> CSU launches its $100,000 Community-University Partnerships grants program for 2018.> Up to $20,000 available across five different categories to support our regions.> Launch at CSU in Wagga Wagga today. Online applications here.> Grants for projects across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous and discretionary grants for community initiatives. Grant money totalling $100,000 is now on offer from Charles Sturt University (CSU) for local communities following the launch of the 2018 Community-University Partnerships (CUP) grant program.Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew said, “The University is offering $100,000 in grants as an investment in the development of our regions.“Members of our local communities are encouraged to apply for the funding to support their local community groups and activities.“There’s funding from hundreds of dollars, up to a maximum amount of $20,000 in each grant category,” Ms Dayhew said.CUP grants are across five separate categories across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous, as well as discretionary grants to support small community initiatives.Launching in Wagga Wagga today, CSU also welcomed successful recipients from last year’s program to congratulate them on their success and for them to share with the community how they spent the grant they received.One of those was the small Uranquinty Pre-School which received funding through the CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program.Pre-School Director Ms Louise Grigg said, “The money enabled us to engage in three projects: Music from around the World; STEM Resources; and Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in the Curriculum.“As well as purchasing resources to support these projects, the Pre-school invited specialists including a musician, scientist and Aboriginal artist to engage the children in specific programs.“We would not have been able to do without the help of these grants. The CUP program has allowed us to achieved goals and outcomes for the children of Uranquinty Pre-School.”Ms Dayhew said, “Given that winter is just around the corner, we’ve opened the 2018 grant program with the Rural and Regional Sports Development round first and the other grant programs will open in a rolling fashion throughout the year.“Charles Sturt University has a long and proud tradition of supporting our communities.  The CUP initiative is all about the University supporting groups and organisations in Wagga Wagga and the surrounding region in achieving the goals,” Ms Dayhew concluded. BackgroundGrants are available from five different categories. The CUP Head of Campus Small Grants Program, CUP Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program, CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program, CUP Rural and Regional Indigenous Community Engagement Program and CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program.Online applications are now open for the 2018 CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program, with the other programs to follow. Further information, application packs and program guidelines can be found here.

Data: Future Solution or Problem?The use of data will be the subject of a free public forum hosted by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) digital learning innovation laboratory, u!magine in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 11 April.The panel discussion, being held from 5pm to 7pm, will focus on data, what it is, what it means and how it can be used to change the way business, industry and communications are conducted.CSU online learning innovation leader Dr Lyn Hay said, “From agriculture to logistics, health to communications, data is fundamentally changing how we do things - from making decisions, caring for one another, working with the environment and doing business around the world.“Data is having a huge impact on the way we live our lives and how societies work, from personal privacy, to big business, to government and elections,” Dr Hay said. Moderated by Wagga Weekly editor Dr Pennie Scott, the panellists are: > Dr Tim Caton, Medical Director and CEO of Complete Skin Care in Wagga Wagga; > Mr David Bardos, Business Development Manager, Port of Melbourne; > Ms Deb Blackwell, Owner Sunnybrae farms and Pentland wines; and > Mr James Howell, Managing Director at Professional Data Kinetics. The panel discussion will be held at the Wagga Wagga Council Chambers from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday 11 April. The event is free and open to the public. It will be livestreamed here. (https://livestream.com/uimagine/data-community)U!magine at CSU aims to spark educational innovation, be a catalyst for new scholarship in online learning, and explore the ways that new and emerging technologies can be used to transform learning as we currently know it.

> First MyDay event underway for 2018 underway at CSU in Wagga Wagga this week> More than 280 students to attend the MyDay to learn about degrees in animal and veterinary sciences fields.> MyDay program at CSU gives students a taste of university lifeA range of Charles Sturt University (CSU) degrees in the animal and veterinary sciences field will be on show this week when the annual MyDay program for 2018 gets underway.MyDay at CSU offers school students and their parents a taste of university life including a chance to visit a campus for a day, meet and ask questions of staff and students, tour teaching, learning and research facilities and inspect on campus accommodation.The MyDay at Wagga Wagga on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 April is designed for school students who’ve expressed an interest in degrees such as animal science, equine science, veterinary science, veterinary technology, science and general studies (science).More than 280 students and family members will attend relevant course information sessions over the two days, tour accommodation, the CSU Farm and Equine Centre, anatomy and research laboratories, learn about pathways into CSU, and support services for students including scholarships.MyDay events are also being held this week at CSU in Bathurst and Orange. See the full program here.

