Photography students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) are putting their creativity, skill and talent on display with an exhibition of large-scale photography at the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery. f4 is the culmination of study for the  final year Bachelor of Arts (Photography) and Master of Arts Practice (Photomedia) students. Photography and digital imaging lecturer in the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr James Holcombe said a diverse range of photographic styles and subject matter are on show. “This exhibition celebrates the accomplishments of all the students, and broadcasts their success to the wider community,” he said. Previous graduates of the CSU Bachelor of Arts (Photography) course have been successful in several national photographic competitions, including finalists in the National Photographic Portrait Prize.

Work has been conducted on the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Farm in Wagga Wagga to improve the space for native fauna and flora. Earlier this year, CSU signed what is known as an incentive Property Vegetation Plan with the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) as part of the CMA’s Climate Change Corridors Project. Under the plan, two native vegetation corridors have been created on the University’s farm. Between May and July, preparation works were undertaken at the two sites including ripping of the ground to allow water to penetrate deep into the soil profile and to enable adequate root development, the spraying of weeds along the rip lines and the construction of hundreds of metres of new fencing to prevent stock from trampling the new plantings. Then in mid-August, approximately 3 500 native trees and shrubs were planted in the two corridors. Acting Energy Manager at CSU, Mr Chris O’Connor said, “As these plants establish themselves over the coming years, these native vegetation corridors will significantly enhance local biodiversity. They will also support Charles Sturt University’s target of having 20 per cent of our land allocated to biodiversity by 2015.”

People can sift through the evidence, look for clues and help solve a hypothetical murder at a master class run by Charles Sturt University (CSU) at the Australian Education Fair in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on Saturday 15 October. The class, titled ‘Who killed Elmo: a forensic biotechnology investigation’ is designed to showcase the role of a scene of crime officer, just one career path for students undertaking a Bachelor of Forensic Biotechnology  through CSU in Australia. Program leader for the Bachelor of Forensic Biotechnology, Dr Thiru Vanniasinkam said the class is a mock forensic biotechnology investigation. “It is a light-hearted way to give people some idea of what happens in a forensic laboratory. We work with fingerprint dusting powder, go through the evidence and come up with conclusions,” she said.  “By the end of the class people will not only know who killed Elmo, but they will have more information about the programs offered at Charles Sturt University.”

The premiere of the production, Human Geography by Australian playwright Mr Finegan Kruckemeyer will be held in Wagga Wagga on Saturday 8 October. The play, commissioned by Charles Sturt University (CSU), ‘entwines the stories of many lives through the meanderings of the flooded Murrumbidgee River’. Human Geography is directed by Ms Kim Hardwick, lecturer with the School of Communication and Creative Industries at CSU in Wagga Wagga, for the University Theatre Ensemble (UTE).  Ms Hardwick said, “We are delighted that Finegan will attend the premiere of his play in Wagga Wagga on Saturday. He wrote the new Australian work for Charles Sturt University and developed the play with our acting students. This has been an amazing opportunity for them.”  The play premieres at 7.45pm on Saturday 8 October at the Riverina Playhouse in Cross Street, Wagga Wagga and runs until Saturday 22 October. Tickets range from $12.50 to $24 and can be purchased from the Civic Theatre booking office on 02 69269 688 or at the door.

The 45th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan in Vietnam on Thursday 18 August will have special meaning for a group of final year Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in Wagga Wagga.  The anniversary, which is now known as Vietnam Veterans Day, comes after a recent visit to the battle site by students.  Bachelor of Agricultural Science students from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga visit the Long Tan memorial site in Vietnam in July each year during their annual two week agricultural study tour of the Southeast Asian nation. “It is an emotional day,” said CSU lecturer Dr Condon. “We walk students through the events of the 1966 battle. They are the same age as the Australian soldiers who fought at Long Tan and we take 18 students, the same number of Australians who died during the battle.” CSU student Ms Bek Ricketts of Robertson said, “Visiting Long Tan was one of the most moving experiences of my life. Being able to walk in the footsteps of such incredibly brave young people was truly amazing." Dr Condon said, “The students leave the site having a greater appreciation of our Vietnam veterans; it is a powerful and worthwhile part of our trip to Vietnam.”

With the Australian carbon tax on the horizon, Charles Sturt University (CSU) will provide an international perspective on how businesses can effectively account for their energy costs with a presentation on Wednesday 3 August. Professor Ulrich Nissen, from the University of Applied Science in Germany, will give a presentation on accounting for energy costs. Event organiser Dr Dianne McGrath with CSU’s School of Accounting and Institute for Land, Water and Society said Australian companies acknowledge they need to account for current and future energy costs. “This is where accounting professionals can assist. Business managers and accountants will need to develop skills and qualifications in energy cost management for now and especially the future, issues Professor Nissen has recently addressed by modifying university teaching in accounting in Germany,” Dr McGrath said. Professor Nissen’s presentation will commence at 9am until 11am on Wednesday 3 August via video conference in the Business Faculty building, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona.

The Importance of Irrigated Agriculture to Global Food Security is the title of a free seminar in Wagga Wagga by world-leading research agronomist, Professor Kenneth G Cassman. The public lecture will be held from 8.30am on Wednesday 27 July at the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) Wagga Wagga Agricultural Institute. Professor Cassman is being brought to Wagga Wagga by the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (AIAST) in association with the EH Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation – an alliance of Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW DPI. Strategic Research Professor at CSU, Len Wade said, “Professor Cassman is a leading agronomist from the USA, a strong advocate of, and very influential in, the field of crop agronomy research. He has published widely and is eminently qualified to discuss the vital challenge facing the world, global food security.”  As a Professor of Agronomy at the University of Nebraska, Professor Cassman is also the chairman of the standing panel of international scientific experts known as the Independent Science and Partnership Council of the Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research.  

The Equine Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will take centre stage during a tour on Friday 24 June. At the invitation of the Head of Wagga Wagga Campus Mr Adrian Lindner, a number of Wagga Wagga City Councillors and Council staff will tour the University’s equine science facilities from 12.30pm. The tour will be led by equine lecturer with the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU, Mr Hunter Doughty from 12.30pm at the 3 000 square metre indoor arena, one of the largest facility of its type in the southern hemisphere. Mr Lindner said, “We welcome the opportunity to showcase our first class equine and veterinary science facilities at Charles Sturt University to our local government representatives. It is also an opportunity to again highlight a plan for an equine precinct adjacent to those existing facilities and to foster the collaborative and economic development relationship between Charles Sturt University and Council.”

Several hundred Riverina teenagers will immerse themselves in English literature in all its forms during the Higher School Certificate (HSC) English Study Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Friday 17 June. The annual event is designed to provide local high school students with information, scholarship and strategies on some of the HSC English texts and topics for this year’s HSC exam. Organised by the English Teachers’ Association and staff in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, the program provides lectures, workshops and panel discussions on both Advanced and Standard English. Presenters include regional high school teachers, CSU staff, and students undertaking degrees towards high school teaching. Mr David Gilbey, adjunct senior lecturer in English from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said, “It’ll be a full day, with up to 800 students due to attend the event. I am hoping the students will also enjoy their glimpse of Charles Sturt University’s facilities and our learning environment.”