• Philippine Consul General Ms Charmain Rowena Aviquivil visited Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga on Friday 21 June

Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga has hosted the Philippine Consul General to showcase its leading research and facilities on Friday 21 June.

Ms Charmain Rowena Aviquivil joined a campus tour and round table event as part of her visit, hearing from Charles Sturt researchers, students and staff, and witnessing their work firsthand.

Charles Sturt Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) Mr Mike Ferguson said a particular highlight of the visit was touring the University’s National Life Science Hub (NaLSH).

“This state-of-the-art scientific research, learning and teaching complex has contributed significantly to national education and research excellence, particularly in priority areas like plant and animal sciences, food production and security, animal health, and water and environmental sciences,” Mr Ferguson said.

“The NaLSH offers four student teaching laboratories, 48 collaborative research areas, a glasshouse complex and controlled environmental facilities, quarantine approved research areas, laboratory support facilities, PhD write-up areas and plant rooms, making it a spectacular example of our world-class offerings to show Ms Aviquivil.”

During the tour, there were also a number of research showcases, including by PhD candidate Mr Allister Clarke on ‘Using ‘big data’ to predict rice quality prior to harvest’; Dr Justin Roby on ‘The Training Hub promoting Regional Industry and Innovation in Virology and Epidemiology (THRIIVE)’; and PhD candidate Mr Darby Taguiam on ‘Diagnosis and Management of Dieback in Persimmon Trees’.

Following the NaLSH tour, guests attended various presentations and a Q&A session at the Biomedical Sciences Building where they heard from Mr Ferguson himself, as well as Filipino PhD student Ms Dyanah-Joy Amorio and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation Professor Michael Friend.

To wrap up the visit, Business NSW joined Charles Sturt representatives to lead a Trade and Investment and Workforce Development meeting, which included a presentation from the Consul General.

Vice Consul Ms Sheila Tario also joined Ms Aviquivil for the visit.

ENDS