A free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Tuesday 19 August will explore the science of cultural heritage. The lecture is by Professor Tim Wess, the Executive Dean of the CSU Faculty of Science. Professor Wess has a background in biophysics and international research in historical and archaeological artefacts, including the change in molecular structure of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Domesday Book. He says the documents, objects, artwork and remnants of everyday life that have defined our society and culture are at risk of being lost due to the continual molecular changes that occur with ageing. "The study of these changes, and what we can and need to do to protect our future, form the basis of cultural heritage science," Professor Wess said. "This discipline also can tell us more about the provenance, history, and origin of artefacts that goes beyond the surface and visual information from objects such as paintings, sculptures and manuscripts. In the lecture I will describe the new and exciting techniques, projects and challenges of understanding the changes that pose a threat to keeping our history, and how information can be retrieved from documents which were thought to be lost to the ravages of time." The lecture is part of the Explorations Series. Read more here.

Staff at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo will be acknowledged for outstanding service with the presentation of annual awards on Wednesday 13 August. The 2014 CSU Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence, and Faculty and Division awards, aim to strengthen professionalism and reward staff for their commitment to the University and its mission. CSU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Andrew Vann, said, "As an institution committed to advancing the public good, Charles Sturt University relies on and acknowledges the dedicated service of its staff to achieve its goals. It is important that the University recognises the many individuals and teams whose innovative and sustained contributions benefit our students and regional communities. This is a welcome celebration of the University community's efforts." The Vice-Chancellor's awards include categories for excellence in leadership, sustainability, innovation, performance, teaching and research. The Faculty and Division awards recognise improvements in workflow, knowledge and understanding, cost-savings, work to enhance the student experience, and building the service culture at the University. A full list of the awards can be found here.

Indigenous education advocate Professor Jeannie Herbert AM has been appointed as the new Head of Campus at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo. Professor Herbert, who is based in Dubbo, is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education) and Foundation Chair of Indigenous Studies, positions she will continue to hold. "Professor Herbert has many years' experience in community engagement and is passionate about providing greater access to education for Aboriginal people," said CSU Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann. Professor Herbert said her key priority is building quality relationships between the University and the diverse community in the Dubbo and western regions of New South Wales. "Open and meaningful engagement with all these groups, will not only grow Charles Sturt University's capacity to deliver quality programs that reflect the learning needs of the communities it services, but will also increase the numbers of students from those communities, including Aboriginal students, successfully getting what they want out of their tertiary education," she said.  Professor Herbert replaces Dr Beverley Moriarty as Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo. "I would like to acknowledge and thank Dr Moriarty for her outstanding leadership of the Dubbo Campus over the last five years," said Professor Vann. Read more about Professor Herbert here.

The people of Warren and Nyngan can help develop a better way of accounting for the social impacts of new projects or natural disasters through research being undertaken at Charles Sturt University's (CSU) Institute for Land, Water and Society.  PhD candidate Ms Jenni Greig is seeking participants to complete a survey that aims to gather simple information to assess whether we can anticipate how major changes affect a community. "I hope this study can help develop future government policies, particularly those that affect rural and regional Australians," Ms Greig said. "We can anticipate how major changes will affect the local environment or local economy, but decisions are often made with little information on what is really important to people, and how their lives might be affected. Not everyone will be affected in the same way by a major change, so it is important to get a whole picture of various opinions in a community." Ms Grieg and two CSU researchers will be in Warren and Nyngan from Tuesday 1 July until Monday 7 July, going door-to-door to distribute the survey to residents. "Through this survey, you can make a difference to the way changes in regional communities around Australia are viewed by decision makers," Ms Grieg said.

