The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Dental and Oral Health Clinic in Orange is now open to the public with the Rural Dental Action Group’s Ms Marj Bollinger the first to open wide for qualified dentist Dr Ying Shi Chang. Providing general and specialist dentistry services to the Central West, the CSU Dental and Oral Health Clinic, featuring state-of-the-art equipment, aims to service the oral hygiene needs of the local community while providing valuable clinical experience for the University’s dentistry students. Dr Chang, a qualified dentist from Sri Lanka, recently moved to Orange to work in the new Dental and Oral Health Clinic. “By the end of 2010, patients will have the opportunity to have simple procedures completed by CSU dentistry students if they choose to do so,” said Dr Sabrina Manickam, senior lecturer at the School of Dentistry and Health Sciences. To make an appointment at the CSU Dental and Oral Health Clinic in Orange call 1300 278 642.

The real story of NSW colonial governor Lachlan Macquarie is more dramatic and compelling than is otherwise promoted, according to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher and lecturer who will deliver the keynote speech at a dinner in Bathurst on Saturday 1 May to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the start of Macquarie’s administration of the fledgling colony. Mr Harry Dillon, a journalism lecturer at the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries and co-author of a soon-to-be-published book about Governor Macquarie, says the title of his speech, The Other Lachlan Macquarie, signifies that he will try to go beyond the standard 'Father of Australia' profiles. “It's OK that these things are being restated in 2010 because a surprising number of people are unaware of Macquarie’s considerable achievements. In all, Macquarie was extraordinarily well matched to the peculiar nature of the job in Australia's crucial third decade of white settlement.”

Four students from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Ontario Campus, Canada have arrived in Dubbo to work at Buninyong and Wellington Public Schools as part of their studies. Ms Angelica Barone, Ms Laura Donnelly, Ms Lucy Lee and Ms Wendy Wright have been provided accommodation on the CSU Dubbo Campus during their stay and will complete their practical studies as part of their Bachelor of Primary Education Studies. Lecturer in the School of Education in Dubbo, Ms Alison Lord, is excited about the Canadian student’s arrival, having taught them during her secondment at CSU in Ontario. “These girls are passionate about children’s education,” Ms Lord said. “Their commitment to the course and their future careers is proven by travelling to the Western Region of NSW to complete their studies.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) distance education student has been selected for an Australian University Sport team to compete at the 2010 World University Triathlon Championship in Valencia, Spain, on Sunday 30 May. Ms Lauren Parker, who lives in the Newcastle suburb of Maryville, is studying for a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminal Justice) through the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Bathurst. “I have competed in about six triathlons in the last two to three years, but before I started triathlons I was a national swimmer for 10 years,” Ms Parker said. “This year I was offered a professional triathlon licence through Triathlon Australia, which means I can now race in the elite category. It’s great to be selected as part of a national triathlon team, and I am honoured and very excited about racing internationally for the first time representing Australia and Charles Sturt University. I hope to compete in three other events in Spain, so for the next five weeks I will be training ‘smart’ and I look forward to this amazing experience."

A leading climate change researcher with Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes delaying the emissions trading scheme (ETS) will cost every Australian in the long run. Professor Kevin Parton, a lead researcher with CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, said the Federal government’s decision to delay the introduction of the scheme until after 2012 to wait and see what the rest of the world will do on carbon emissions was no reason to delay. “The three biggest polluters are USA, China and Europe. China is developing green technologies, and Europe already has an ETS. They are going to be way ahead of Australia,” Professor Parton said. “The media has greatly exaggerated the cost of an ETS to the public, leading to falling public support for the scheme. And the government doesn’t want to take the scheme to its first election.” Professor Parton said under ‘business as usual’ without an ETS, Australia can expect to double its average level of income by 2050. “But with the ETS this income doubling would be delayed only one year.”

High-achieving Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in the Faculty of Business will receive prizes and awards at the Dean’s List presentation ceremony for the 2009 academic year on Tuesday 4 May at the University in Bathurst. The Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business, Associate Professor Ken Dillon, said, “The Faculty of Business is able to award more than 80 individual prizes for the 2009 academic year to graduating and continuing students in the School of Accounting, the School of Business, and the School of Computing and Mathematics. Students who have achieved a Distinction or High Distinction in every subject undertaken during a session (or over two sessions if they are part-time students) are nominated for inclusion on the Dean’s List. For the 2009 academic year, a total of 124 students were nominated across all the University’s campuses for inclusion on the Dean’s List, and 32 of these will be attending the presentation luncheon to receive their certificates. Unfortunately, not all students are able to attend the ceremony, and a number of prizes acknowledging outstanding academic achievement will be awarded to graduating students at the graduation ceremonies in Bathurst this week. The remaining prizes have been won by continuing students.”

Twenty-two high-achieving students will receive scholarships and prizes at a presentation ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Tuesday 4 May. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, will welcome the students and their guests, and the 11 scholarships and 12 prizes will be presented by Dr David Tien, a member of the University Council, who will represent the University’s Chancellor, Mr Lawrie Willett, AO. This year, seven out of the 11 scholarships will be awarded to first year students. Four awards will also be presented from the Faculty of Business 2009 Dean’s List to students studying accounting, finance and business studies. Growing up in Narromine and completing high school and university while living in Dubbo, Ms Fallon Wheeler, a third-year student completing a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary), will receive a scholarship and a two prizes. Ms Wheeler also received scholarships for the past two years and was the CSU Dubbo Orientation Week coordinator this year.

The newly appointed Director of the National Wine & Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) Wagga Wagga Campus, Dr Thomas Henick-Kling, says he wants to enhance the recognition of the NWGIC as a national and international leader in grape and wine quality research. Dr Henick-Kling is a wine microbiologist with commercial and experimental winemaking experience in Germany and Australia. He also headed the wine research and extension program at Cornell University in New York State, USA, for 20 years. Other aims include improving collaborations with other research groups from Australia and overseas, and increasing CSU’s research capacity in wine flavour chemistry and wine microbiology. According to Dr Henick-Kling, “Together with our industry and research partners, the NWGIC will develop the knowledge and train the workforce that the Australian wine industry will need to continue its success into the next 50 years”.

Local science enthusiasts are over the moon to hear the newest branch of Australia’s oldest scientific society will hold its inaugural free public lecture on how Australian radio-astronomy will solve the origin of the galaxies. The Royal Society of NSW was the first scientific society formed in the colony of NSW in June 1821. Initially named the Philosophical Society of Australasia, “with a view to enquiring into the various branches of physical science of this vast continent (Australia) and its adjacent regions”, the Royal Society of NSW now has a Central West branch. “A program of meetings, guest speakers and other activities is being compiled,” says local branch president and Head of Campus at Charles Sturt University in Orange, Professor Kevin Parton. “Essentially the Society exists for the promotion of science, art, literature and philosophy. Many local scientists and researchers have already joined the Central West branch but more are expected to do so once regular meetings begin. We welcome anyone with an interest in science to attend the first public lecture.”