The latest developments in crowdfunding and how it's being used to support research at universities will be addressed during a free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 28 September.Hosted by the University's School of Information Studies, Crowdfunding Research: Because it Takes a Village to Fund the Answers, will be presented by Professor Deb Verhoeven from Deakin University from 11.30am to 12.30pm at the National Wine and Grape Industry Centre.CSU Professor of Information Studies Lisa Given said, "Professor Verhoeven spearheaded crowdfunding of research in Australia."In 2013, she was named 'Most Innovative Academic in Australia' by Campus Review, so what better person could speak to us about innovative approaches to research funding?"Professor Verhoeven started a cutting edge collaboration between her university and the crowdfunding platform, pozible.com, to pilot the financing of research at the university.Her presentation is free and open to members of the community.Professor Verhoeven, who is Chair of Media and Communication at Deakin University, will also speak on Downunder on Movies Downunder at Nerd Nite at the Union Hotel in Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga from 7.30pm on Thursday 29 September. Read more here.

Students from the School of Communication and Creative Industries at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga have captured the sounds of a live orchestra under the guidance of international sound designer, Dr Damian Candusso.The orchestra, from the Riverina Anglican College (TRAC) in Wagga Wagga under the baton of Ms Clare Brassil, performed a number of pieces in the University's television production studios while CSU students recorded the sounds using the latest technologies.Dr Candusso, a senior lecturer in sound and multimedia at CSU, said, "This live orchestral recording in Charles Sturt University's recording studio had many benefits."It's rare for the Charles Sturt University students to have access to an orchestra, and the TRAC students were able to perform in the state-of-the-art university facilities," Dr Candusso said."I hope this live orchestral recording is one of many new initiatives between the School of Communication and Creative Industries and the wider community."The students were involved in the recording as part of their degrees, the Bachelor of Stage and Screen and the Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design.Dr Candusso is a multi-award winning sound designer. He has extensive industry experience in music, television and numerous feature films including The Lego Movie, The Great Gatsby, Happy Feet 2, Sanctum, The Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ha'Hoole, Daybreakers, Australia and Happy Feet.  In 2017, CSU will offer a Bachelor of Stage and Screen (Sound Design) and a Bachelor of Creative Arts and Design (Sound Design) through its School of Communication and Creative Industries in Wagga Wagga."These new sound design specialisations at Charles Sturt University will allow students to explore all aspects of sound design including, film, television, games, virtual reality, theatre, music technology and more," Dr Candusso said.

Primary school children will take a fresh look at the scientific and technical aspects of agriculture when they visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga as part of AgriHack Grain on Friday 16 September.Agrihack is an initiative of the Regional Grants, Tenders and Corporate Services (RGTC) group, supported by CSU's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences. The event aims to support regional innovation to enhance agriculture.More than 30 children from small schools in Collingullie, Ladysmith, Tarcutta, Kapooka and Uranquinty will visit CSU to learn about soil structure at the grain trial sites, checking seed viability in the laboratory and will undertake a computer coding session.Professor of Food Engineering at CSU, John Mawson said, "The aim is to encourage the students to think about the technology, research and development that supports our agricultural industries and the role they might play in the future of this exciting industry."Charles Sturt University has a long tradition of agricultural education and of innovative research to support our primary industries. Our support for the Agrihack is an example of how the University shares that expertise with the wider community."CSU's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences offers a range of degrees in agricultural science, agribusiness management, horticulture, wine and viticulture, wine business and wine science. Read more here.

A group of engineering students from Iwate prefecture in northern Japan arrives at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga for a week of cultural exchange and English language enrichment from Monday 22 to Friday 26 August.Mr David Gilbey, adjunct senior lecturer in English in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences, has organised the visit and program with Professor Yoshihiko Hatakeyama of the National Institute of Technology Ichinoseki (NITI)."The aim of the program is to give Japanese students an understanding of Australian university life by staying on campus, and provide them with a range of experiences of life and culture in and around Wagga Wagga," Mr Gilbey said."Highlights will include touring and using some of the specific facilities at Charles Sturt University as well as visits to museums, art galleries, the botanic gardens, saleyards, shopping, farm and factory visits at Junee and Wantabadgery. It is intended that this exchange program will motivate and focus the students' study of and skills in English by designing short language tasks that arise out of their experiences here."