'The Good Life; what makes a life worth living?' is the topic of a free public lecture by Dr Hugh Mackay at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Tuesday 24 June. Dr Mackay is a psychologist, social researcher, commentator and author whose career has involved the close examination of Australians about their values, motivations, ambitions, hopes and fears. The Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, said, "Charles Sturt University in Dubbo is delighted to be hosting an Exploration Series lecture by Dr Hugh Mackay. There is already strong interest in this public lecture." The public lecture will challenge the popular obsession with the pursuit of personal happiness and our striving for 'perfection' in our lives. Based on an exploration of the idea of 'goodness', Dr Mackay will argue that the good life is not the sum of our security, wealth, or level of happiness, but is defined by our capacity for selflessness, the quality of our relationships, and our willingness to connect with others in a useful way. This free public lecture is at 6 pm, Tuesday 24 June at CSU in Dubbo, and is part of the CSU 2014 Explorations public lecture series.

A US entrepreneur and business leader will meet academics and Aboriginal business leaders at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo on Friday 30 May. African-American author and business leader Mr Clifton Taulbert is the guest of the CSU Faculty of Business. His Dubbo visit is part of a brief tour to highlight the current Australian Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship research being conducted by CSU. Dr Michelle Evans, senior lecturer in leadership at the CSU School for Management and Marketing, said, "The University aims to advance the development of Australian Indigenous leadership and entrepreneurship, and Mr Taulbert has extensive US experience to share with his audience in Dubbo. His presentation, 'Dual Initiatives: Building Community and Entrepreneurial Thinking', will explore how his life was nurtured and changed by ordinary people using the 'Eight Habits of the Heart' in the process of building community. He saw the personal impact of business ownership on people who were entrepreneurs even though they may not have been familiar with that term." Mr Taulbert's presentation starts at 12.30pm Friday 30 May.

A video about the 2011 re-enactment of the 1965 'Freedom Ride' in western NSW will be screened in Dubbo on Tuesday 27 May. Mr John Nolan, community relations officer in the Office of Indigenous Affairs at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo said, "The original 'Freedom Ride' played a significant role is advancing Indigenous rights in Australia. This is a wonderful opportunity for people to come along and see this free screening of an historic re-enactment, Freedom Ride 2011 - The Documentary. Afterwards, guests can meet some of the people who were present when the bus visited Dubbo in 2011 as part of its journey." The screening is at 10am Tuesday 27 May at the Dubbo RSL Club Theatrette in Brisbane Street, Dubbo.

Teacher education students will read to school children at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo as part of the 14th National Simultaneous Story Time on Wednesday 21 May. Students studying the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) at the CSU School of Teacher Education will read Too Many Elephants In This House by Ursula Dubosarsky to approximately 71 Year-1 students from Orana Heights Public School in-step with thousands of students across Australia. Ms Anne McLeod, Faculty of Education acting Director, Professional Experience Unit and Transition Coordinator (Dubbo), and coordinator of the event at CSU said, "The National Simultaneous Story Time initiative encourages more Australian children in grades F to six to read and enjoy books. Our first-year Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) students need to contribute to community engagement as part of their course, and the National Simultaneous Story Time is a great opportunity to do this." The reading will take place in the CSU library (Interactive Learning Centre, building 901) at 11am Wednesday 21 May. Orana Heights Public School students will arrive at 10.15am and conclude their visit at 11.45am. Education students from TAFE Western's Dubbo College have been invited to attend also. As part of the NSW government's Great Teaching, Inspired Learning, partnerships are been brokered between schools and universities. Each CSU campus where teacher education is taught has organised Professional Experience Advisory Boards to engage in educational discussion and support for the community in which they exist.

The risks of driving while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs. or while tired, are being brought home to students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) during a drug awareness campaign until Friday 6June. Organised by the University's Health Promotions Service, the campaign involves parking damaged motorbikes and cars at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga. Health Promotions Officer at CSU Ms Coleen Pearce said, "These vehicles, which are on loan from local businesses, have been sign posted and cordoned off. They aim to show students what can happen if they drink and drive or take drugs and get behind the wheel. The awareness campaign supports the Plan B road safety campaign."