* CSU social entrepreneurship course for 35 future female leaders * Course will focus on how to use STEM skills to solve ‘wicked problems’ * Students will be inspired by local women in STEM and entrepreneurshipThirty five female high school students will participate in a two and a half day social entrepreneurship course at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 June.CenWest Innovate program coordinator Ms Christine Sweeney, said “CenWest Innovate at Charles Sturt University has partnered with Young Change Agents to present the course for which will focus on how these future female leaders can use STEM skills to solve ‘wicked problems’ of the group’s choosing.“A 2017 evaluation report ‘Social Enterprise in Schools’ shows that these kinds of programs can put young people in the driver’s seat for developing 21st century enterprise and collaboration skills, attitudes, and behaviours.“Students are being prepared for further education and employment in the future, shifting their mindset from job seeker to job creator through a hands-on business experience.“At the end of the course, groups will pitch their social enterprise ideas to a judging panel. The students will also get to meet some inspiring local women in STEM and entrepreneurship throughout the course of the program.”Special guests include Ms Zoe Hida (Appiwork), Ms Sally Palmer (WabiSabie), Ms Rachel Nicoll (Hartley Branch President, NSW Farmers Association), and Ms Stacey Whittaker (Bathurst Real Estate) who have agreed to act as judges of the pitches on the final day.Four Bathurst high schools have registered teams of five female students (aged 13 to 18) to participate in the program. The schools are The Scots School, Mary Mackillop College, All Saints College, and Denison College (Kelso campus).The program is supported by CSU School of Management and Marketing, CSU Future Moves and the NSW Government through Women NSW.

* CSU Engfest to host Questacon’s Byte Wise travelling exhibition in Bathurst * A range of fascinating and interactive scientific experiences * Exhibition explores computational thinking, programming, algorithms, patterns, irrational numbers, measurement, geometry, logic, and problem solving. * Will inspire and build understanding of computational thinking and its everyday useHow do you give instructions to a computer? A new traveling exhibition at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst from Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 June will explore the thinking behind the technology we use every day.The CSU Engineering Engfest event will host a range of fascinating and interactive scientific experiences as part of the Byte Wise travelling exhibition created by Questacon, the National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra.Suitable for ages 10 and over, the Byte Wise exhibition explores key themes of computational thinking, including programming, algorithms, patterns, irrational numbers, measurement, geometry, logic, and problem solving. Byte Wise will inspire visitors’ curiosity and confidence, and build greater understanding of both how computational thinking works, and how it’s used in everyday life.Director of CSU Engineering Professor Euan Lindsay (pictured) said, “CSU Engineering is focused on opening our doors to the community, to connect students − of all ages − to the relevance of their current studies to the real world, demonstrate the role of future engineers, and celebrate the difference that human-centred engineering makes every day”.With hands-on exhibits like The Game of Nim, visitors can match a mechanical computer in a battle of wits. While they devise their winning strategies, they’ll also learn about early programming, and how to physically implement logic and decision-making in mechanical computers.“We are really excited to host the Byte Wise exhibition and look forward to seeing the community enjoy all of the activities on offer,” Professor Lindsay said.“The Questacon exhibit is a highlight of ‘Schools and Community Day’ at this year’s Engfest. In addition to Byte Wise, our student engineers’ projects will be exhibited, there will be tours of the building, ‘maker space’ lab demonstrations, and information sessions for prospective students on the day.”The Byte Wise Exhibition will be on display as part of Engfest which runs from Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 June. For the full Engfest program and to register for sessions go to https://www.csu.edu.au/engfest/program

