The 2011 Central West RoboCup Junior Challenge robotics competition will see students from schools across the region build and operate mini robots at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange on Tuesday 21 June. The coordinator of the competition, Mr Allen Benter, a PhD student and researcher at the CSU Centre for Research in Complex Systems (CRiCS) in Bathurst, said, “Charles Sturt University has been the official sponsor of the RoboCup Junior Challenge in the NSW Central West for the past two years with the event successfully taking place in Bathurst last year. Staff at the University have provided technical advice to students and their teachers, have been judges at previous RoboCup events, and in October last year we held a training workshop on campus in Orange for students and teachers. It’s very exciting to now see this developing field so enthusiastically embraced by schools in the region.”

The push for a medical school in Orange continues to gather momentum with Charles Sturt University (CSU) launching the Doctors 4 the Bush  website this Thursday 16 June. CSU recently submitted a detailed proposal to the Federal government to gain support for the establishment of an Integrated Health and Medical Education Precinct. This proposal aims to provide medical and health training for students and boost the number of health professionals for regional Australia to redress the shortage of doctors in the bush. The website has been established to allow supporters of this initiative to keep up-to-date with the latest information on rural doctor shortages and will feature updated information on CSU’s proposal and the opportunity to register support for ‘a fair go for the health of rural Australia’. The website will be officially launched by Medical Program Development Community Consultative Committee member Ms Audrey Hardman, OAM, at CSU in Orange on Thursday.

A group of students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) has raised more than $2 500 to help children at a flood affected primary school in southern Queensland. The money raised by CSU Residential Advisors has been donated to the Grantham State School, which is located in one of the small communities devasted by flash flooding in January. CSU Manager of Residential Operations in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga, Mr Peter Bell said the Residential Advisors took it upon themselves to raise the money by collecting donations. “Many of our students are from regional areas so they had a real connection with the devastation and tragic loss of life in Grantham,” he said.  Grantham State School Principal Ms Christie Minns says the money will help support the learning needs of students. “While the material damage can be repaired and the possessions replaced it is only within a stable environment that the emotional impact on children can be gradually addressed,” she said. “This contribution will help create that stability in the school context.”

Former US Vice President Al Gore was in the news last week when it was revealed his household energy bill amounted to US$30 000 a year. Jodie Kleinschafer, a Charles Sturt University PhD student currently studying ways households can become more energy efficient, said: “If he is being carbon neutral, using renewable energy sources that are 100 per cent green, then he is not being inconsistent with his environmental stance.” She says there are simple ways to reduce electricity consumption. “Turn down the temperature on your hot water, use the air conditioner less, and don’t turn your heater up quite so high.” Mrs Kleinschafer says “smart meters” are also a useful option for improving energy efficiency because they “give immediate feedback on how much electricity is being used and how much it is costing. Until our electricity is from 100 per cent renewable energy sources, it is in everybody’s best interest to become more energy efficient”.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) veterinary students will be given practical guidance on leadership, team-work, communication, emotional intelligence and conflict management tomorrow Wednesday 7 March as part of a veterinary leadership experience (VLE) workshop on CSU Wagga Wagga Campus. CSU lecturer in dairy cattle practice Natasha Lees said, “The VLE is a chance for students to further develop their skills enabling them to successfully make the transition from the lecture hall to the workplace”. Ms Lees believes the workshops will help CSU produce graduates that meet the needs of its regional, national and international communities. First year students in CSU’s School of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences will be addressed during the workshop by Professor Rick Debowes and psychologist Kathy Ruby, both from Washington State University, USA.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will join with 20 other higher education providers to showcase its education opportunities to local high school students at the North East Victoria Tertiary Education Tour on Monday 20 June in Shepparton, and on Tuesday 21 June in Wangaratta. CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Emily Hill, said the expo provides an important opportunity for students to compare what higher education providers around Victoria and southern NSW can offer. “Nearly 1 300 high school students are due to attend the events in Shepparton and Wangarrata, which presents a great oportunity for regional students to access course information from a variety of institutions. The knowledge shared at these events will help students to make informed decisions about their options for life beyond Year 12,” Ms Hill said. The Shepparton event will run from 11am to 2.30pm in the Mercy Centennial Stadium, Notre Dame Catholic College, corner of Skene and Knight Streets, Shepparton. The Wangaratta event will run from 9.15am to 12.45pm in Performing Arts Centre, Wangaratta High School, Edward Street, Wangaratta.

The capacity of rural communities to cope with changed climate conditions will be discussed at a symposium at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga this week. Organised by the EH Graham Centre and NSW Department of Primary Industries, the symposium will feature presentations from a number of CSU staff and students. CSU PhD student, Ms Katrina Sinclair, will outline the experience of the Wakool Shire in southern NSW, where a project involving CSU researchers is helping the community reinvigorate itself in the face of reduced water allocations. She said the challenges of  a changing climate combined with economic and social pressure means some farmers will need to prepare for fundamental change. “My research is exploring the ways government and organisations can help farmers and communities respond to a future that is desirable, viable and durable.”  The symposium will be attended by more than 100 people from the NSW DPI, CSU and Bureau of Meterology.

This Thursday, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will be the venue for a significant public event organised by ActionAid which will see Ugandan mother of 11, Ms Polly Apio speak about her life in Africa. According to ActionAid, one billion people will go to bed hungry tonight. Not because there’s not enough food to go around, but because the food system is broken. Ms Apio offers a solution. She grows crops on a small family plot producing enough for her family and a little extra to sell. Women like Ms Apio grow up to 90 per cent of the food in sub-Saharan Africa and, if they had access to the same support and services that their male counterparts have, could alleviate hunger among the most vulnerable people in the world. At the public discussion Ms Apio will cover food security in sub-Saharan Africa, the role of women farmers and why sustainable small scale agriculture is so important for Australia as well as Africa.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will join with 42 other higher education providers to showcase its education opportunities to local high school students at the Albury-Wodonga Tertiary Day on Wednesday 22 June in Albury. CSU Prospective Student Adviser, Ms Emily Hill, said the expo provides an important opportunity for students to compare what higher education providers around Victoria, NSW and ACT can offer. “Over 1 200 high school students are due to attend the event, which presents a great oportunity for regional students to access course information from a variety of institutions. The knowledge shared at these events will help students to make informed decisions about their options for life beyond Year 12,” Ms Hill said. The Albury event will run from 9am to 2.15pm in the Albury Entertainment Centre, Swift Street, Albury.