The popular 'Nerd Nite' presented by Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student Mr Wade Kelly is back for its second season and fifth main stage event in Wagga Wagga on Thursday evening 17 March.Mr Kelly (pictured) is a PhD candidate in the CSU School of Information Studies in Wagga Wagga and he described Nerd Nite as "like Discovery Channel with beer"."The format is simple," Mr Kelly said. "People gather in a bar to watch three nerdy, and highly engaging, presentations on a range of topics, interspersed with trivia, games, and drinks. It's informative, entertaining and fun."For this fifth Nerd Nite in Wagga Wagga we'll have some special surprises to celebrate St Patrick's Day in style and, as always, three nerdy presentations and a drink or two."Nerd Nite was started in Boston in 2003, followed by an iteration in New York. It has since spread to over 90 cities worldwide. Mr Kelly helped establish Canadian iterations in Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Banff, and in Harare in Zimbabwe. He brought Nerd Nite to Wagga Wagga in 2015."Wagga Wagga is the smallest city in the world to host Nerd Nites, and most events are near sold-out, with audiences of about 120," Mr Kelly said.The three Nerd Nite presenters tonight include Professor of Information Studies at CSU, Professor Lisa Given (topic: All the World's a Text); Ms Simone Eyles (topic: Dreams are easy, execution is hard; the joy and heartache of being an entrepreneur), and Mr Peter Dickinson (topic: Siri! Make me a sandwich! Siri! Siri?). Find out more about the presenters and their presentations for Thursday 17 March, and previous events, here.Nerd Nite is an over 18 years adult general admission event held at The Union Club, 122 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga. Tickets are $10 pre-booked or available at the door; doors open at 7.30pm.

Regional high school students will hear how they can take advantage of the growth in technology jobs at a careers conference at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.More than 500 students will take part in the Big Day In, being hosted by CSU and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) Foundation at CSU on Thursday 17 March.Course Director at CSU's School of Computing and Mathematics, Mr Jason Howarth said, "The demand for information technology workers is expected to increase dramatically, with a recent report by PricewaterhouseCoopers suggesting that up to 44 per cent of Australian jobs, that's 5.1 million jobs, will be affected by computerisation in the next 20 years."A recent Australian Government labour market report also predicts strong jobs growth in the areas of computer programming, security, and networking professionals."Those trained in science and technology will be best placed to cope with this massive change and this event is a chance for students to hear from leading industry speakers," he said.Other exhibitors include WiseTech Global, Digital Careers, Westpac Group, Adobe, Tata Consultancy Services and Microsoft along with exhibitors from the Wagga Wagga region.CSU offers a Bachelor of Computer Science and Bachelor of Information Technology on-campus and online, with specialisations in the areas of programming, systems administration, network engineering, and games programming.

A touring event involving Charles Sturt University (CSU) scientific and engineering academics will challenge the scientific and engineering skills of around 1 000 school students across southern and central NSW in March. The national Science and Engineering Challenge, provides fun, hands-on activities for Year 10 high school students across Australia to consider studying science, engineering and mathematics at university. Organised in partnership with communities, Rotary clubs, universities and sponsors, four challenge days will include CSU scientists and engineers who will guide student teams in Bowral, Dubbo, Young and Wagga Wagga through a series of mathematical and scientific challenges. The day-long events highlight the importance and fun of science and engineering.  The Science and Engineering Challenge events will be held in Young on Tuesday 1 March, Wagga Wagga on Thursday 3 March, Dubbo on Monday 7 March, and Bowral on Tuesday 8 March.

Parasites and public health will be a key point of discussion when a Charles Sturt University (CSU) scientist meets federal politicians in Canberra next week.Senior lecturer in veterinary parasitology at CSU's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Dr Shokoofeh Shamsi is one of 200 scientists invited to take part in the 15th annual Science Meets Parliament on Tuesday 1 March and Wednesday 2 March.The event aims to build links between scientists, politicians and policy makers to inform discussion on scientific issues that underpin Australia's economic, social and environmental well-being."I'm interested in parasites that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Therefore I'm aiming to highlight significance of research on parasites in terms of public health and the sustainable growth of Australian industries and food products," said Dr Shamsi."Regional universities, like Charles Sturt University, play an integral role in producing graduates with the skills to deal with such an important issue."Over the two-day event scientists will meet with Members of Parliament and take part in professional development to help them engage with the policy making process.Dr Shamsi has been nominated by the Australian Society of Parasitology to attend the event.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host its first MyDay events for 2016 at Bathurst and Wagga Wagga on Friday 26 February.The MyDay program aims to give the students a taste of 'living and learning' at CSU.In addition to some practical activities with academics in the University's laboratories, the school students receive information about particular degree programs as well as scholarships, pathways to study and details about international study opportunities through CSU Global. They also get an opportunity to meet and hear from current CSU students.In Bathurst, about 30 students from schools in the central west and Wagga Wagga will learn about studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences.In Wagga Wagga, more than 80 high school students from throughout the Riverina as well as Canberra Girls Grammar, Karabar High School in Queanbeyan and Nowra Christian School will learn about three degrees – medical radiation science, medical science and nursing.The MyDay program runs from 10am until 2pm on Friday 26 February.