Author and social researcher Dr Hugh Mackay AO will examine the thorny issue of how we find meaning and purpose in our lives when he delivers public lectures in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga this month.The latest in the CSU Explorations Series, Dr Mackay's lectures will discuss the themes from his new book, Beyond Belief: How we find meaning, with or without religion.  He'll explore the changing role of religion in Australia and the ways we search for spiritual direction in a society where traditional religious faith and practice are in sharp decline."While our attachment to a traditional idea of God may be waning, our desire for a sense of meaning remains as strong as ever," Dr Mackay said.In the lectures, he'll identify some of the factors that have driven people away from organised religion, and examine the rise of the "spiritual but not religious" movement.Dr Mackay is an honorary Professor at CSU and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University in 1995 recognising his contribution to our understanding of Australian society during his long career as a psychologist and social researcher.Beyond Belief is his seventeenth book. The lecture at CSU in Albury-Wodonga will be held from 6 pm on Monday 15 August at the CD Blake Auditorium, building 751, room 104, near car park 2, off Elizabeth Mitchell Drive in Thurgoona.The lecture in Wagga Wagga will be held at 6 pm on Tuesday 16 August at the CSU Riverina Playhouse, 8 Cross Street in Wagga Wagga.

It's being called a 'Yarn Up' by a team of Charles Sturt University (CSU) postgraduate students seeking the views of the Narrandera Aboriginal community on local health services.As part of their studies, three Master of Health Services Management students have organised the Narrandera Community Yarn Up from 6.30pm on Wednesday 10 August in the local Ex-Serviceman's Club.The students are working as a consultancy team for the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD).Student Ms Anna Feiss said "The Yarn Up is an opportunity for the Narrandera Aboriginal community to tell us their personal stories about health care and services in the area."It is a chance for community members to raise any ideas they may have to improve services."The Yarn Up is open to members of the Narrandera community with particular emphasis on Aboriginal people as well as local community service providers.  Lecturer in Health Services Management Dr David Ritchie said, "This is the third successive year health services management students have undertaken consultancy work for the Murrumbidgee Local Health District and the second year it has focused on Indigenous health."Indigenous health was chosen as a long standing and complex area of health disadvantage, and the Charles Sturt University students should be better prepared than most to make a difference in Closing the Gap."The Yarn Up is being organised online as the students work full-time while studying with Charles Sturt University part-time.He said, "This is a year-long commitment by students to one project. What is also significant is that the project will be ongoing, with a further team of students expected to continue in 2017."The stories from the Yarn Up will be used in the students' final report to MLHD.Ms Feiss said, "The 'Flipping the Focus' report will highlight positives changes which the health authority can make to improve Aboriginal health in the local area."As a team, we believe this project can have a positive impact on the lives of the Narrandera Aboriginal community."For further information about the Narrandera Community Yarn Up, please contact Ms Feiss on 0438 441 262 or anna.macca@yahoo.com.au

Agriculture employers will come together with more than 300 potential employees at a student-led careers fair at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 27 July.The annual Approaching Ag Careers Fair provides an opportunity for students from CSU's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences to meet with industry professionals and agricultural organisations."This year more than 35 agricultural businesses, research organisations and industry groups will be represented," said Ms Emily Saker a Bachelor of Animal Science student and one of the organising committee."The fair is not just an important networking opportunity for the students, it's also an opportunity for employers to engage early with quality graduates."Students will also get to hear about life after study from CSU alumni Ms Ashley Norvel, manager of technology, adoption and industry capability at Australian Pork Limited, and Ms Vanessa Warren an agronomist at Delta Agribusiness at Coolamon.The Approaching Ag Careers Fair is from 4pm on Wednesday 27 July at Joyes Hall at CSU in Wagga Wagga. More information is available on Facebook.

Expertise in frogs and managing frog diseases has brought Ms Dillian Nason from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga and Albury-Wodonga.The biologist, who is an intern with PNG's Institute for Biological Research, is learning methods to help her identify new species of frogs from the New Guinean 'cloud' forests.These methods will also allow her to diagnose the deadly chytrid fungus disease, which is the greatest threat to cold-climate frogs worldwide.Dr Andrew Peters, from the CSU School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, said PNG is one of the most biodiverse places in the world and depends heavily on local agriculture and wildlife for food, culture and tourism."PNG is home to seven million people who are heavily dependent on agriculture and wildlife, but its capacities to investigate and manage animal health is among the lowest of any country," Dr Peters said."To address this shortage, the School has now trained nine PNG scientists in animal health, including Ms Nason, in addition to educating one of PNG's first female veterinary students."Ms Nason is currently completing an Honours degree in Biology with PNG's University of Goroka.

High school students from the Riverina will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Monday 27 June for a youth forum on developing a long-term vision for the region.Organised by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and CSU, the forum will focus on the draft Riverina-Murray Regional Plan which outlines a 20-year vision.The Plan is on public exhibition until Thursday 21 July and outlines goals for the economy, transport, planning and the environment.During the forum in the CSU Convention Centre, local students from years 11 and 12 will be asked what think about the Riverina-Murray region and their top five priorities for its development.Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew will open the forum at 10am.Feedback from the students will be considered when preparing the final Riverina-Murray Regional Plan.