Agricultural science student Ms Helen De Costa is ending her first year at Charles Sturt University (CSU) doing what she loves – promoting Hereford cattle. She is one of two CSU students named as finalists in the 2014-2015 Herefords Australia Youth Ambassador program. The Bachelor of Agricultural Science student from the NSW Southern Highlands is secretary of the reformed Southern Hereford Youth Group. Ms De Costa said, "As a Youth Ambassador with Herefords Australia I will be involved in promoting the breed by participating in sales, youth events, shows and also providing and education event for the youth of the breed to take part in. The Hereford breed is one that I think will go a long way in the future. One of the main reasons that I like the breed is because of its quiet temperament, that suitability to most markets, along with the longevity, structural and carcase traits and the mothering ability and calving ease that the breed has to offer."  Ms De Costa was also a joint recipient of the CM Hocking Memorial Scholarship through Herefords Australia in 2014. Bachelor of Animal Science student Ms Emilie Lyons is the second CSU student to participate in the national program. A total of four finalists will compete for the title of Ambassador of the Year at the Herefords Australia Youth National Heifer Show in Bathurst in July 2015.

New research into understanding how human DNA works will be explored when award winning mathematical scientist, Professor Terry Speed, presents a public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Thursday 25 September. A principal research scientist at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Professor Speed has more than 40 years of experience in statistics, specialising in the design and analysis of studies in genetics and genomics. "Scientists have now mapped the human genome. The next frontier is to understand human epigenomes; the instructions which tell the DNA whether to make skin cells or blood cells or other body parts," he said. Professor Speed has recently been awarded the 2014 CSIRO Eureka Prize for Leadership in Science and in 2013 he won the Prime Minister's Prize for Science. The free public lecture is part of CSU's Exploration Seriesand is being held in conjunction with the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute. It will be held from 6 pm at the Wal Fife Lecture Theatre, building 14, near car park 4, off Tooma Way at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga are being urged to make use of their odd socks for a good cause. Organised by Health Promotion Officer in the Office for Students, the Sock It To Suicide campaign aims to raise awareness of suicide. As part of the campaign, odd socks will be hung on lines erected at two locations at CSU in Wagga Wagga from Friday 19 September to Friday 17 October. Health Promotion Officer Ms Coleen Pearce said suicide is the leading cause of death amongst 15 to 24 year olds. "It's frightening to think that suicide accounts for one in four deaths among young people. The idea of the 'Sock it to Suicide' line is to raise awareness of these high statistics, increase discussion on this topic and possibly help combat this high suicide rate," she said. The lines have been placed on Darnell Smith Drive between car park 1 and car park 2, and on the corner of Valder Way and Pine Gully Road at CSU in Wagga Wagga. Read more about Health Promotion at CSU in CSU News here.

Pharmacy students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will go out into the local community on Thursday 25 September to promote their future profession. The students from the School of Biomedical Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga will be at the Summit Discount Pharmacy in Wagga Wagga for World Pharmacists Day 2014. The theme for this year's event is 'access to pharmacists is access to health'.  World Pharmacists Day is an initiative of the International Pharmaceutical Federation. "We appreciate the support for our enthusiastic students," said Pharmacist-in-charge at Summit Discount Pharmacy , Ms Pamela Cochrane, who is also a CSU pharmacy graduate. "The pharmacy students and staff will talk to members of the public about the value of pharmacists in the community," Program Leader of Pharmacy at CSU, Mr George John said. "Supervised by a qualified pharmacist, the students will provide Pharmaceutical Society of Australia's Self Care Facts Cards to members of the public." The students will be at Summit Discount Pharmacy at 46 Baylis Street, Wagga Wagga.

