Members of the Philosophy Group at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will stage a public philosophy performance and dinner on Tuesday 24 April to promote philosophical discussion in an amicable environment. Dr Emma Rush, a lecturer at the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences,  said, “The presentation of the topic, ‘Wisdom in the Age of Technology’, in a pleasant setting with food and wine, reflects that of a Platonic symposium. Dr Edward Spence, lecturer and researcher at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries will give a 30-minute talk on the origins and sources of wisdom in ancient Greece and its relevance and importance in our lives in the Information Age. This will be followed by a 30-minute performance of an original philosophy play, Wise After the Fact. Following the talk and the play, the audience is invited to participate through lively discussion.” The Philosophy Group at CSU runs a weekly seminar series in Wagga Wagga during academic semesters.

If the thought of a 25 metre tapeworm is enough to make you squirm then a seminar by Dr David Jenkins from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences may give a new perspective on these parasites. The Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation is hosting the seminar, ‘What you should know about tapeworms but were too afraid to ask’ in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 19 April.  In his entertaining presentation, Dr Jenkins will examine the life cycles of taeniid cestodes, a group of tapeworm of medical and veterinary importance. These tapeworms infect humans and animals, ranging in size from 3 millimetres to 25 metres. A Senior Research Fellow at CSU, Dr Jenkins has spent 30 years researching tapeworm and hydatid control in Australia and overseas. “Along with providing information about a selection of these wonderful animals, the seminar will give a few life style suggestions to reduce your chances of becoming infected at home or abroad,” he said.

It was controlled chaos at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst today, Thursday 19 April, when paramedic students dealt with multiple ‘patients’ with a range of injuries during a mass casualty simulation in front of the University library. Mr Brian Haskins, lecturer at the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Bathurst, said, “We aim to provide our students with a close approximation of what they are likely to encounter later in their working lives, so exercises like this are essential. There were 20 casualties, played by students, and eight paramedics to triage and treat them all.” The students are enrolled in Clinical Studies 412 in the Graduate Diploma in Clinical Practice (Paramedic), and the exercise was videoed to provide feedback for the participants. The 20 casualties are volunteers from the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) degree. On Wednesday afternoon, the students participated in a simulated motor vehicle collision with an trapped patient requiring extrication using of the ‘jaws of life’ cutting equipment, demonstrated by the State Emergency Service (SES) Bathurst Unit, to gain access to the patients.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Regional and Remote Learning Support Team will visit Wilcannia on Tuesday 24 April to meet and provide support to CSU distance education students in the area. Team manager Mr James Brann said, “While this visit aims to provide student support in our partnership with the CSU Teaching Education in Communities (TEC) program, we are keen to meet all Charles Sturt University distance education students living in the area. Our team members have all studied by distance education, and with that practical knowledge we aim to enhance our distance education students’ experience of their courses and their prospects for successful completion. After our session with the students, we will host a community barbeque to which we have invited community leaders to meet the team and learn more about the University’s programs.” The student support session will run from 10.30am to 1pm at Wilcannia Central School and will be followed by a community barbeque at 2pm. The CSU Regional and Remote Learning Support Team has already visited and provided support to CSU distance education students in Parkes, Jindabyne, Cooma, Moree, Bourke, Broken Hill, Griffith, and Mudgee.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will celebrate its scholarship and prizes ceremony on Tuesday 8 May, awarding 19 scholarships and 16 awards to students attending CSU in Dubbo. “The calibre of applications for the scholarships is increasing in standard,” said CSU Head of Campus in Dubbo, Dr Beverley Moriarty. “This event is a wonderful opportunity to recognise the hard work students put into their studies and to congratulate those who are achieving their goals. One standout student this year is Ms Helen Hines who is undertaking a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary). She is receiving the Rotary Club of Dubbo scholarship and three academic achievement awards.” CSU students can benefit financially thanks to more than 40 scholarships on offer every year in Dubbo. A large number of these scholarships are funded by individuals or organisations that hold a strong belief in supporting the University and its students.

A $5 million sporting complex including an international-level synthetic running track would make Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Human Movement Studies an international player, according to the Head of School, Associate Professor Frank Marino. CSU has applied for funding for the complex through the VSU Transition Fund with backing from Bathurst Regional Council. Vice-Chancellor Ian Goulter says “This important project will be a fantastic facility for inland Australia”. The Federal Member for Macquarie, Kerry Bartlett late last week inspected the proposed site. “I’m meeting with the Minister for Education Julie Bishop this week to push the case. This suite of sporting facilities has the potential to make CSU and Bathurst a centre of sporting excellence and I think that’s tremendously worthwhile.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is encouraging schools from across NSW and Victoria to compete in a new online business simulation competition to invigorate student engagement in their business studies. The CSU Faculty of Business is introducing to schools CSU Business - Game On, a ‘virtual’ business competition where Year 11 students form teams and play for the opportunity to win regional prizes of up to $1 000 or the major prize of $2 500. “Participating student teams will engage in the GoVenture Any Business simulation game that is hosted and funded by Charles Sturt University,” explains Dr Abhishek Dwivedi, a lecturer in the School of Management and Marketing. “It allows students to build and operate their own ‘virtual’ business in a simulated market environment.”

The rising cost of healthy food, the relatively low cost of food high in sugar, fat and salt, and the relationship between the two and the rise in obesity in Australia, will be discussed during a free public lecture in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 19 April. Co-hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council, the lecture will be delivered by public health nutritionist and academic Dr Catherine Burns from Deakin University. Dr Burns is a Senior Research Fellow in the University’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention. In this position, Dr Burns has developed a research program centred on food security.  Her lecture, Is the Cost of Food Making Us Obese? will propose changes in public policy and practice to improve access to healthy food and to tackle obesity. The lecture will be held from 6pm in the Council Meeting Room, Civic Centre, Baylis Street in Wagga Wagga.

At Charles Sturt University (CSU), vintage is underway. After a cool, wet summer, the CSU Winery is now gearing up for a sunny and, hopefully, dry finish to the season. “The 2012 Sauvignon Blanc was harvested at Charles Sturt University in Orange this week,” said CSU Winery marketing manager, Mr Justin Byrne. “The grapes were in surprisingly good condition although it was a small crop, approximately 30 per  cent down on 2011. Charles Sturt University wines have created a stir in the wine scene recently receiving a Gold Medal at the Sydney International Wine Competition for their 2010 ‘T’ Tempranillo. “We’re very excited about the next vintage, and the attention our wines are getting from wine enthusiasts.”