Primary and secondary school teachers and pupils from schools across the NSW Central West will gather at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Monday 15 February for training to help them compete in the regional RoboCup Junior Challenge to be held at the University in June. Mr Allen Benter, a PhD student and researcher at the Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS) in Bathurst and coordinator of the RoboCup Junior Challenge, said, “This workshop for teachers and pupils will assist them through the process of constructing and programming a robot to compete in one of three events at the competition in June: Dance, Rescue or Soccer. The winners of the regional competition will then advance to the NSW competition. About 45 teachers and students will attend in groups of one teacher and two students from schools in Bathurst, Orange, Wellington, Oberon, Hampton and O’Connell. During the training day they will construct a robot using Lego and write programming on computers.” CSU is the official sponsor of the regional RoboCup Junior Challenge in the NSW Central West.

Researchers from our closet northern neighbour have developed a partnership with the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation which includes Charles Sturt University to support the development of stable and resilient agricultural production. A five-day visit by three visitors from Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) University of Technology to Wagga Wagga will also allow them discussion about common issues confronting agriculture this century, such as food security, biosecurity and changing commodity markets. Director of the EH Graham Centre, Professor Deidre Lemerle says the visit stems from an invitation made during her trip to PNG last November. “We’ll build on last year’s discussion about developing staff and student exchanges and collaborative research programs with Charles Sturt University, which aim to build links with PNG and ultimately build their capacity for sustainable agriculture,” she said. “The visitors will spend time with EH Graham Centre researchers working in their fields of interest including crop and animal production, tour facilities and visit farms in the district.”

Animal science students from Ohio State University (OSU) in the United States are witnessing a rare change to the local rural landscape following recent heavy rain during their six week study trip to Australia. Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga is currently hosting a week-long visit to the Riverina by 20 OSU students. The group arrived in Wagga Wagga to stay with local host families on Friday 12 February. Before they depart on Saturday 20 February, the students will inspect CSU facilities including the Equine Centre and the CSU Winery; travel to the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area on Wednesday 17 February; and spend the night in Hay on Wednesday 17 February before a visit to rural producers and industries in Darlington Point and Yanco on Thursday 18 February. “The students are here to gain knowledge of farming in the Riverina and visit a wide range of local enterprises and properties,” said visit coordinator Dr Raf Freire from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU.

An international expert on the management of behaviour in children with a rare genetic condition will headline a one day workshop at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. Ms Brenda Finucane, a genetic counsellor and Executive Director of Elwyn Genetics in the USA will address the workshop, Strategies for Managing Children with Smith-Magenis Syndrome (SMS) from 9.30am to 5pm on Friday 19 February. The Syndrome is a rare disorder which can lead to a series of physical, developmental and behavioural challenges. Initiated by the CSU Faculty of Arts and hosted by the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, the workshop aims to raise awareness of SMS in Australia. “Although SMS is relatively rare, it often goes undiagnosed as doctors are not familiar with it,” said CSU researcher Dr Chris Blanchard, who has a child with SMS. “Of all the various genetic syndromes, it is thought that children with SMS are the most difficult to manage due to their characteristic antisocial behaviour.” Families and carers of children with SMS from around Australia will attend the workshop to share their experiences. Also attending are allied health professionals and teachers from inland NSW, the NSW Central Coast and Wollongong,

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will celebrate its close relations with the Wiradjuri people when a flag raising ceremony is held on the Thurgoona site of CSU in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 19 February. Representatives from CSU and the Wiradjuri Council of Elders will be welcomed by local Wiradjuri person, Pastor Darren Wighton in a traditional “Welcome to Country”, said Wiradjuri elder and Koori academic at CSU, Yalmambirra. Head of CSU at Albury-Wodonga, Professor Allan Curtis said Wiradjuri elders provide advice about cultural heritage management on the University’s Thurgoona site. “Activities like the flag raising ceremony reflect CSU’s wider commitment to engage Indigenous people in the University’s teaching and research in areas such as nursing, teaching and natural resource management,” Professor Curtis said. The event will commence at 9.30am in front of the Learning Commons building on the University’s Thurgoona site, with the flag raising ceremony at 10am. Students will return to CSU campuses on Monday 22 February for Orientation Week.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) continues to expand with construction of new student residences in Orange almost complete. Joss Construction began civil works associated with new residences at CSU in Orange in January 2009 and are working hard to ensure the building is complete prior to new students arriving on Monday 22 February. “Student numbers are constantly increasing at Charles Sturt University,” Head of Campus Professor Kevin Parton said. “With the introduction of physiotherapy this year, and more courses planned for the future, the new accommodation will be an important addition to the campus.” New accommodation includes kitchens, common rooms and male and female bathrooms. “We are fortunate to have plenty of space for even more accommodation in future and look forward to offering all first year students the opportunity to live on campus.”

Celebrating Your Future is the theme of Orientation 2010 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Monday 22 to Friday 26 February. In distinctive yellow t-shirts, five student coordinators and 45 student leaders will welcome the new arrivals at CSU in Wagga Wagga as part of the week-long introduction to university life. Orientation 2010 activities include academic information sessions, campus, library and Wagga Wagga city tours as well as social events such as an all-age, alcohol-free pool party from 5 to 8pm on Thursday 25 February. The Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga Mr Adrian Lindner will officially welcome the new students and their families during the Commencement Ceremony from 2 to 3pm in Joyes Hall on Monday 22 February. The Orientation 2010 program, which is coordinated by the Division of Student Services at CSU, can be found here. The University expects to enrol about 2 800 new on-campus students in 2010; 1 050 based at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Is your organisation looking for enthusiastic and able volunteers for a short term project in the Albury-Wodonga community? Up to 200 first year students from the School of Community Health on Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Albury-Wodonga Campus are seeking at least 40 hours work in Border community organisations. Podiatry lecturer Harriet Farquhar said the project helps students learn the value of volunteer community work and the types of volunteer organisations in the Australian community. “Allied health professionals need to understand that through their professions they are serving their community in a helping role, working with a range of people and institutions,” Ms Farquhar said. The student volunteer project – totalling at least 8 000 hours of community assistance – is also a compulsory part of students’ practical work for CSU allied health degrees. Organisations wanting to learn more about the student volunteer project contact CSU staff on telephone (02) 6051 6820.

Celebrating Your Future is the theme of Orientation 2010 at Charles Sturt University (CSU) from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 February. In distinctive yellow t-shirts, student coordinator Nicole Forbes and 16 student leaders will welcome the new arrivals at CSU in Orange as part of the week-long introduction to university life. Orientation 2010 activities include academic information sessions, campus and library tours and a community focused social event encouraging students to get to know the city. “We want new students to get to know the place they’re going to call home for the next three or four years,” Nicole said. “It’s like a great race with clues along the way at different shops they’ll need during their time here.” The Head of CSU in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton will officially welcome the new students and their families at 1pm on Tuesday 23 February. The Orientation 2010 program, which is coordinated by the Division of Student Services at CSU, can be found here. The University expects to enrol about 2 800 new on campus students in 2010, with 150 based in Orange.