Frugal and hard working, the history of German farmers in the southern Riverina will be explored in a free public lecture by Charles Sturt University (CSU) cultural heritage expert Associate Professor Dirk Spennemann in Deniliquin on Wednesday 15 August. German settlement began in the mid 1860s and in this illustrated talk, Professor Spennemann will examine their contribution to farming and the social fabric of the region. “Driven by the proverbial Protestant work ethic, German farmers were generally well respected at the time,” he said. “A typical household contained heirlooms such as family bibles, items sourced from Germany including wedding porcelain along with books and utensils unavailable in Australia.” A member of  CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society (ILWS),  Professor Spennemann’s research interests include German colonial heritage in Oceania and the conceptual understanding of contemporary and emergent heritage such as modern architecture, space exploration and robotics. He is also a photographic artist who interprets heritage issues through visual media.

A Nobel laureate, stargazing and a Science and Health expo will headline activities at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga during National Science Week in August. Hosted by CSU and the Astronomical Society of Albury-Wodonga, the annual Science Fair will run for three days from Tuesday 14 to Thursday 16 August and will include a public lecture from the winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics, Dr Brian Schmidt, and CSIRO scientist John Sarkissian, who will show the lost footage of the Apollo missions and Australia’s part in these historic events. During each day, the Science Fair will include guest speakers, interactive workshops, exhibits, stargazing and other activities for pupils from local and surrounding schools at the CSU campus, followed by evening sessions open to the general public. CSU also will stage a Science and Health Expo on its Thurgoona site on Saturday 11 August between 11.30am and 3pm. The Expo will feature a solar telescope, tours of the Oral Health and Dental Clinic and campus tours as well as interactive information sessions showcasing health and science courses offered by CSU, jumping castles, music and the Gums Café open for visitors.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students and staff will puff and pant to work and study on Wednesday 12 October as part of the annual Ride to Work Day 2011. Cyclists from CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange and Wagga Wagga will participate in the morning event, which will finish with a free breakfast. Event coordinator, Ms Nicole Maher from CSU Green, said the Ride to Work Day is a great way to, “enjoy some exercise, travel with low emissions and enjoy a free breakfast. More and more people are riding to work for fitness, health and to reduce their environmental footprints, as well as to enjoy a relaxing period before the pressures of daily work.” Tips on cycling to work are available from the Ride to Work official site here.

More than 40 new veterinary students will leave university for the workforce after taking their professional oath at a ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 3 August. The Bachelor of Veterinary Biology/Bachelor of Veterinary Science students will gather in front of family, friends and staff from CSU’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences  to take the Veterinarians’ Oath to practice their profession ‘ethically and conscientiously’.  The keynote address will be delivered by Vice President of the Australian Veterinary Association Dr Peter Gibbs, who will share his experience of running a successful rural practice in Yass, NSW.  The students will be eligible to register as veterinarians on Friday 10 August and will be awarded their degrees during a formal graduation ceremony at CSU at the end of 2012.

Sixteen medical science students from the Fiji National University (FNU) are spending a week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga. The group of final year students will be accompanied by their lecturer Mr Manasa Mainaqelelevu. With a theme of food and nutrition in Australia, the FNU students will attend a food and nutrition research workshop and visit local food production facilities at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 August. Their visit to Albury-Wodonga on Tuesday 14 August coincided with the 2012 Science Fair at CSU as part of National Science Week. The week-long visit is supported by the University’s School of Biomedical Sciences based in Wagga Wagga and CSU Global.

Agriculture and animal science students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) will get a head start on job hunting at a student-led career fair tomorrow, Wednesday 1 August. More than 220 students from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences  will meet with over 30 prospective employers from agribusiness, government departments, research organisations and farming groups. “It’s a chance for potential employers to promote their organisations and provide information about what it takes to pursue a career within these industries,” said member of the organising committee and Bachelor of Animal Science student Mr Isaac Allen. Students from CSU in Wagga Wagga, Orange and Albury-Wodonga will attend the fair which will include a career development workshop and a panel discussion with recent graduates.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Regional Development Australia (Central West) will host the Agribusiness Today 2012 forum highlighting opportunities for grain producers at the Forbes Services Memorial Club on Thursday 2 August. Dr Karl Behrendt, director of the Australasian Agribusiness Research Centre at CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, said the forum’s focus is ‘Getting the pulse on cereals and oilseeds’. “Agribusiness Today 2012 is a free day-long forum to update central west grain growers and industry leaders about crop trends in the northern hemisphere and potential demand from Asia for their crops,” Dr Behrendt said. “Participants will hear from a range of experts from the CSIRO, Rabobank, NSW Department of Primary Industries, and others, as well as two international speakers from Argentina, Dr Roberto Peiretti and Ms Cintia Castagnino. Peak Hill farmer Mr Grant Byrne, who is the Conservation Farmer of the Year 2011, will also speak about resilience and adaptive cropping systems.”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students will take part in National Tree Day when they continue the planting of understorey shrubs that commenced in 2011. Students from CSU in Albury-Wodonga will get down and dirty to sow over 1000 plants on the University campus at Thurgoona after 2.30pm on Friday 27 July. Activity coordinator and chair of the campus environment committee, Dr John Rafferty, said the celebration was also an opportunity to highlight the ‘green’ credentials and emphasis on environmental sustainability on the Albury-Wodonga Campus. “The campus is continually developing and enhancing the landscape and these habitats bring many benefits. We are seeing the site being used more and more for recreation, while the permanent habitat provides home for several species of bird and native animals. As well as enhancing the environment for local people and native animals, the site is developing as an important teaching and research resource for Charles Sturt University,” Dr Rafferty said.

Accomplished Indigenous singer / songwriter Mr Kutcha Edwards will encourage more than 200 Indigenous high school students and family members from southern NSW to think about careers and future choices, in an event to be held at Mirambeena in Lavington on Thursday 19 July. Sponsored by Charles Sturt University (CSU), NSW Department of Education and Communities and Parent and Community Engagement (PaCE), the day will also include workshops for the Years 7 to 12 students and their parents presented by high achieving Indigenous community members and past students from CSU, Riverina and Wodonga Institutes of TAFE, and Mungabareena Health.  “We will be showing these students the range of careers and choices they can make and the support that is being offered to them, while also showing families how they can support their children in their choices,” CSU education lecturer and event coordinator Mr Paul Grover said. Mr Edwards will tell his story and perform for the students between 11am and 12noon.