The tournament, also known as ‘Easters’, was held at the Australian National University from 10 to 13 April. More than 400 participants from 17 institutions across Australia attended the tournament. 

Read the full story on the USU website.

The United States Studies Centre is thrilled to offer University of Sydney students an unprecedented opportunity to study at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) during this year's winter break. UCLA is one of the world's most prestigious universities, placed 13th in the latest Times Higher Education rankings.

Students from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Sydney Business School can apply, and will gain credit points towards their University of Sydney degree.

Information session
When: 1pm, Monday 23 April
Where: Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre, Camperdown Campus.

To register or for more information, visit the US Studies Centre website.

View the skillshops on offer this semester. No enrolment is necessary, just head to Room 513, Level 5, Jane Foss Russell Building, Darlington Campus to attend each skillshop. For more information, call 8627 8433 or 8627 8437.

Prepare yourself for the study adventure of a lifetime!

Learn about the exciting overseas opportunities available to University of Sydney students.

Representatives from exchange-partner universities and other international organisations will be available to discuss your options with you and answer questions relating to the exchange program.

Current exchange students from our worldwide network of over 250 partner universities and returned University of Sydney exchange students will also share their overseas experiences.

When: 11am to 3pm, Tuesday 8 May
Where: Eastern Avenue, Camperdown Campus

Find out more about international exchange.

The Brain Dynamics Centre at Westmead Hospital is looking for individuals to participate in a study looking at healthy brain maturation in young adulthood.

This study involves a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, an electroencephalogram scan (which measures the electrical activity of the brain via electrodes applied to your scalp), the completion of some questionnaires, and the provision of a saliva sample. There is also a follow-up session approximately 1.5 years later, which involves completing the same components.

Data from both sessions will allow us to assess the brain development changes that have taken place between your first and second visit. Your data will provide the comparison to later identify what are the differences in brain development that predict mental illness.

To be eligible you must be physically healthy, aged 18 to 38, and have no current or previous history of mental illness. If you or anyone you know is interested please contact Cassie Antees on 9845 8160.

This is a unique opportunity to access free weight-loss treatment with clinical psychologists who specialise in the area of weight-loss management.

The Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders is conducting a free weight-loss program for overweight individuals aged 18 years or older. The program aims to determine which of two promising treatments is the most effective in helping people alter their eating and physical activity so they can lose weight and keep it off.

For more information, please contact Dr Jessica Swinbourne on 9036 3442.

Most people have sleep issues. This study looks at the quality of sleep.

Are you a lifelong exerciser? Or are you mostly sedentary? Either way, if you are aged 50 or older, you are invited to take part in a research study being conducted within the Exercise, Health and Performance Research group at the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The study aims to determine whether people who exercise regularly enjoy better sleep quality than those who don’t participate in regular exercise. To participate you will:

• answer several questionnaires at the commencement of the study (approximately 25 minutes in total)
• record a daily sleep log, daily mood scale, and record your awakening heart rate at home (you will receive simple instructions, and daily collection of this information should only take around 3 minutes).

For more information contact Stephen Watson.

The Careers Centre has partnered with eight of the country’s leading employers to offer a unique opportunity for students to develop their professional workplace skills.

Graduate Edge 2012 is an intensive one-week program that focuses on developing professional ethics, personal branding, networking, communication, leadership, teamwork, employability and problem-solving skills. For more details and to apply visit the Careers Centre website.

Want to achieve excellence in your work while maintaining a balanced life? Be recognised and rewarded with the PwC Student Experience Award.

PwC are looking to identify committed students – from any degree background – who are striving for excellence in their work while maintaining a balanced life. If you're currently combining full-time study with a passion for art, music, community, sport, academic, volunteering or other extracurricular activity, this is your chance to be recognised.

Applications close 29 April 2012. For more information, visit the PwC website.

Speak plainly for your chance to win $1000!

USU Board nominations open

Nominations have opened for the 2012 University of Sydney Union Student Board elections, to be held on 30 May.

Indigenous Week

The Indigenous Week Festival aims to share knowledge, celebrate the vibrancy of Australian Indigenous culture, and discuss related issues and current affairs with our community.

Applications open for Kirby Cup 2012

Your gift of the gab could win you $1000! Think you’ve got public-speaking skills worthy of Justice Michael Kirby? Well, you need to enter the Justice Michael Kirby Plain Speaking Competition! Now in its sixth year, this competition offers students of all experience levels a chance to test their public-speaking skills in an environment that is both constructive and competitive.

