A major public lecture for Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Faculty of Education will be presented by social commentator, writer and lecturer Ms Jane Caro, who will look at public education through a marketing lens and suggest ways the system can fight back. Amongst Ms Caro’s accomplishments are her appearances on such television shows as Q and A, Weekend Sunrise and The Gruen Transfer. Ms Caro will take listeners on a personal journey through her experiences as a student, a parent and now as an advocate for public education, discussing how these experiences have formed her views about education, particularly public education. Named after the eminent educator and the inaugural Dean of CSU’s Faculty of Education, Professor Bob Meyenn, the annual education lecture is designed to bring to the border region highly esteemed educational thinkers to share their provocative, practical and relevant ideas with regional Australia. Light refreshments will be served in the Gums Café at 6pm, with the lecture commencing at 7pm on Tuesday 23 April in the CD Blake Lecture Theatre at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. Please send your RSVP to Ms Jen West by Wednesday 17 April  on telephone (02) 6051 9400 or send an email jenwest@csu.edu.au

Distance is no hindrance to Charles Sturt University (CSU) agricultural business student Rebecca Huth, who will travel to Wangaratta with three other CSU students for study sessions that support their distance education learning. Employed by the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia in Western Victoria as an industry trainer, the third generation dairy farmer and former business owner based near Terang was looking for a challenging course that also recognised her 15 years involvement in dairying and her aim to improve the industry. “The Bachelor of Agricultural Business Management was a natural progression for me, as it recognised my previous studies for the Advanced Diploma of Agriculture with GOTAFE. With great support and flexibility, the course enables me to actively learn and broaden my knowledge without repeating what I already know,” said Ms Huth, who is among the first group of students to commence their studies at CSU’s Wangaratta study centre. Ms Huth won a scholarship to assist her CSU studies and said that apart from building on her knowledge and experience, “I also hope to develop personal networks and broaden my knowledge of the broader agricultural industry”. Faced with a five hour drive from Western Victoria, Ms Huth is sure to get to know her fellow students better! The students will gather on Wednesday 8 May for a session at the CSU centre in Wangaratta.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) courses, offered through its partnership with Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE) and the National Centre for Dairy Education Australia (NCDEA), will be on show at Wangaratta on Tuesday 11 June. CSU’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (International Education and Partnerships), Professor Heather Cavanagh, will host a wine and cheese evening at the campus to talk about CSU’s aspirations and plans for Wangaratta. GOTAFE CEO Mr Paul Culpan will also attend. This is the first in a series of regional community and industry functions to discuss current and proposed CSU courses on offer, and the design of the new CSU building in Wangaratta, with local representatives.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is making up to $150 000 available for staff and student projects to help the University reduce its environmental footprint. Sustainability Grants are awarded by CSU Green annually as part of  the University’s commitment to reduce energy and water use, increase biodiversity, cut solid waste, and support research into sustainability. An extra $50 000 is being made available this year for one large project to help the University reach its sustainability goals. Co-ordinator of Partnerships with CSU Green, Ms Nicola Smith, said the program aims to educate and promote cultural change. “Applications for the grants have increased each year with more exciting and engaging projects,” she said. “It has increased the knowledge of environmental and social sustainability issues as well as providing an outlet for staff and students to develop social and professional networks.” Past projects include a student and community-run produce garden, a sustainable film festival and a project to increase good waste management practises within student residences. Applications are open until 5pm on Friday 28 June.

More than 500 Riverina Year 12 science students will be guided, challenged and encouraged to achieve their best in the Higher School Certificate at a one-day event on Friday 21 June at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. The students are from 15 schools, from Barham High in the west to Junee High in the north and east to Tumbarumba High and local Albury schools. Presenters are former HSC senior examiners and markers in Senior Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as Senior Science, and Ms Lindy Billing from the NSW Board of Secondary Studies will also present tips on how students can maximise their marks in HSC exams. The Albury and District Science Teachers Association have organised the two day event, with a similar session being held at Yanco Agricultural High School on Thursday 20 June for Riverina students.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are investigating what rural and regional Australians know about common, everyday health risks and activities. “Health authorities across Australia are constantly sending out messages to help Australians make better health choices. But residents in Australia’s rural areas have been shown to have greater trouble understanding health messages than people in metropolitan areas,” said project coordinator Dr Andrea Crampton, based in the Faculty of Science at CSU in Wagga Wagga. “We want to see what people actually know about common activities that might pose short and longterm health risks.”  Dr Crampton is conducting the research with her CSU colleague and social scientist Dr Angela Ragusa.  The researchers are seeking metropolitan and rural participants and are especially keen to hear from those in more remote locations across Australia. See the online survey here. For more information on the survey, call Dr Andrea Crampton at the Faculty of Science on (02) 6933 4032 or send her an email.

Budding writers in Year-12 at several Albury high schools will have the support of families and friends, and some critical feedback, when they present their HSC major works to a supportive audience at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Thursday evening, 27 June. CSU academic and former English Head Teacher, Mr Paul Grover, will coordinate the event where audience members will assess the presentation of major works by students studying English Extension 2 for their HSC in local high schools. “The audience will hear the voice of the author as they read from the major play, poem, author study or short story they have spent twelve months planning and composing for their HSC examination. These talented student writers will receive valuable feedback to include in their final writing and revision process”, Mr Grover said. This public event will be held at 6pm on Thursday 27 June at the CD Blake Lecture Theatre, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona. To attend, contact Mr Grover on telephone (02) 6051 9707 or send an email.

Ms Isobel Colson, an Honours student in ecology at Charles Sturt University (CSU), has won the Terry Hillman Honours Educational Prize for 2013. Ms Colson will receive her $3 000 prize from Professor Hillman on Wednesday 26 June at the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre (MDFRC) in Wodonga at 10.30am. The prize, named after former MDFRC director Professor Terry Hillman, was established in honour of Professor Hillman’s contribution to freshwater ecology around Albury-Wodonga. The MDFRC has given the annual award since 2006 to support and encourage students in freshwater ecology. Ms Colson, who has nearly completed her Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management with Honours at CSU and MDFRC, is investigating the impacts of temperature, ultraviolet radiation, and billabong characteristics on the termination of zooplankton hibernation. She is supervised by Dr Paul Humphries and Dr Nicole McCasker from CSU’s School of Environmental Sciences and Dr Daryl Nielsen from MDFRC.

Twenty Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga will receive scholarships worth more than $100 000 from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) Foundation during a ceremony on Thursday 18 July. The RAS Foundation awarded 49 Rural Scholarships in 2013 – a record number – with recipients coming from various educational institutions across NSW. The CSU students are studying a range of courses including agricultural science, agricultural business management, education, equine science, journalism, medical radiation science, physiotherapy and veterinary science. RAS Foundation Rural Scholarships support students who are undertaking post-high school study or training, show a passion for rural issues and who are committed to playing a part in shaping the future of rural and regional NSW. The ceremony will be held on Thursday 18 July from 6pm to 8.30pm at the National Wine and Grape Centre, building 412, McKeown Drive, CSU in Wagga Wagga.