Existing and future energy and water conservation and an organics recycling pilot program will all be on show at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga on Thursday 4 June to celebrate World Environment Day on Friday 5 June. In conjunction with the Riverina Eastern Regional Organisations of Councils (REROC), the CSU Division of Facilities Management (DFM) and CSU Green  will host an information session on environmental initiatives at the University from 10am to 11.30am. The 2008 CSU Environmental Scorecard was released in April 2009 by the University. Read more here. CSU Green was established in 2008 as part of the University’s commitment to sustainability. In addition to these activities for World Environment Day, a student and staff organisation known as Eco Active will hold activities throughout the week until Friday 5 June. Further information about the Eco Active events is available here.

 

The World Environment Day activities hosted by REROC, DFM and CSU Green will be held from 10 to 11.30am Thursday 4 June at Joyes Hall, Pine Gully Road, CSU, Wagga Wagga. CSU Green Manager Mr William Adlong is available for interview on 6933 4200. Further information on CSU Green is available here. Eco Active stands for environment, community and outdoors and was formed in 2008 so that students and staff who were interested in being active with environmental initiatives, connecting with like minded people and outdoor adventure could meet each other.

 

In 2008, the University established CSU Green as part of the University’s commitment to sustainability. Read more here.  Eco Active stands for environment, community and the outdoors and was formed in 2008 so that students and staff who were interested in being active with environmental initiatives, connecting with like minded people and outdoor adventure could meet each other. Eco Active's Ms Katie Hannan is available for interview on 02 6933 2055.

Animal science students from Iowa State University (ISU) in the United States will meet their counterparts from Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga from Monday 1 June to Wednesday 3 June to share their educational experiences. Twenty students from Iowa University will be accompanied by two lecturers during their visit to CSU. Hosted by the CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences,  the ISU students will tour the University at Wagga Wagga on Monday 1 June and visit Cargill Beef and a property at Holbrook on Tuesday 2 June before returning to CSU on Wednesday 3 June. Animal science students from CSU will host a barbecue dinner for their international guests from 6pm on Tuesday 2 June.

For further information, contact lecturer with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga Dr Stephanie Knott on 02 6933 2211. On Monday 1 June, the Iowa State University students and lecturers will attend a talk on agriculture in the Riverina by Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe in the Veterinary Pre-Clinical Building, building 290, Nathan Cobb Drive near car park 16, CSU, Wagga Wagga from 2pm to 3.15pm before a CSU Winery tour and wine tasting at the Cellar Door from 3.30pm to 4.45 pm. A barbecue will be held on Tuesday from 6pm at the Wine and Food Industry Training Centre, building 412 near the CSU Winery. On Wednesday 3 June the ISU group will attend a working dog demonstration at the sheep yards on the CSU Farm, Agriculture Avenue, CSU, Wagga Wagga from 9.15am to 10.30am and visit the nearby CSU Equine Centre and Veterinary Clinical Centre, Agriculture Avenue from 10.30am to 12pm.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic aims to draw attention to the impacts of climate change on low paid Australian workers. Sociology lecturer and co-author of the book Living Low Paid, Dr Helen Masterman-Smith will present a seminar in Sydney on Monday 1 June to discuss the barriers to social and workplace citizenship that low paid workers experience. These barriers are highly relevant to whether the Australian labour market and economy can actually deliver a ‘just transition’ to a low-carbon economy or whether such a transition will simply reproduce current labour market inequalities. “If employee engagement is seen as critical to greening Australian workplaces, what does the lack of voice and dignity that many low paid workers experience in their jobs mean for the feasibility of a just transition to a low-carbon economy?” asks Dr Masterman-Smith. “For all its shortcomings, delaying the emissions trading scheme to 2011 not only delays the necessary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, it also delays the labour market transition to sustainable workplaces and work practices, which has health and other social implications.”

Dr Helen Masterman-Smith is a lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga. She is a guest speaker at Sydney University’s Department of Political Economy Seminar Series on Monday 1 June from 1pm to 2pm, room 397 at the Merewether Building, Sydney University. Dr Masterman-Smith will present a seminar entitled 'Climate Change and the Political Economy of Everyday Life'. Her book, Living Low Paid: The dark side of prosperous Australia is published by Allen & Unwin.

 

Water management issues in China and Pakistan will be in the spotlight when two international visitors present seminars hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the International Centre for Water for Food Security (IC WATER) on Thursday 28 May. Director of Pakistan’s Water Management Research Centre, Professor Niaz Ahmed Rai, will talk on the current water scenario in Pakistan and intervention for sustainable use. The Centre is located at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Director of China’s National Research Centre for Resettlement, Professor Guoqing Shi, will discuss challenges and issues for water management in China including flooding, water shortage, water pollution and water turbidity. This Centre is part of Hohai University, Nanjing, China. The International Centre of Water for Food Security at CSU holds monthly seminars with national and international water experts invited to discuss the emerging issues and policies dealing with sustainable management of water resources for food security.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will mark its 20^th anniversary with a gala commemorative dinner at Bathurst on Tuesday 2 June. Some of the 300 guests will travel from overseas to attend the dinner. Dignitaries include the heads of other universities, politicians, business leaders, academics, staff and alumni. CSU’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and Chairperson of the 20^th Anniversary Committee, Professor Lyn Gorman, said the dinner is an opportunity to celebrate the University’s past and its future. “Charles Sturt University is Australia’s sixth largest university, and it has established itself as the University of inland Australia. It is the leading provider of distance education, with 57 per cent of our 35 000 students studying by distance mode in over 80 countries. Charles Sturt University will continue to support our regional communities and provide graduates for a range of professions needed throughout Australia and elsewhere in the world.”