> CSU introduces three new wines in 2018 to its boutique range and have been well received by critics.> Third Vintage for new look winery – new additions of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Prosecco.> Media Winner - 2017 Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show - high praise for its boutique range of Chardonnay, Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo and Tempranillo Rose,> Halliday Wine Companion 2018 - 2016 Tumbarumba Chardonnay (95 points), 2016 Canberra District Shiraz scoring (93 points) and 2016 Orange Chardonnay (91 Points).> Winery draws on expertise and research from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences.> CSU Cellar Door open for sales - Mambarra Drive, at CSU in Wagga Wagga.Care and craftsmanship characterise wine making at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery.As grapes from the 2018 harvest arrive at the boutique winery at CSU in Wagga Wagga, wine maker Mr Campbell Meeks is impressed with the quality of the fruit and excited about the prospect of making more great wine.“Vintage is always a busy time and it’s wonderful to be working with a dedicated group of growers who are producing quality fruit,” Mr Meeks said.This is the third vintage for the new-look winery, focusing on producing wines showcasing grapes sourced in premium growing regions.The winery has won high praise for its boutique range of Chardonnay, Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo and Tempranillo Rose, with every wine picking up a medal at the 2017 Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show. Read more here.The range has also been well received by wine critics, with the 2016 Tumbarumba Chardonnay and 2016 Canberra District Shiraz scoring 95 and 93 points respectively in the Halliday Wine Companion 2018.The 2016 Orange Chardonnay also scored 91 points in the Halliday Wine CompanionThe Winery is pleased to be adding wines, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Prosecco.​“We’re excited to be making Pinot Noir this year,” Mr Meeks said. “We are sourcing the fruit from Geelong in Victoria and coming from a cool climate, the generous and complex flavours make it perfectly suited to the style of wine we aim to make.“A Pinot Gris from the NSW Hilltops region will be added to the boutique range, while a Prosecco will also be made for our Alumni range,” Mr Meeks said.The Winery draws on expertise and research from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and is at the forefront of viticulture practices and wine making techniques.The Boutique wines are made from grapes sourced from premium growing regions and are complex but still retain the fruit characteristics typical of the respective regional styles.The Alumni wines are made by wine makers who are CSU alumni or current students.The wines are sold online and are available through the Cellar Door, Mambarra Drive, at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

New business ideas to create new products and ideas for the agricultural sector will be ‘pitched’ to an audience on Monday 26 March at the AgriTech Incubator at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga.Eight emerging entrepreneurs from the Riverina have been developing their ideas for the past eight weeks through the AgriTech Incubator program.They’ve been working on business concepts ranging from the development of apps and software platforms to support agricultural producers and suppliers, to developing new food products to diversify farming income, a financial support service, and new methods for enhancing travellers’ health.AgriTech Incubator project leader Professor John Mawson said “The AgriTech Incubator program offers a great opportunity for start-up founders to test and refine their business concepts in a supportive collaborative environment.“Participants from our first cohort in 2017 continue to develop novel products and services, and we look forward to growth of this second students to emerge from our program.”The AgriTech Incubator is funded by the NSW Department of Industry with significant additional funding from CSU. The AgriTech Incubator is also available to be used as a co-working, event and meeting space. Further details are available by emailing agritechincubator@csu.edu.au.The AgriTech Incubator Pitch Night will be held from 7pm to 9pm on Monday 26 March in building 6 near car park 11, Tooma Way, CSU in Wagga Wagga.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Wagga Wagga City Council, with the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, will present Music Under the Leaves at the Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens on Friday 23 March.Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga Ms Miriam Dayhew (pictured) said, “Collaboration between Wagga Wagga City Council and Charles Sturt University allows Music Under the Leaves to showcase local talent and performers of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.“Music Under the Leaves is a free music recital performed at sunset by musicians of the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. They will perform a beautiful and eclectic concert including pieces such as Romanian folk song, a Baroque trio sonata, and by a Renaissance trio.“A free event like this allows the community to be exposed to local musical talent. It will appeal to anyone interested in music, arts, and culture, as well as local groups and high schools, primary schools, and the Eastern Riverina arts organisations.”Music Under the Leaves is a free event to be held at the Bamboo Gardens, Wagga Wagga Botanical Gardens, MacLeay Street, from 6pm on Friday 23 March. Light refreshments will be provided.