* Packed 3-day program from 5-7 June celebrates engineering * Includes 17 sessions from professional development, industry links, information sessions for prospective students, to an interactive Questacon exhibit * Free public lecture by Ms Fiona Nash titled, ‘Regional Australia – A Positive Future’The Charles Sturt University (CSU) engineering program will host the annual Engfest at their award-winning facilities in Bathurst from Tuesday 5 to Thursday 7 June.Engfest is a three-day CSU Engineering event that brings together industry, educators and the community to showcase the works of the engineers of the future, and to discuss and celebrate regional engineering.Director of CSU Engineering Professor Euan Lindsay (pictured) said, “This is the third year that CSU Engineering will host Engfest, and the three-day program is packed with activities. We are excited by the diverse line-up of engineering events, presentations, and professional development sessions.“Engfest aims to reach all corners of the engineering community, from a lateral-thinking 10 year-old at our Questacon exhibit, to a regional engineer interviewing for Chartered status.“Engfest provides an opportunity for our region to connect to CSU Engineering and learn more about the role of engineering.”This year’s program incorporates 17 different sessions over the three days. Highlights include professional development for high schools teachers and industry, prospective student information sessions, an interactive Questacon exhibit, and a Regional Growth Forum facilitated by NSW Rural Women of the Year, Ms Jillian Kilby.“The centrepiece of Engfest is the student exhibition,” Professor Lindsay said. “At the exhibition our first- and second-year student engineers display their major projects. First-year projects are part of the Engineers Without Borders program, where student engineers have developed solutions to authentic environmental and community problems faced in Cambodia.“The second-year student engineers will present solutions they have developed for real clients. These include developing carbon neutrality solutions for Taronga Zoo, establishing a waterway for a local Wiradyuri community, and developing a vandal-proof water bubbler for schools, plus more.”On Tuesday 5 June (former Senator) Ms Fiona Nash will present a free public lecture titled, ‘Regional Australia – A Positive Future’.There will also be tours of the CSU Engineering building, Maker Space lab demonstrations, and the Engfest Celebration Dinner on Thursday 7 June.Professor Lindsay said, “A highlight of the three days is when the new cadet engineers are presented to their industry hosts. Our industry partners come from across the state to attend host training at Engfest, then they officially receive their cadets for the 2018-19 year.”Visit the website to register for sessions and purchase tickets for the Engfest Celebration Dinner (Thursday 7 June): www.csu.edu.au/engfestSee the full Engfest program here: https://www.csu.edu.au/engfest/program

* CSU to boost ABC stargazing world record attempt on Wednesday 23 May  * CSU will host ‘Star Parties’ in Port Macquarie, Bathurst and Wagga Wagg * Aiming to beat previous 2015 world record of 7,960 stargazers in 37 locationsCharles Sturt University (CSU) will host three ‘Star Parties’ as part of the ABC’s Stargazing Live Guinness World Record Attempt for ‘Most People Stargazing Across Multiple Venues’ on Wednesday evening 23 May.CSU will host events in Bathurst, Port Macquarie, and Wagga Wagga.Acting Head of Campus of CSU in Bathurst Mr Peter Fraser said, “Charles Sturt University in Bathurst is delighted to co-host a Star Party as part of the ABC’s Live National Guinness World Record Attempt, for the ‘Most People Stargazing Across Multiple Venues’.“This will be a family-friendly fun event, and everybody is welcome to come along and take part in this world record attempt.”“This event is open to the community and free to attend, but you must register.”In Bathurst: 7pm to 10pm at historic Abercrombie House, 311 Ophir Road, Stewarts Mount, Bathurst.To register: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/bathurst-observatory-and-abercrombie-house-star-party-tickets-45881208931

* Australian comedy play Cosi by Louis Nowra at the CSU Ponton Theatre in Bathurst from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 May * Madness, burning cats, Mozart, and a play within a playOne of Australia’s popular comedy plays, Cosi by Louis Nowra, will be performed by third-year Charles Sturt University (CSU) theatre/media students at the Ponton Theatre in Bathurst from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 May.Presented by CYCLE Productions and the School of Communication and Creative Industries, Cosi explores mental illness, politics, love and sex and freedom, begging the question – “What is normal?”.The synopsis: It is 1971. Lewis (played by Gareth Thompson), a university graduate, is directing his first production at a mental institution in Melbourne. Faced with the challenge of bringing Mozart’s opera Cosi Fan Tutte to life, he must work with a group of extraordinary characters, under unexpected circumstances. Through all this, Lewis must navigate the boundaries between love, loyalty and trust to get this show on the road.Cosi is directed by CSU lecturer Dr Kate Smith, with assistant directors third-year students Ms Sophie Fitzgerald and Ms Madeline Whittaker.“Madness, burning cats, Mozart, and a play within a play. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, but no matter what, the show must go on!” Dr Smith said.Cosi will be performed nightly at 7pm from Tuesday 22 to Saturday 26 May as well as a matinee performance at 1pm on Saturday, at the Ponton Theatre (building 1434), Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst.Tickets can be purchased via Trybooking.com: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=377842&High School Special = $8, Student/Concession = $10, Adults = $15Please note: This show contains coarse language, sexual references and drug references. Parental guidance is recommended.

