An international book by a Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic about how children learn to speak will be launched on Thursday 26 April. Associate Professor Sharynne McLeod’s new International Guide to Speech Acquisition lists the components and phonetics of twelve English dialects and 26 other languages, making it the most comprehensive text of its kind. “The International Guide to Speech Acquisition describes the process by which children learn different dialects and different languages. Some of the information has never been translated into English before. If an English-speaking child has a Norwegian mother and a Filipino father, and they are having difficulty in all three languages, this guide can assist the speech pathologist or teacher to help the child.”

Two outstanding podiatry students will receive prizes at a ceremony for top academic students from Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) School of Community Health on Thursday 26 April. Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Science Professor Nick Klomp will present 23 Dean’s Awards and the two prizes during the ceremony, which is expecting up to 100 attendees. The prize-winning podiatry students are Sarah De Groot, who won the Australian Podiatry Association (NSW) Biomechanics Prize, and Sarah Marshall who will be awarded the InterPod Podiatry Prize.

Dr Elaine Dietsch, a Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, will give a public talk about violence against women in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) at a forum on CSU’s Bathurst Campus on Wednesday 2 May. After several trips to Kenya and the DRC in recent years, Dr Dietsch pledged to publicise the plight of Congolese women who are the ongoing victims of rape and mutilation by warring factions and rebel forces in central Africa. Dr Dietsch will explain how Australians can contribute to improving the lives of Congolese women and their babies. A fund-raising ‘Quilt for Congo’ made by fellow CSU School of Nursing and Midwifery lecturer, Debbie Clatworthy, will also be on display. Intending audience members are advised that this presentation - No longer silenced … Congolese women share their stories of survival - is for adults only; strictly no children.

Top academic performances by Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from CSU’s Albury-Wodonga Campus will be recognised at a CSU Foundation Scholarship ceremony on Thursday 26 April. Seven new Foundation benefactors will also be acknowledged. They include the Bush Children’s Education Foundation, Microsoft Australia, The Co-op Bookshop, WBC Strategic Alliance and the Lions Club of Albury. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, leadership and contribution to the community. Jennifer Potter, who will receive the Rotary Club of Albury-Hume Scholarship, will present a vote of thanks on behalf of scholars. A total of 235 scholarships valued at over $500 000 will be awarded to new and continuing students studying across the University’s five main campuses.

Charles Sturt University’s Pro Vice Chancellor Research & Graduate Training Professor Paul Burnett has been named an Assessment Panel Chair for the Research Quality Framework by the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP. Describing the Chairs as “senior researchers of international standing”, Ms Bishop said the Panels will assess research which “delivers real benefits to the whole community”. Professor Burnett says the Panels will consider the quality and impact of university research and that, “The amount of money allocated to universities annually on the basis of the assessments will be about $500 million per year.” He says he was “delighted” by the appointment. “This is a critical exercise for the future of Australian research in universities and how it is funded. I am a strong supporter of rewarding research excellence and demonstrating its significant impact.”

Western New South Wales year 11 students will learn how to study and write essays more effectively at the annual Study Skills Day to be held at Dubbo Campus of Charles Sturt University (CSU) this Friday (27 April). Organiser Heather Bell said sessions will include time management, motivation, note taking and HSC Online. As well, “This year the school students will hear a presentation about what we offer at CSU,” Ms Bell said. Angela Calvert from Parkes is in the first year of her CSU Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood). She attended the Dubbo Study Skills Day two years ago. “Before that I hadn’t really been thinking much about going to University, but then I really liked the Campus and the interaction between the lecturers and the students. It really helped in my HSC. It was a fun day.”

Dennis Robert Taaffe was awarded Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) first Doctorate of Science at CSU’s Wagga Wagga 2006 graduations on Friday 20 April. Dr Taaffe’s research identified the factors associated with a decline in the neuromuscular system, and ways to prevent frailty and promote independence through improving an individual’s physical reserve. According to Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Ross Chambers, Dr Taaffe’s research has the potential to improve health outcomes and demonstrates CSU’s commitment to conduct strategic and applied research of an international standard. Dr Taaffe was one of almost three hundred graduands awarded degrees and certificates from the CSU Faculty of Education.

Does the race of an accused person influence the jurors’ decision of guilt or innocence? The answer is ‘no’ if the accused is of Asian ethnicity, according to a Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher. Pamela Henry will receive her doctorate for her PhD Race and Juror Decision at CSU Bathurst Campus graduation on Friday 11 May. “The findings were counter-intuitive. There is no evidence to suggest that an Asian accused is more likely to be found guilty. An explanation could lie in theories of modern racism where the general public is more aware that it is not socially acceptable to have their prejudicial views influence their decisions”. Ms Henry is keen to continue her research, next concentrating on Indigenous people. “If jurors, judges and magistrates are aware of the factors that can influence decision making then they can do something about it.”

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) student is bringing the sound of the Scottish highlands to inland Australia. Studying at the CSU Wagga Wagga campus, James Martel is an international-level bagpipe player who has led the Sydney Anzac Day March on several occasions and was a finalist at the NSW solos competition. In 2003, James was appointed the Piping Cadet Under-Officer of Scot’s College band and performed solo at the State Theatre in Sydney for the Rugby World Cup Festival. In 2005 he was appointed as a bagpiping tutor at the Queen Victoria School in Dunblane, Scotland and piped at all Scottish rugby internationals. The highlight was his performance for Queen Elizabeth II during the official opening of the Royal Bank of Scotland headquarters in Edinburgh. James hopes to graduate with a CSU degree in Medical Imaging.