A new series to promote and sustain high quality online teaching and learning will be launched this week by Charles Sturt University (CSU) through its u!magine think-tank initiative.U!magine is CSU’s digital learning and innovation laboratory which aims to spark educational innovation, be a catalyst for new scholarship in online learning, and explore the ways that new and emerging technologies can be used to transform learning as we currently know it. This first in the We!magine Series 2018 involves a five week program of events that expore 'Big Data and Related Analytics'.A free guest lecture by Dr Rebecca Ferguson, a senior lecturer in the Institute of Education Technology at The Open University in the United Kingdom, will launch the we!magine Series in Wagga Wagga.Dr Ferguson will speak on 'Data and Learning: Future Visions’ from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Thursday 15 March at TAFE NSW in Wagga Wagga (room D204, level 2, D block, corner of Macleay and Coleman streets).Learning analytics involves the measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of data about learners and their contexts to improve student learning and their environments.Dr Ferguson will explore the question of how can we use learning analytics for ‘good and what do we need to consider as the field evolves in the future?’.  Her talk will also look at the role of data and analytics in learning, and ethics and privacy issues.“We believe this talk by Dr Ferguson will interest teachers, administrators and those involved in teaching and learning whatever the grade or level,” said Dr Lyn Hay from u!magine.People can register for the lecture here.The free talk will be live-streamed via https://livestream.com/uimagine/ferguson.  The hashtag, #weimaginedata can be used on Twitter to follow the conversation and ask questions.The We!magine Series 2018 will explore the potential application of a range of digital technologies to support online innovation in a variety of industry, community and academic contexts.In collaboration with the CSU’s Adaptive Learning & Teaching Services unit, u!magine will encourage educators to explore the use of data to support learning and teaching.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) academics are joining forces with a local high school student to restage the play Norm and Ahmed in performances at the skate park in Wagga Wagga this week.First performed 50 years ago, Norm and Ahmed by celebrated Australian playwright Alex Buzo deals with issues of identity, the fear of the unknown, and Australia’s suppressed xenophobia. CSU lecturer in acting for stage and screen Dr Dominique Sweeney and Wagga Wagga High School student Abu Kebe will perform the play from 7pm from Wednesday 14 to Saturday 17 March at the skate park in Bolton Street in Wagga Wagga.Directing the play is Dr Robert Lewis, also a CSU lecturer in acting for screen and stage.The play is set late one night on a deserted street where Norm, a working class Anglo-Australian, stops a young international student, Ahmed. Norm asks for a light, strikes up a conversation and what evolves is an encounter that ends in a shocking and confronting way.Tickets for the 60-minute play cost $17 for adults and $12 for concessions. Tickets can be booked www.civictheatre.com.au/whatson/norm-and-ahmed or at the venue.The site-specific performance is produced by Persona Collective, an ensemble of experimental theatre artists. Norm and Ahmed builds upon the company's exploration in site-specific performances such as Two Houses (Iteration: Again (2011), Patricia Cornelius’s Savages (Junction Arts Festival (2014), and Residue (2016). Norm and Ahmed is site-specific and promenade style, which means that there is no seating and audiences are required to walk and stand with the actors to various parts of the skate park. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear, as this is an outdoor performance. Audience members may bring their own deck chairs if they wish to sit throughout the performance.

Learning more about wellness and wellbeing is top of the agenda when an expo is held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga this week.The 2018 Wellness and Wellbeing Expo will run from 9am to 3pm on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 March at the CSU Convention Centre.Targeting CSU staff and students, expos will also be held in March at CSU in Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo, Goulburn, Orange, and Port Macquarie.The Expo will offer information on numerous health and wellbeing services available to staff and students at CSU and in the local community, as well as hearing checks, free massages, and flu vaccinations. The information will range from nutrition to caring for the elderly, and financial stability and security.The 2018 Wellness and Wellbeing Expo is an initiative of the University’s Division of Human Resources and is sponsored by NSW Trustee and Guardian, icare, Gallagher, Employers Mutual, G&C Mutual Bank, UniSuper and nlc.A list of all Expo dates across CSU can be found here.