Witness the raw energy, talent and passion of 100-plus young instrumentalists coming together to perform this exciting work. This is only the second time these orchestras have collaborated, so the concerts are sure to be spectacular!

Event details
When: 7.30pm, Friday 20 April
Where: Sir John Clancy Auditorium, The University of New South Wales (UNSW), Kensington Campus

When: 7.30pm, Saturday 28 April 
Where: The Great Hall, The Quadrangle, Camperdown Campus

Cost: $20, concession $15, Access/Arc members $10
Book online, or tickets will also be available at the door (subject to availability).

The concert at the Great Hall will also feature renowned Australian pianist Kathryn Selby performing Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor KV 478.

For more information, visit the SUSO website. Proudly supported by the University of Sydney Union and Arc at UNSW.

People with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are at increased risk of developing premature mortality and morbidity through metabolic and cardiovascular disease.

This talk explores one of the modern-day exogenous factors that has been implicated in this problem – fructose. We look at its effect on components of the metabolic syndrome and its relationship to central and peripheral regulators of metabolic homeostasis.

Presented by Professor Tim Lambert, Professor of Psychiatry located at the Concord Clinical School and the Brain and Mind Research Institute. 

Event details
When: 3.30pm, Friday 13 April
Where: Brain and Mind Research Institute, Level 5 Lecture Theatre, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown

Watch this classic adventure film, drawn from Greek mythology, surrounded by ancient Greek vases and statues at the Nicholson Museum!

Bring friends, family and some cushions to this rare screening of the classic Ray Harryhausen family film Jason and the Argonauts (1961; rated G). 

Event details
When: 4 to 6pm, Thursday 19 April
Where: Nicholson Museum, the Quadrangle, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free
RSVP: Bookings essential, contact Museum Reception on 9351 2812

The lecture explores recent proposals for fundamental change to the legal aid system in England and Wales in the context of constrained resources, the increasing cost of the criminal justice system and developments in civil justice policy.

Dame Hazel will reflect on access to justice principles and speculate on the social and legal impact of the proposed changes. She will also discuss the way in which discourse and policy on mediation is being used to support and justify the withdrawal of public funding from civil justice.

Event details
When: 5.30 for 6 to 7pm, Thursday 19 April, followed by cocktail reception.
Where: New Law Building, Eastern Avenue, Camperdown Campus
Cost: $25, Sydney Law School alumni $20

As a special offer, University of Sydney staff and students can register for free.

For more information, visit the Sydney Law School website.

Attend a free public lecture on the mysteries of Gregorian chant by Dr Neil McEwan.

Very few medieval music manuscripts remain from the 10th and 11th centuries that give any clues about how to interpret and sing Gregorian chant. Through the use of a mens’ singing Schola, McEwan demonstrates the mysterious subtleties of ‘sounding out loud’ Gregorian chant.

Event details
When: 4pm, Friday 20 April
Where: Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Cost: Free

For more information, contact Susie Walsh on 9351 1442. See more about research at the Con.

Simon will be live on the 'What Matters' website to respond to comments about his research into tobacco control and the introduction of cigarette plain packaging in Australia.

If you can’t make it for the online discussion, send your questions for Simon to what.matters@sydney.edu.au

Event details
When: 12 to 1pm, Monday 23 April
Where: What matters website

Robyn will be live on the 'What Matters' website to respond to comments about her literacy research and the importance of literacy in the primary school curriculum.

If you can’t make it for the online discussion, send your questions for Robyn to what.matters@sydney.edu.au.

Event details
When: 5 to 6pm, Tuesday 24 April
Where: What matters website

On 1 July a carbon price will be imposed on liable entities under the Clean Energy Act 2011 (Cwlth). What will this mean for you?

In this Sydney Law School masterclass, experts will explain the provisions of the carbon price mechanism, the taxation implications, the offsetting mechanisms and the carbon derivatives market.

To register or for more information, visit the Sydney Law School website.

Watch the extraordinary story of Chinese-Australian artist Zhou Xiaoping and his inspiring – but sometimes controversial – collaboration with Aboriginal artists in remote Arnhem Land. 

In this award-winning documentary, Xiaoping and fellow artist Johnny Bulunbulun are preparing for the highly anticipated opening of their exhibition in Beijing, when events take a dramatic turn.

Meet the artist and director James Bradley at this special screening, presented by the Confucius Institute.

Event details
Where: 6pm, Thursday 3 May
Where: Lecture Theatre 351, Education Building, Camperdown Campus
Cost: Free
RSVP: Events website