Contact CSU Media to arrange interviews. The CSU commemorative dinner will be held at the CD Blake Auditorium at CSU at Bathurst from 7.30pm on Tuesday 2 June. Read more about CSU’s 20^th anniversary here.

The work of a graphic design student from Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga has been on exhibition in Melbourne after her piece ‘Stamp Collection’ was short-listed for an international competition for emerging designers. Ms Missy Dempsey from the School of Visual and Performing Arts at CSU at Wagga Wagga was one of 65 students from tertiary institutions in Australia, New Zealand and Asia to be short-listed for the agIdeas 2009 NewStar competition. The event took place during the design industry’s annual conference, known as agldeas 2009.  Held in Melbourne in early May as part of International Design Week, agldeas 2009 is one the largest design events in the world, attracting industry leaders. “I like to design with my hands before my eyes, it makes me feel like I've physically achieved something,” said Ms Dempsey. “’Stamp Collection’ combines my two loves which are hand crafts and design. All the pieces of the work were hand stitched and sewn, then digitally put together.” CSU senior lecturer in graphic design, Mr Michael Agzarian said, “Missy has done extremely well to be short-listed as the competition for the NewStar event was stiff with hundreds of students submitting work.”

The agIdeas 2009 NewStar Exhibition was held at the Melbourne Museum from Friday 24 April until Sunday 24 May.

During Orientation 2009, students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) helped raise money for the organisation, Aussie Helpers. Aussie Helpers is a charity that assists farming families during drought.  The student leaders at CSU at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga collected a total of $5 883 during Orientation 2009 in February. “The Division of Student Services would like to thank all of the student leaders for working so hard to fundraise money for this year’s charity,” said Student Support Officer Mr Christopher Roche.  “It was a great achievement.  We would also like to thank the students, parents and staff that donated money.”  Each year student leaders select an organisation to fundraise for during Orientation. Aussie Helpers will be using the donation to assist families affected by drought and the Victorian bushfires. Student leaders will present a cheque to Aussie Helpers’ co-founder Mr Brian Egan at 10am Friday 29 May outside the student canteen, building 20, near car park 2, Darnell Smith Drive, CSU at Wagga Wagga.

 

Aussie Helpers and its 40 volunteers aim to lift the spirits of those families severely affected by drought in rural Australia.  Aussie Helpers operate in QLD, NSW, VIC, SA and Tasmania.

 

The Wagga Wagga Agricultural College Rugby Union Club at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will use the much anticipated clash with 2008 premiers, Wagga Wagga Waratahs, on Saturday 30 May to promote awareness of breast cancer and raise money for the McGrath Foundation. A ‘ladies day’ will be held to coincide with round seven of the Southern Inland Rugby Union competition when the 2007 premiers Wagga Wagga Agriculture College take on last year’s premiers the Wagga Wagga Waratahs in all three grades. “Against a backdrop of competitive rugby union, we hope to contribute to the vitally important ‘Breast Aware’ message of the McGrath Foundation,” said Wagga Wagga Agricultural College Rugby Union Club president Mr Shahid Khalfan. Money raised during the day, including at a special auction of the first grade players’ ‘Breast Aware’ football jerseys, will be donated to the McGrath Foundation. “I urge all members of the community to support the day and the valuable work of the McGrath Foundation,” said the third year CSU veterinary science student.

The ‘ladies day’ will take place on Saturday 30 May at Beres Elwood Oval, CSU at Wagga Wagga. The first game kicks off at 12.30pm. First grade starts at 2.45pm. A barbecue will be available as well as drinks and finger food. The $20 entry fee will be waived for women. From 5.30pm at the William Farrer Hotel in Wagga Wagga, the 2008 National Young Auctioneer, Mr Jim Tierney will auction off first grade’s ‘Breast Aware’ jerseys. Wagga Wagga Agricultural College Rugby Union Club president and CSU student Mr Shahid Khalfan is available for interview on 0401 062 837.The McGrath Foundation was co-founded by the late Jane McGrath and her cricketing husband Glenn McGrath.

The emerging serious health problem of chronic kidney disease will be examined during a public lecture in Griffith in May. The lecture on Wednesday 27 May coincides with national Kidney Health Week 2009 being held from Sunday 24 May to Saturday 30 May. Associate Professor Ann Bonner from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Nursing and Midwifery in Wagga Wagga will explain chronic kidney disease, its risk factors, optimal healthcare requirements and its impact on individuals, society and the Australian healthcare system. Associate Professor Bonner has practiced for more than 20 years as a renal nurse and has developed postgraduate renal nursing courses for universities in NSW and Queensland. Dr Bonner is also involved in collaborative research projects with renal health care clinicians in these states.