Candlelight vigils will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst and in central Wagga Wagga later today, Thursday 16 June to remember the victims of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in the USA.In the first event at 5pm on the CSU library lawn in Bathurst, the CSU student club, the Queer Collective, will host the vigil. From 7pm in Wagga Wagga's Victory Memorial Gardens, members of the University student club, Momentum have joined with Wagga Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays (PFLAG) to host another vigil.Members of the local communities are invited to attend both events to show their support and respect for the Orlando victims and show solidarity with the LGBTIQA community.People are asked to bring a candle.

Over 600 high school students and teachers from across the Riverina region will attend the annual HSC English Study Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 24 June.Mr David Gilbey (pictured), adjunct senior lecturer in English in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the coordinator of the HSC English Study Day, said 40 lectures, workshops, and discussion panels will be presented on texts and topics being studied by Standard and Advanced English students for the 2016 HSC."The day's focus will include poetry, prose, drama, film, techniques, writing skills, and exam tips – from William Shakespeare and Henry Lawson to contemporary Indigenous and multicultural perspectives," Mr Gilbey said."For students it is an opportunity to get another perspective on the work they're concentrating on for the HSC, and for teachers it's a professional development occasion."English teachers and academics are such word wizards, I hope the day will shine with verbal magic," he said.The sessions will run from 9.30am to 2.20pm and will be presented mostly by teachers of English from regional high schools and academics from CSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences.Students and teachers will come from as far as Tumut, Yass, Yanco, Leeton, Junee, Culcairn, Gundagai and Temora, as well as from Wagga and surrounds.The HSC English Study Day is organised by the Wagga Wagga Branch of the English Teachers Association, in association with CSU's School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Booranga Writers' Centre.

Almost 200 agriculture, primary industries and science students from across the Riverina will converge on the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation in Wagga Wagga on Friday 10 and Friday 17 June for the annual Science and Agriculture Enrichment Days.Since the event's inception in 2006, high school students have received an insight into the work of agricultural and veterinary scientists.It gives student's hands-on experience working with researchers from Charles Sturt University (CSU) and NSW Department of Primary Industries in four 45 minute workshops.With the current skills shortage in agriculture escalating, this day provides a great opportunity for students to see science in action, encouraging them to consider a future career in the agricultural supply chain.This year students will participate in hands on workshops looking at lamb production and management; the rise of superbugs; the health benefits of rice and insights into careers in agriculture.The workshops will be held in the University's National Life Sciences Hub and the CSU sheep-yards. The Graham Centre is an alliance between CSU and NSW DPI.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) has again been recognised for its efforts to help the environment by winning a regional award for excellence in sustainability.The Wagga Wagga Business Chamber's annual Crow Award for Excellence in Sustainability was awarded to CSU for its initiatives aimed at reducing the University's carbon footprint.The sustainability initiatives, coordinated through CSU Green, include the adoption of the Learning in Future Environments (LiFE) as part of the CSU Strategy, the annual Sustainability Grant program, and initiatives to reduce University waste, cut energy use, improve local biodiversity and encourage staff and students into environmentally friendly transport.  The latest CSU Green initiative is the purchase of electric cars for CSU in Bathurst and Wagga Wagga.CSU Green Manager Mr Edward Maher said, "Environmental sustainability is a big part of the Charles Sturt University ethos of 'acting for the public good'."The University places great importance on being a valued contributor to the regional communities in which we operate so it's particularly rewarding to be recognised by the Wagga Wagga business community through this Award."The award was accepted by Mr Maher during the Golden Crow Awards' presentation ceremony on Friday 13 May.

The memory and generosity of two passionate advocates for regional higher education will be honoured at the annual scholarship ceremony at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.The annual ceremony, starting at 4.30pm on Thursday 19 May, will celebrate the academic achievements and endeavours of more than 100 students enrolled in business, arts, education and science courses at CSU in Wagga Wagga.This year, the event will hold special significance as CSU Foundation Trust welcomes the receipt of a bequest of over $3 million from Carole and Stan Droder.Another new donor is the CSU Bushpigs Football Club, providing a scholarship to help a gifted footballer succeed at both academic and sporting endeavours. The new scholarship is partially funded from the generous donations received from the Club's supporters and former players.Other local businesses and organisations will also present scholarships to deserving students to assist them in their studies.CSU Foundation administers over 300 scholarships annually, 73 of which will be presented at the ceremony in Wagga Wagga.CSU will award more than $1.2 million in scholarships in 2016 to help students reach their full potential.

