Charles Sturt University (CSU) is seeking ideas from the community of Wagga Wagga and surrounding districts on how the Riverina Playhouse could be used to benefit community groups and businesses. CSU invites members of the public to discuss their ideas or thoughts fon the recently re-opened Playhouse at a drop-in session at the theatre in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 21 May. Executive Director of the CSU Division of Facilities Management Mr Stephen Butt said, "We're looking forward to talking with the public and hearing their suggestions. "It has great practical advantages such as parking on the doorstep, ideally located in the heart of the city," he said. "It is well maintained and recently underwent a $200 000 cosmetic interior and exterior renovation. The space would no doubt benefit a variety of local groups or businesses." The Playhouse re-opened at the end of April after it was closed in 2012 to make way for Wagga Wagga City Council's remediation of the nearby old gasworks site. The facility is home to the University Theatre Ensemble in the CSU School of Communication and Creative Industries. If you have a suggestion of how the Riverina Playhouse can be better used outside of university and teaching commitments, drop in to the theatre at 8 Cross Street, Wagga Wagga, on Thursday 21 May, between 2.30pm and 7.30pm to chat to one of the CSU representatives.

Historian and author Adjunct Professor Bill Gammage AM returns to his hometown of Wagga Wagga on Thursday 14 May to present a free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) on his 2011 book, The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia. Professor Gammage is a historian at the Australian National University's (ANU) Humanities Research Centre. His book explodes the myth that Australia was an untamed wilderness before 1788 and reveals a complex, country-wide system of land management used by Aboriginal people. It included the use of fire and life cycles of native plants to ensure food supplies throughout the year. Professor Gammage attended Wagga Wagga High School before studying at ANU and lecturing at universities in Papua New Guinea and Adelaide. He is also the author of The Broken Years: Australian Soldiers in the Great War and was an advisor on the 1981 film Gallipoli. He has written and edited several books. In 2005 Professor Gammage was made a Member of the Order of Australia. The public is welcome to attend the free lecture, The Biggest Estate on Earth, from 6pm in the Swan Theatre, building 12, near car park 4, Tooma Way, CSU in Wagga Wagga. The lecture is part of the University's Explorations Series.

Is the stability and cohesiveness of our communities under threat? That's the question posed by social researcher and author Dr Hugh Mackay in a free public lecture hosted by Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 1 May. Dr Mackay argues that we need communities, but communities also need us. "Humans are by nature social creatures, so we rely on co-operative communities to nurture, sustain and protect us," said Dr Mackay. "But those communities don't just happen and they don't necessarily survive, they too have to be nurtured, sustained and protected." Dr Mackay examines some of the social changes that threaten the health of local neighbourhoods and communities, while exploring whether online communities are the new way to belong. The Art of Belonging lecture is part of CSU's Explorations Series and will be held at the Riverina Playhouse, Cross Street, Wagga Wagga 6pm to 7pm followed by light refreshments. People can register to attend here.

The Executive Dean of the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Faculty of Science, Professor Tim Wess, has presented annual awards to leading students in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 9 April. Professor Wess presented awards to students who have excelled academically in the Faculty's School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences School of Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry and Health Sciences, and School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health. Among those to be recognised was first year oral health student Mr Hrishikesh Apte, who attended the ceremony with his wife (pictured). Mr Apte received two Dean's Awards as well as The Orthodontics Wagga Wagga Dr Neil Pinto 1st year Prize. The Dean's Awards and Prizes for the 2014 academic year will be presented across the University in April and May. Read further dates here. See more photos on CSU Facebook page here.

Approximately 10 million international viewers will tune in to watch a Charles Sturt University (CSU) PhD student on his journey to find a home in Wagga Wagga. Mr Wade Kelly, originally from Edmonton Canada, is currently completing his PhD in information technology with the Faculty of Education. He has moved to Wagga Wagga with his husband and has enlisted the help of the North American television show House Hunters International to help them find a home in the regional centre. "Wagga deserves a little bit of press," Mr Kelly said. "Its location is great and there is a vibrant community."House Hunters International followed Mr Kelly around Wagga Wagga for six days and it is expected that approximately 10 million people will tune in to watch the episode when it airs in the U.S. and Canada later this year.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) weed scientist and a passionate advocate for sustainable agriculture, Professor Deirdre Lemerle is retiring as Director of the Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation. Professor Lemerle has been the Centre Director since its inception ten years ago and before that spent 25 years with the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Wagga Wagga. Reflecting on her tenure, Professor Lemerle said the alliance between CSU and the NSW DPI has fired-up research to improve the profitability and productivity for agriculture. "There's a great team of scientists at the Graham Centre and we have developed partnerships with farming systems groups to ensure that our research is needs driven," she said. "I've also enjoyed working on projects to improve farming overseas, particularly Asia." Professor Lemerle's research has included non-chemical weed management and increasing crop competitiveness with weeds. She was awarded the Council of Australian Weed Science Societies Medal for Excellence in Weed Science in 1998, and the CSU Vice-Chancellors Award for Research Excellence to Allelopathy Research Group 2000. A morning tea to farewell Professor Lemerle will be held at the CSU Convention Centre at 10am on Friday 20 March.

About 100 students from the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Study Centres in Sydney and Melbourne will descend on Wagga Wagga this week. The trip from Wednesday 18 to Friday 20 March will enable the students, many of whom are international students, to see and experience a major CSU campus. "Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga has been hosting annual campus visits for Sydney and Melbourne Study Centre students since 2012," said team leader from CSU's Office for Students, Mr Chris Roche. "It's an opportunity to participate in social sports, campus tours and social events." The visit will include an Indigenous welcome, CSU wine tasting and a range of sports including soccer, volleyball, badminton, tennis and basketball. They are also due to meet with members of Rivcoll Student Representative Council. The CSU Study Centres in the two capitals are operated in conjunction with Study Group Australia. The Study Centres offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in accounting, business and information technology.

The range of technology careers open to school students will be on display when the Big Day In is held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 12 March. There will be range of exhibitors and more than 300 high school students will hear from business leaders and CSU academics from 9am to 2.30pm in the University's Joyes Hall. A national initiative of the ACS Foundation, the Big Day In is hosted by CSU Faculty of Business. Course Director in the School of Computing and Mathematics Mr Jason Howarth said, "This event offers regional students an opportunity to hear about the great careers available in technology. Speakers from industry will talk about everything from IT cadetships to how to become an entrepreneur. Students will also get the chance to discuss career options with companies such as Microsoft, the Westpac group, and WiseTech global." Find the full program for Big Day In here. Information about IT, computing and mathematics programs available at CSU can be found here.

Students from Western Illinois University (WIU) in the USA will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga as part of a week-long trip to the Riverina next week. The 13 students are studying animal science, agriculture and horticulture at WIU. The students, accompanied by CSU Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe and WIU's Professor John Carlson, will tour Wagga Wagga on Monday 16 March before visiting CSU on Tuesday 17 March where they'll meet staff and students from the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences from 12 noon to 1.30pm. They'll visit the CSU Farm and the University's equine and veterinary science facilities. The itinerary also takes the group to a cattle stud at Kyeamba, rice farms, an orchard and winery in the MIA, a merino stud at Carrathool, and Shear Outback at Hay. They will meet the Deni Ute muster team at Deniliquin. Professor Wolfe said, "This latest visit continues the relationship of understanding and cooperation in agricultural studies between Western Illinois University and Charles Sturt University. We began cooperation in 2009, and since then there have been several visits in 2011 and 2013. In addition, agricultural science students from both institutions have completed semester-long study abroad programs, adding to their university experience."