Two graduates due to attend this week’s ceremonies at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will receive the University’s highest academic honour, the Charles Sturt University Medal, for their outstanding achievements. Mr Aidan Luke, who works for Defence Materiel in Canberra, will receive the medal when he graduates with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with Honours Class 1 from 10.30am on Thursday 2 April. Mr Benjamin Lloyd from Wagga Wagga will be joined by his parents when he receives the medal for his Bachelor of Information Technology with distinction. He will also graduate from 10.30am on 2 April. Mr Lloyd is continuing his studies at CSU in 2009 by completing an Honours year. Almost 2 000 graduates are eligible to receive their awards from the CSU Faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Science during six ceremonies, on Wednesday 1, Thursday 2 and Friday 3 April at Wagga Wagga. Read more here.  

While rain water may be free, drinking it may not be risk free, says one Charles Sturt University (CSU) researcher. Dr Andrea Crampton, a microbiologist with the CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society, said while drinking water supplied to cities and towns is treated and routinely monitored for bacteria and other potential contaminants, the water drunk by most rural residents living on properties is not monitored and detection and prevention is left in the hands of the consumer. “Drinking water harvested from roofs, bores, dams or rivers could pose health risks to those who rely on it,” said Dr Crampton, who is part of a research team currently testing water from self-managed sources for bacteria and other contaminants. As part of the study, which is running around Wagga Wagga in April and May, participants will be sent a water test kit consisting of a survey, collection bottles, instructions and cooler bag with ice pack to keep water cool. Participants will also be contacted for a telephone interview. Anyone interested in participating in the study and having drinking water tested for free please contact Dr Crampton on (02) 6933 4032 or send an email.

The Federal Government has finally got the plan right for the National Broadband Network (NBN) according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) adjunct researcher Mr Peter Adams. Mr Adams, who has studied household broadband adoption for the past seven years, said today's announcement by the Rudd Government that it would form a public-private partnership to build the NBN is the best outcome from what has been an issue poorly managed by successive governments."Having the Commonwealth control the building of such important national infrastructure will ultimately achieve the best outcome for broadband users by ensuring there is clear separation between the provider of the cables and the commercial companies who compete to service consumers.” The researcher from CSU's Centre for Research in Complex Systems warned the Rudd Government now has a big job: it will manage the building of the network, and needs to convince households they will be better off under the proposed NBN. "Research conducted at CSU in 2008 showed householders are not convinced they should spend their income on higher speed broadband.  Clear information must be provided to consumers about the benefits of NBN services."

Melbourne artist Mr Warren Lane has been named the winner of the 2009 Casella Art Prize at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery. Judge and Head of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Visual and Performing Arts, Associate Professor Margaret Woodward, selected Lane’s work, The Accidental Activist to win the $2 500 Casella Art Prize for Excellence in Painting. "The exhibition's theme of urban and built environment has an important role to play in how we understand and reflect the places we inhabit, visit and construct,” said Professor Woodward. “Skilfully executed and very firmly set in an urban environment, Lane's painting invites us to consider the tension between the natural and built environment and to be mindful of the natural world in contemporary urban life.” Now in its fourth year, the Casella Art Prize aims to support new, emerging and established artists within Australia. The exhibition will run at the Griffith Regional Art Gallery until Sunday 26 April.

Key problems facing Australian horticultural production from climate change have been well documented. In a seminar at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre (NWGIC) at CSU at Wagga Wagga, researcher Dr Andrew Hall will focus on the impacts for the Australian wine industry.  “Reduced availability of irrigation water, increased pests and diseases, particularly fruit fly, reduction in grape quality and value, and changes to the profitability of other crops are factors that will impact the industry,” said Dr Hall. A NWGIC research fellow, Dr Andrew Hall will present the seminar, Effect of potential climate change on Australian wine-grape growing conditions on Wednesday 15 April.  Current work at the NWGIC involves improving temperature index forecasts for the wine industry. This is being done through improving the estimation of growing season start dates, forecasting temperature index ranges and extreme heat events, and determining which climate models best fit individual wine regions.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NSW State Water and former Murray Irrigation Ltd CEO, Mr George Warne will present his views on the future for water at a seminar to be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga on Thursday 16 April. Mr Warne’s talk, entitled Where to in water?, will outline the challenges and trends facing the industry, emerging external issues and why the future holds promise. “With the Murray Darling Basin and water resources dominating the national debate and the political agenda, the water industry is in the midst of a period of profound change,” said Mr Warne. The International Centre of Water for Food Security (IC WATER) at CSU holds monthly seminars with national and international water experts invited to discuss the emerging issues and policies dealing with sustainable management of water resources for food security.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) expert in animal fertility is confident his recent visit to Italy will foster new links and help solve mutual problems in breeding quality bulls. CSU Professor of Veterinary Reproduction Peter Chenoweth was guest speaker at a Master of Dairy Production Medicine symposium conducted by the University of Perugia, Umbria. “It allowed us to establish collaborative networks between academics and industry in Australia and Italy, based upon mutual problems and complementary expertise,” said Professor Chenoweth. “I also inspected the National Association of Italian Beef Cattle Breeders Central Genetics Centre and observed the future sires of the iconic Italian breeds, Marhigiana, Chianina and Romagnola. These animals represent an invaluable genetic resource, not only for Italy but also for the rest of the world.” Professor Chenoweth and an Italian colleague are pursuing funding opportunities for reciprocal collaboration for research in livestock fertility.

The ‘gothic’ subculture in the Riverina will be explored by Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Mr Chris Orchard during a talk about his exhibition at the Museum of the Riverina in Wagga Wagga on Saturday 18 April. A photography lecturer with the CSU School of Visual and Performing Arts, Mr Orchard is the curator of the exhibition Memento Mori: Gothic Subculture in Regional Australia. He is also a member of Wagga After Dark, a collaboration of young artists with an interest in gothic subculture. Clothing, jewellery, music, film and photographs have been contributed to the exhibition.

Building confidence and skills in over 20 000 Charles Sturt University (CSU) students since 1988 has been the driving force for the CSU team behind STUDY LINK. The team, based in the CSU Division of Student Services at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst and Wagga Wagga, has been named the recipient of the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Programs that Enhance Learning 2008. STUDY LINK is a program to prepare CSU’s diverse student population for tertiary education. Since its inception in 1988, over 23 000 students have enrolled in the program. “The STUDY LINK team aims to build confidence, skills and knowledge in a supportive environment in preparation for University study,” said team leader, Ms Liz Smith. “The contribution Liz and her team make to support the aspirational achievements of socially, geographically and educationally diverse students who have applied to CSU over many years is both well known and well respected,” said Associate Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor Jo-Anne Reid.