* Hundreds of central west senior high students to attend careers advice day at CSU in Bathurst * Dozens of local, state and national organisations will advise studentsThe annual 2018 FACTS Day for senior high school students in the central west will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 4 May.CSU prospective student adviser Ms Melinda Negus (pictured) said, “The day provides an excellent opportunity for students in their final year to gather information and speak to higher education and advisers from numerous universities and employers.“Our experience over many years shows students appreciate this opportunity, and it helps guide them in their study and career choices.”Participating organisations include TAFE, Verto Ltd, Orana Fashion, the Australian Defence Force, the Universities Admissions Centre, the NSW Police Force, the University of Sydney, the University of Wollongong, the NSW Department of Industry – Training Services, and the Commonwealth Department of Human Services.There will be two morning sessions, and one concurrent speaker session during each session. The speaker is from the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) and will explain the university application processes.The 2018 FACTS Day will be held at the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220) at CSU in Bathurst on Friday 4 May: Session 1, 10.30am to 11.30am, and Session 2, 11.45am to 12.45pm.Participating central west high schools include:Denison College Bathurst High and Kelso High (Bathurst), Cowra High School, Orange High School, Molong Central School, MacKillop College (Bathurst), Canowindra High School, Blayney High School, Yeoval Central School, Oberon High School, Canobolas Rural Tech School (Orange), Kandos High School, All Saints College (Bathurst), The Scots School (Bathurst), La Salle Academy (Forbes), St Stanislaus College (Bathurst).

A leading international philosopher will present a free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 27 April.Professor David Archard, the Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (UK), will deliver the free public lecture.As part of the CSU ‘How to Live Well’ Series, Professor Archard's lecture titled ‘Senior Citizens: Rights, Duties and the Old’ will examine the rights and issues affecting older Australians.Outlining his lecture Professor Archard (pictured) said, “It is all too easy to think of the old within our society as the beneficiaries of collective care at the inequitable expense of others and at the same time as possessed of civic rights – such as that of voting - that are exercised to the detriment of the interests of those who will outlive them.“Yet while we do have duties to the old, there is reasonable disagreement as to the value of longer lives and the place of old age within these.“Such disagreement can only be resolved by political deliberation.“The right to vote should not be accorded only on the basis of a principle of affected interests.“Moreover, the senior citizen has a particular status, perhaps not one as the repository of accumulated wisdom, but as that of our collective memory,” Professor Archard concluded.The free public lecture is from 6pm to 7.30pm on Friday 27 April in room 223 in building 1292 (near car park 7) at CSU, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst.The presentation will include a discussion, followed by light refreshments. Please register your attendance by Tuesday 24 April here.

An information MyDay for students in Years 11 and 12 and their parents will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 20 April.The MyDay will focus on courses available for study at CSU in Bathurst for subjects taught in the School of Communication and Creative Industries.CSU prospective student adviser Ms Melinda Negus (pictured left) said, “It is a great opportunity for students and parents to check out facilities, and to have their questions answered about what it’s really like to study at Charles Sturt University and find out about the exciting careers available with a degree from the School of Communication and Creative Industries.“There will also be plenty of opportunities to meet academics, current students, and support staff to get all the information you need about studying at the University.“Parents are also more than welcome to join the MyDay and we will have dedicated information sessions for parents while the students are engaging in projects using our facilities. It’s never too early to start preparing for the exciting journey that lies ahead,” Ms Negus said.The MyDay is free but those interested to attend will need to register: https://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/unilife/social/campus-events/myday/register?event=2733 For more information about MyDay contact Ms Negus on 6338 6030 or mnegus@csu.edu.au

Charles Sturt University (CSU) co-hosts the annual Science and Engineering Challenge in Bathurst and Orange next week for more than 300 Year 9 and 10 students from 11 schools across the region.The students will battle it out for a place at the State Super Challenge by building bridges, wiring cities, creating Mars rovers, constructing earthquake-proof towers, and building a bionic hand.CSU Professor of Engineering Euan Lindsay said the CSU Engineering program was inspired to sponsor the Challenge in Bathurst and Orange, as well as Wagga and Young, to ensure the experience was more accessible to regional students.“We take every opportunity to showcase the impact that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) professionals have on everyone’s life, from the design of buildings, through to the system that stores and delivers clean water to a community,” Professor Lindsay said.“Over the next five years, employment is predicted to increase in technical services, professional, and scientific careers by 14 per cent. With STEM graduates in Australia making up only 18 per cent of the entire graduate cohort, the Science and Engineering Challenge inspires students to work in STEM careers. It does this by providing a STEM experience that is very different to their school classroom.”The Science and Engineering Challenge encourages students to explore scientific principles for themselves rather than being guided to a pre-determined answer. The Challenge further aims to encourage students in Year 10 to consider a future career in science and engineering by choosing to study the enabling sciences and mathematics in Years 11 and 12.The Science and Engineering Challenge is presented by The University of Newcastle in cooperation with Charles Sturt University and local Rotary and Lions Clubs.The Science and Engineering Challenge at CSU in Bathurst will be hosted at the CD Blake Auditorium (building 1220, the Gym) on Wednesday 21 March. The Challenge in Orange will be hosted by James Sheahan High School on Friday 23 March.