A second book of verse by Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic and poet Mr David Gilbey (pictured) will be launched in three locations – Sydney, Wagga Wagga, and Melbourne – in February and March.The volume, Pachinko Sunset, was written by Mr Gilbey an adjunct senior lecturer in English at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga."Writing and publishing poetry can be seen — financially-speaking — as a heroic task, fuelled primarily by passion and a fine sense of irony," Mr Gilbey said. "That's why the support of readers is so important!"My writing is both influenced by, and influences, my teaching English at Charles Sturt University. So whatever I'm teaching, from Beowulf through Paradise Lost to Patrick White and the literature of 'drugs and alcohol', for example the Beat poets of the USA, the 19th century hash poets from France, and the 'grunge' writers of urban Australia, it all affects my writing. I'm particularly influenced by confessional writers such as Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath, and, among Australian poets, Kenneth Slessor, Les Murray, Kate Llewellyn, to name but three from many."Like many contemporary poets Mr Gilbey writes mainly a kind of 'free verse' in which 'the line is the unit of semantic meaning', rather than more traditional forms of rhyming, rhythmically regular stanzas.Pachinko Sunset is published by Island Press, one of the oldest surviving Australian poetry presses, and he is one of the five 2016 Island Press poets.The Pachinko Sunset launches and readings are:Sydney, from 2.30pm Saturday 27 February, to be launched by Dr Peter Kirkpatrick at the Friend in Hand Hotel (upstairs), 58 Cowper St, Glebe;Wagga Wagga, from 2pm Saturday 5 March, to be launched by Dr Lachlan Brown at the Wagga Wagga City Library, at the Civic Centre, corner of Baylis and Morrow Streets; andMelbourne, from 2pm Saturday 19 March, with a reading at the Dan O'Connell Hotel (The Home of Poets) 225 Canning Street, Carlton.

An official commencement ceremony on Monday 22 February will mark the start of Orientation Week at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga for 2016.Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew will welcome the 900 new undergraduate students who will be studying on campus in Wagga Wagga and their parents during the ceremony from 10am in Joyes Hall.Orientation Week runs from Monday 22 February until Friday 26 February. It involves a wide range of academic, social and information sessions to help new students settle into university life.The commencement ceremony will be followed at 11am by the colourful Market Day near Joyes Hall.Highlights include the Official Commencement Ceremony, Market Day, Library Tours, social events including BBQs and live bands.  Students will move into their accommodation at CSU in Wagga Wagga from 12.30pm on Saturday 20 February.The full Orientation Week schedule is available here: http://www.csu.edu.au/oncampus/events/o-week/on-campusClasses for all new and continuing students start on campus from Monday 29 February.

The National Life Sciences Hub (NaLSH) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will take centre stage next week for regional high school students.The annual HSC Chemistry Days will be held from Monday 15 to Thursday 18 February in the University's science laboratories.More than 200 Year 12 school students from throughout the Riverina will participate in hands-on activities to enhance their understanding of the HSC chemistry syllabus.The students will perform titrations, undertake pH measurements and atomic absorption spectroscopy, interview CSU scientists and host a 'magic show'.Chemistry discipline leader Dr Celia Barril from the University's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences said, "The HSC Chemistry Days are organised by Charles Sturt University and the Eastern Riverina Science Teachers Association (ERSTA)."It's a great opportunity to help students who do not have access to the required material in their school. Students also conduct interviews with Charles Sturt University scientists and discuss study and career paths," Dr Barril said.CSU offers a Bachelor of Science on campus at Wagga Wagga or by CSU Online. Read more here.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga will host an information evening on Wednesday 17 February for parents of Higher School Certificate (HSC) students.The session aims to help equip parents with information about the process of applying to study at university.Hosted by CSU Prospective Student Advisor Mr Andrew Connell, the event will cover topics such as how the university application process works; ways parents can support their child through the application process; where to find information; and important dates.The event will be held from 6pm at the Commercial Club at 77 Gurwood Street in Wagga Wagga. Parents can register on 1800 334 733 or at the door.Similar parent information evenings are being held at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Orange and Port Macquarie.