Local and international scientists specialising in condensed matter and materials will converge on Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga this week for the 33rd Annual Condensed Matter and Materials Meeting.  Organising committee member, Associate Professor Trevor Finlayson, said it's an opportunity for scientists to discuss current research and future directions. “Over 100 people are attending and the program will include a session on ‘soft matter’ – an interdisciplinary field featuring studies of biomaterials,” he said. The program includes topics important to Australian science, such as the status of the international Avogadro project, a collaborative project to establish a new standard for mass, and an update on Synroc, the Australian-discovered artificial mineral with the potential to successfully process radioactive waste materials. “Condensed matter and materials scientists are important because their research leads to new applications of materials with improved properties for the benefit of society,” Professor Finlayson said.

The success of new student accommodation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga has led to a decision to build more student facilities. The University has appointed Joss Construction to develop an additional 60 rooms at CSU at Wagga Wagga later this year. The beds will be on top of the 200 new rooms which have been under construction by Joss since the middle of 2008. “The additional beds will help CSU meet the additional demand from dentistry and oral health students for accommodation,” said Executive Director of CSU Division of Student Services, Mr Andrew Callander. In the current project, 10 modular concrete and corrugated iron buildings are being built to provide self-catered accommodation, with open plan kitchens and living areas, dedicated study facilities and high quality data networks. The work is part of a large scale project for 600 new beds on CSU campuses. Eighty beds will be ready for Orientation Week, 40 rooms will be completed three weeks later and the remainder will be occupied in the following weeks. “Temporary accommodation arrangements will be made for the students who have been allocated the new rooms,” said Mr Callander.

New buildings at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange and Wagga Wagga are rapidly taking shape as the University prepares to welcome the inaugural students in its new dental and oral health therapy courses in 2009. After receiving hundreds of applications from across Australia and overseas, CSU is preparing to fill 40 places in the Bachelor of Dental Science program starting at Orange and 20 places in the Bachelor of Oral Health (Therapy/Hygiene) program starting at Wagga Wagga. “We are thrilled with the calibre of applicants,” said Associate Professor in Oral Health Barbara Taylor. “The student selection process has been very competitive, particularly for dentistry as it included an online questionnaire and interview.” “We had a diverse and skilled applicant pool and are confident this will result in a committed student group,” added the Head of the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Ward Massey. Work on the dentistry buildings in Orange and oral health therapy facilities at Wagga continued over Christmas, as well as progress in the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment such as dental chairs and clinical software.

A recently launched NSW Higher School Certificate (HSC) Nursing program will see high school students from Orange, Bathurst and Oberon step on Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Orange as enrolled university students this week. The HSC Board Endorsed Nursing Course, in collaboration with the Health e2 Schools, CSU and TAFE, is a link for HSC students interested in pursuing a career in nursing at CSU. “The HSC Nursing program allows Year 12 students to complete two subjects in CSU’s Bachelor of Nursing,” says Susan Bragg from the University’s School of Nursing and Midwifery. “Upon successful completion, students will gain entry to the Bachelor of Nursing and be given credit for the two subjects.”

Communities and regions where mining occurs will be severely affected by the downturn in the Australian mining sector due to the global financial crisis. Mr Tom Murphy, Chief Executive Officer of the Western Research Institute (WRI) at Charles Sturt University at Bathurst, says that with the current contraction of the Chinese economy, the largest customer for Australia’s mineral resources, Australia will face increasing and probably prolonged reduction of revenue from mining. “Our studies indicate that mining jobs create economic multipliers of four to six in surrounding community economies, or more in some instances,” he said. “That means for each mining job lost you can have four to six other jobs lost in a community. This is because mine wages and local spending are so high. Other industries typically have multipliers of around two to three or even less, so mine jobs are very hard to replace.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) continues to expand with the construction of new student residences set to commence on the Orange Campus. Joss Construction began works associated with the new residences on 30 January so all major earthmoving will be finished before Orientation week. “Student numbers are constantly increasing at CSU,” said Head of Campus Professor Kevin Parton. “With the introduction of the dentistry degree this year, and more courses planned, the new accommodation will be a pleasing addition to the campus.” The new accommodation will house 40 students and will include study bedrooms, kitchens, common rooms and male and female bathrooms. “Our aim is to enhance the university experience for each student by offering all first year students on campus accommodation,” Professor Parton said. The new accommodation is designed to allow the easy addition of up to 60 more study bedrooms as student demand increases.

Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution is one of the most significant advancements in our understanding of the natural world, according to the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Nick Klomp. “This breakthrough in scientific understanding still affects many facets of modern life, despite first being published 150 years ago.” CSU will lead the regional scientific communities in celebrating Darwin’s 200th birthday during the week commencing Monday 9 February. Events will include presentations to visiting high school classes on Tuesday 10 February in Albury and Wagga Wagga and celebrations by scientific communities around the two regional centres on Thursday 12 February, complete with birthday cakes. More public events celebrating the life of Darwin and the theory of evolution will be held later in 2009, including discussion of his seminal work, On the Origins of Species, published in 1859.

A fortnight after its official opening, the $9 million Veterinary Clinical Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will host an Open Day. The Centre and its experienced clinicians were hailed at the official opening on Wednesday 9 July for their vital role in producing well-rounded professionals committed to inland Australia. The facility, a key part of the CSU veterinary science program, provides  modern surgical facilities for large and small animals, diagnostic imaging and reproduction services for horses. The Centre also offers veterinary services to animal owners across the Riverina. It is staffed by experienced veterinary surgeons, an anaesthetist, radiographers and veterinary nurses as well as specialists in large animal reproduction. Fourth year veterinary science students and veterinary nurses will conduct tours of the new facility from 3pm until 5pm on Wednesday 23 July.  Those interested in participating in a tour of the Veterinary Clinical Centre should send an email.

A massive crane will be used to lift and position prefabricated concrete 'pods' for innovative new accommodation on Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus. Semi-trailers started delivering the pods on Tuesday 22 July and will continue on Wednesday 23 July. Mr Andrew Callander, Executive Director of CSU Division of Student Services, said, “The installation of the concrete pods is a significant first step in providing new and much needed accommodation for our students. Construction is on schedule to date, and, weather permitting, the buildings should be completed in six months.” The pods are formed and cast in concrete with three walls and a roof as one. They are then lifted and locked into place on concrete foundation pads. The process should see two pods installed per hour, with the builders expecting to complete two houses with a central shared kitchen and bathroom in three days. The new accommodation at Thurgoona will house up to 200 students and is expected to be ready for the start of the 2009 academic year. The facility will be connected to the campus’ grey-water recycling system.