The latest in student accommodation at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will be on display during an Open Day on Wednesday 19 February. The new $17.6 million accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students includes 152 beds with ensuites, and living and learning spaces such as kitchen and laundry facilities. Director of the University's Residence Life, Mr David Griffin, said, "The new student accommodation development at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga has been designed as a showcase for future undergraduate and postgraduate students requiring on-campus accommodation. It ensures an environment that provides outstanding student experiences and captures the vibrancy of campus life. The University has identified a need for such accommodation as a way to attract and retain undergraduate and postgraduate students." The Open Day will be held from 4pm to 5.30pm and will include a brief welcome from Residence Life and tours of the new complex. Through Residence Life, CSU in Wagga Wagga offers 1 178 beds on campus in a range of accommodation. Read more here. New students return to CSU in Wagga Wagga during O Week from Monday 24 February.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Regional Archives is commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Queen's visit to Wagga Wagga on 13 February 1954 with an exhibition of records from the Royal Tour by Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh. The records include photographs, commemorative items, and a 15 minute film of the visit. Archives Manager, Mr Wayne Doubleday, said, "145 Minutes in Wagga: The 1954 Royal Tour reflects on the huge impact the visit made on the city and the large crowds that turned out from across the Riverina to catch a glimpse of the Royal couple's short, but action-packed tour of Wagga Wagga." The exhibition is open until Monday 31 March in the foyer of the University's Regional Archives, Blakemore Building, South Campus, College Avenue in Wagga Wagga. The Archives is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Further information is available on the Archives' blog, On Record, here.

A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate from Wagga Wagga has been invited to show her jewellery designs in an annual exhibition for new and emerging artists in Canberra. Ms Sarah Adcock graduated last December with a Bachelor of Arts (Jewellery) from the University's School of Communication and Creative Industries. Her designs are featured in the Emerging Contemporaries exhibition at the Canberra Craft and Design Centre. The exhibition, involving 12 artists described as the 'next wave of Australia's design talent', runs from Thursday 13 February to Saturday 29 March. Ms Adcock is exhibiting a series of her pendants which explore issues of gender, sexuality and identity. "I hope my designs speak for themselves as they explore my experience of going into, living in and coming out of the closet," Ms Adcock said. "While my work relates to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and other queer people, I hope there is a message of hope for anyone who has had to reveal something difficult or has felt isolated or invisible in their lives." Read more about the artist and CSU graduate on the Canberra Craft and Design Centre site here.

Higher School Certificate (HSC) chemistry students will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) for a series of laboratory activities and information sessions from Monday 17 to Thursday 20 February. The HSC Chemistry Days are organised by the University's Faculty of Science as part of an outreach program which includes work with students, teachers and Indigenous communities. Approximately 226 HSC students are drawn from NSW schools in Albury, Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga, Young, Narrandera, Corowa, Tumut and Forbes, and will have an opportunity to interview the scientists about their work. Another daily highlight will be a 'Magic Show' hosted by academics from the University's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences in the National Life Sciences Hub from approximately 1.30pm to 2.30pm.

The Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery will begin the 2014 grape harvest in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 12 February, with winemaker Mr Andrew Drumm expecting a quality vintage despite the recent hot weather. Mr Drumm said the harvest had been brought forward because of the hot spell, but the weather hadn't hurt the quality of the fruit. "We'll pick Muscat and Shiraz to begin with, and the volumes will probably be a little down on previous years," he said. "But the past three or four years have been challenging because we've had late rain, and we've had to really pick and choose the fruit we've used to make the wine. This year it looks like we'll be able to use almost all the fruit we pick." CSU Winery produces about 100 tons of fruit a year in its vineyards at Wagga Wagga and Orange, and last year produced about 10 000 cases of wine, marketed as Charles Sturt Wines.

It is a positive start to 2014 for Charles Sturt University (CSU) wine science and viticulture student, Mr Nicholas Schirripa. He has been named the winner of the Graham Thorpe Memorial Scholarship, a national award from the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Foundation (RASF) as part of the Sydney Royal Wine Show. As part of the scholarship, the CSU student is a steward at the Show this week. Mr Schirripa, from Griffith, is studying a double degree through the University's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences in Wagga Wagga.  Mr Schirripa said, "I am grateful for the guidance and support of my lecturers during my studies. I am hoping to do Charles Sturt University proud at the judging at the Sydney Royal Wine Show." In his final year of study, Mr Schirripa is an assistant winemaker and viticulturalist at Casella Wines in the Riverina. The Sydney Royal Wine Scholarship is an initiative of the RASF and the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show.

The Mayor of Wagga Wagga, Councillor Rod Kendall, will this week formally welcome to Australia five new Charles Sturt University (CSU) students from developing countries. The students have secured Australia Awards Scholarships from the federal government to study at CSU in Orange and Wagga Wagga from 2014. The mayoral reception will be held from 3pm Thursday 6 February, upstairs at the Civic Theatre, Burns Way in Wagga Wagga. The five students from Ghana, Lesotho, Nigeria, South Africa, and Vietnam will study either the Master of Animal Science or Master of Sustainable Agriculture. Until the start of on-campus classes on Monday 3 March, the students will participate in an Introductory Academic Program to familiarize themselves with life and study in Australia. They will also participate in the University's week-long Orientation 2014 from Monday 24 February. The University's senior learning skills advisor, Dr Peter Butler, said, "These six Australia Awards scholars have the ability to use their new knowledge to bring change in their countries. This is the first year that four scholars will have come from Africa."

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will welcome children, their families, and staff into a new $4 million child care centre from Wednesday 22 January. The Early Learning and Nurture Centre (EL+NC) accommodates up to 56 children who will be cared for in five classrooms, each tailored to different age groups – from birth up to five years old. Centre Director Ms Megan Isaac said, "We are thrilled to have a truly magnificent purpose-built building which will allow us to provide the highest quality care and education." The opening coincides with the first early childhood education course to be offered at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Early Childhood Lecturer with CSU's School of Education  Ms Sheena Elwick said the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) graduates will be accredited to teach from birth to 12 years old making them highly employable. "The new Early Learning and Nurture Centre at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga will be one of many centres students can apply to for their professional experience while studying their degree," she said. "Occasional visits may also be arranged as part of classes for students to see the practical and real-time application of the content they are learning".

Charles Sturt University (CSU) researchers are looking for people with high blood glucose levels to take part in a clinical trial based in Wagga Wagga. The research through the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga is investigating whether olive leaf extract can help prevent pre-diabetic patients from developing this debilitating disease. "Evidence shows that antioxidants may slow the development of Type 2 diabetes, and olive leaf extract shows very high levels of some antioxidants," said CSU PhD student Mr Muhammad Kamran, who is hoping to recruit people to take part in a three-month clinical trial beginning in January. "We need people who have high blood glucose levels but have not yet been diagnosed with diabetes. It's also important that these people are not taking diabetes medication," he said.  People interested in taking part in the trial can contact Mr Kamran by email.