Veterinarians at the frontline of animal health and biosecurity are building their skills in pathology and diagnosis at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga this week.Senior lecturer in veterinary pathology at CSU's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Dr Panos Loukopoulos says the five day course aims to help improve livestock health surveillance by enhancing the investigative and reporting skills of government field veterinarians."These vets work with farmers throughout the state and are likely to be the first to detect or diagnose outbreaks of diseases of economic or biosecurity importance," said Dr Loukopoulos."Charles Sturt University is pleased to be involved in the continuing education of vets and to build networks of people working in our rural communities."The course from Monday 2 May to Friday 6 May is one of three sessions held at laboratories across the state for field vets, mostly from Local Land Services and almost 50 veterinarians have been trained since the course began in 2009.It is a collaboration between CSU, the University of Sydney, Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI).

Australian author Don Watson will talk about his new award-winning book, The Bush: Travels in the heart of Australia during free public lectures at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga and Wagga Wagga later this month.As part of the University's Exploration Series, Mr Watson will discuss his work of memoir, travel writing, history and social critique.The Bush won the Indie Book of the Year in 2015 and the 2015 NSW Premier's Literary Award. It was published in September 2014 by Penguin AustraliaMr Watson is the writer of acclaimed articles, essays and books, including Recollections of a Bleeding Heart: Paul Keating Prime Minister, Death Sentence, Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words and American Journeys.In 2010, he was awarded the Phillip Hodgins Memorial Medal for Australian Literature. His website, Weasel Words documents 'management-speak' and the demise of the public language.The first lecture will be held from 6pm on Tuesday 26 April at the CSU Riverina Playhouse, Chruch Street in Wagga Wagga.Then from 6pm on Wednesday 27 April, Mr Watson will deliver a lecturer at the CD Blake Auditorium, building 751, CSU in Thurgoona.The lectures are free and the public is invited to attend.

High achieving students in the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Faculty of Science will be honoured with awards from the Executive Dean Professor Tim Wess as well as prizes during six ceremonies over the next few weeks.The first of the ceremonies is on Wednesday 30 March from 2:30 to 4:00pm at CSU in Albury-Wodonga and the rest continue through April and May at CSU in Bathurst, Dubbo, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga.Professor Wess presents Dean's awards for students who have achieved a grade of Distinction or High Distinction in all subjects.The awards and prizes include students from a range of degrees including agricultural business management, agricultural science, paramedics, nursing and midwifery, science, animal science, veterinary science, clinical science, health science, pharmacy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, physiotherapy, dental science and oral health.For a full list of Faculty of Science Dean's Awards ceremonies read here.

The first of four 2016 writers-in-residence at the Booranga Writers' Centre at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga has been announced.Adjunct senior lecturer in English in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Wagga Wagga Mr David Gilbey has confirmed that Mr Paul Daley (pictured) will be the first 2016 writer-in-residence."Paul Daley writes about Indigenous history, Australian culture, and national identity for Guardian Australia," Mr Gilbey said. "He has won a number of journalism prizes including two Walkley awards, the Paul Lyneham award for political journalism, and two Kennedy awards."Paul is also a novelist and his first novel, Challenge (Melbourne University Press 2014), has been well received. Through the protagonist Daniel Slattery, who Daley describes as 'a cross between Mark Latham and Holden Caulfield', Challenge examines problems associated with the dysfunctional and transparent lives politicians lead," Mr Gilbey said. Mr Daley takes up his residency at Booranga Writers' Centre on Monday 28 March, and will present a public reading at the Historic Council Chambers in Wagga Wagga from 5.30pm to 7.30pm Tuesday 29 March. He will also present a seminar in the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences current seminar series on Thursday 31 March, and a workshop at Booranga Writers' Centre on Saturday 9 April. Mr Daley is keen to work with Indigenous people while at Booranga, and will explore and draw inspiration from the wider Riverina region during his residency.The next three Booranga Writers' Centre writers-in-residence for 2016 are Ms Jena Woodhouse, Ms Helena Pastor, and Mr Mohammad Ahmed.