in Sydney. “I am looking forward to settling into my position ahead of the start of the academic year in 2008,” said Professor Moran. In addition to psychology, Professor Moran will oversee teaching and research in disciplines such as art history, English, history and politics, social work and human services, law, philosophy, sociology and anthropology. Further information si available here.