Students from Bathurst and Wagga Wagga will represent Charles Sturt University (CSU) at the Australian University Games for the first time in the sport of sailing. Second year paramedic student Ms Kaela Sparre, originally from Sydney, is leading a team of six women in competition over three days starting Tuesday 30 September at the Georges River Sailing Club in Sydney. "I have sailed all my life and I wanted to go to the Uni Games and other university competitions and get my friends and other Charles Sturt University students involved in the sport," Ms Sparre said. "We are really not sure what to expect because half of our team, the skippers, are experienced while the other half, the crews, are beginners. Personally, I just want to beat my sister's team from the University of Technology, Sydney." The competition will see students sail in small dinghies from the Pacer class provided by the Georges River Sailing Club.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) students Mr Timothy Morley-Sattler and Miss Meg Parsons will represent Australia in meat judging competitions in the United States in January. The students, from CSU's School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences in Wagga Wagga, were named in the five-member national Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ) team after an industry training workshop in Brisbane earlier this month. Mr Morely-Sattler is studying a Bachelor of Animal Science and is looking forward to learning more about the American meat industry. "Taking part in the ICMJ program enables me to gain a better understanding of the practical side of what I am learning in my university studies and greatly improves my knowledge of the industry," he said. The Australian meat judging team will depart in early January for a four-week industry tour of the US where they will compete in three competitions. The annual competition is organised by the ICMJ Association to highlight careers in the meat industry and provide hands on training in carcass evaluation and meat science. Read more about the annual competition held at CSU in July here.

It will be a chance to reminisce and see how study has changed over the past 50 years when former students from the Wagga Agricultural College visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 19 September. Head of CSU's School of Agriculture and Wine Sciences Professor John Mawson will welcome the class of 1964 before they tour the School, University farm and Winery Cellar Door. Reunion co-organiser Mr Neil Sowerby said most of the 32 graduates went on to successful careers in agriculture. "The broad foundation of practical and theory provided balance for those farming or serving the agricultural industry. Apart from the Diploma we also learnt how to communicate and get along with others, while the beer consumption was a side benefit," he said. "We're looking forward to catching up as many have retained strong friendships developed at the College during those formative years." The Wagga Agricultural College was formed in 1948 at what is now CSU in Wagga Wagga and is one of the preceding institutions to the University.

Students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga, Orange, Port Macquarie and Wagga Wagga will put comfort aside in sleep outs during September to raise money for the not-for-profit organisation, Street Swags. Supported by CSU's Office for Students, the students are supporting Swagtember and the purchase of street swags for people unable to find accommodation. Students are being encouraged to register with Swagtember and get sponsored to spend a night away from home. A range of activities have been organised to keep students entertained throughout the night including music, karaoke, movies, a pillow fight tournament and a barbecue breakfast. The sleep outs will be held from 7.30 pm to 7.30 am starting: - Thursday 18 September, HeBrews Cafe, Munster Street, CSU in Port Macquarie. An outdoor cinema will show three movies during the sleep out.- Thursday 18 September, The Hub, building 20, CSU in Wagga Wagga.- Tuesday 23 September, Learning Teaching Hub, building 754 at CSU in Albury-Wodonga. A free soup dinner will be provided by the Uniting Church group from 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm followed by a guest speaker from Youth Emergency Services to talk about local youth homeless. A Zumba class will be held on Wednesday 24 September from 6.30 am followed by a barbecue breakfast.-  Wednesday 24 September, Templers Mill Bar at CSU in Orange.

A series of events have been organised at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga to celebrate 2014 NSW Bike Week from Sunday 13 September to Sunday 21 September. Organised by CSU Green, the free events include daily Movie Showings and Rides to Campus at CSU in Bathurst on Tuesday 16 September, CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Orange and Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 17 September and CSU in Dubbo on Thursday 18 September. Free breakfasts will be held on campus following the rides. Read the full program of events on the CSU Green site. Further information is available from Ms Nicola Smith from CSU Green on (02) 6933 4863 or email csugreen@csu.edu.au. NSW Bike Week is held annually to celebrate the joys of cycling.