Three Charles Sturt University (CSU) students in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences have completed a month-long meat and livestock industry tour of the United States. Mr Isaac Allen, Ms Vanessa Campbell, and Ms Jordan Hoban were named in the five-member Australian team to compete at three meat judging competitions in the US. As a team, the Australians placed fourth at two contests and received fourth place in all categories of their final contest in Fort Worth, Texas. Individual award highlights included Mr Allen winning the lamb judging at the National Western competition in Denver, and Ms Campbell securing ninth place overall in the South Western contest at Fort Worth, Texas. Professor of Animal Production Peter Wynn, said, “Three representatives from Charles Sturt University in the national team to compete in the USA is a great honour. The dedication of our coaching team, led by veterinary students Ms Katelyn Braine and Ms Bronte Doughton working with staff from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences Ms Jen Clulow and Dr Bindi King, certainly gave the students a flying start”. Professor Wynn also praised the support of Teys Australia, Junee Lamb and Knights Meats for providing access to their product and facilities for training.  CSU student Mr Allen said the group benefitted from its exposure to different aspects of the red meat industry in the US. “It was an invaluable experience because we learnt so much about different producing methods and processing systems. We met so many great people who were all very willing to share so much with us and this will help to expand our knowledge and expertise.”

Students studying agricultural and animal sciences and horticulture at Western Illinois University (WIU) in the United States will visit Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 12 March. The 12 students will inspect CSU facilities including the National Life Sciences Hub, Equine Centre, and Veterinary Clinical Centre from 10am to 12 noon when the Head of the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences, Professor John Mawson, will host a barbecue for the international guests, staff, and third and fourth year agricultural science students from CSU. On Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 March, the students will visit a rice farm at Leeton, and a sheep stud, orchard and winery at Griffith. Accompanying the students will be CSU’s Emeritus Professor Ted Wolfe and WIU’s Associate Professor Tom Bruening (International Agriculture). “Students from Western Illinois University visited Charles Sturt University in 2009 and 2011. Over previous years, three of our students have studied at Western Illinois University for a semester and we have hosted two students as part of international exchanges. The Riverina is a wonderful setting for agriculture. I encourage the farmers and local agribusinesses we visit to 'tell it like it is' in terms of family farm stories, industry issues such as finding good quality labour, the difficulty of coping with climatic and marketing risks, the ongoing water debate, and the problems caused by the high Australian dollar,” Professor Wolfe said.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic Dr Rebecca Doyle will give a first-hand account of her chosen career in science during the national ABARES Outlook 2013 conference at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 March. Dr Doyle, a lecturer in animal physiology and welfare in the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, will address the forum, Science and education for agriculture, fisheries and forestry in the Barton Room at  4pm Tuesday 5 March.. During her talk, titled 'Science is golden: my experiences in agriculture', the CSU academic will detail her thoughts on why there aren't enough people entering agricultural professions, how we can improve this, and give some examples of scientific work she has been involved in. Dr Doyle said, "I think that one of the reasons students aren't so attracted to agricultural-based degrees is because they aren't aware of the career opportunities on offer. Unlike other degrees, students enrolling in agricultural science degrees don't know what they can 'be' at the end of it, but at the same time, these degrees are more specialised than an arts or general science degree. Hopefully, by giving students examples of what career paths they can take, we will encourage more students to study agriculture." Read more about Dr Doyle on CSU News here. You can read the full Outlook 2013 conference program here.

A celebration of the significant role education plays in the success of Wagga Wagga’s economic, cultural and social life will be highlighted in a main street parade and expo in the city on Thursday 21 March. Following the colourful Town and Gown Parade from 4.30pm in the city’s main street, a reception and expo will be held from 5pm in the Victory Memorial Gardens to promote the many educational, training and learning opportunities available in Wagga Wagga. The wide range of educational providers will be involved including local primary and high schools, the local Australian Defence Force bases, TAFE NSW Riverina Institute, Charles Sturt University (CSU), University of NSW Rural Clinic School and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. “A large part of what makes Wagga Wagga such a great place to live and work in is the breadth and depth of educational opportunities available right here in the city,” Head of Campus at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner, said. “This parade and expo is a reminder of what this city has to offer in terms of education, training and learning. It is an annual celebration of education in Wagga Wagga and I encourage everyone to come and see the many offerings from school education, learning, recruit and technical training, and tertiary education. From kindergarten to PhD!”

Charles Sturt University (CSU) scientist Dr Rebecca Doyle is doing her bit to encourage young people to study and pursue a career in science. Dr Doyle, from the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, will take part in the I'm a Scientist, Get me out of Here! program over the next two weeks. Over 1 600 students from Years 5 to 12, will chat to 15 Australian scientists, including Dr Doyle - deciding along the way which ones should be evicted, and which scientist will be left standing to win a $1 000 prize. Up until Friday 22 March, the students will use blogs and instant messaging to meet and chat with the scientists. They’ll have an opportunity to ask scientists questions about their careers, their interests and general science topics. The scientists will be evicted one by one. Program co-producer, Dr Kristin Alford, said the competition, originally conceived in the United Kingdom, is now in its fourth year in Australia. Dr Doyle is a researcher and lecturer in animal physiology and welfare. Read more about the scientist on CSU News here.

A touch of the Irish will come to Charles Sturt University (CSU) when a group of Connemara ponies and riders gather in Wagga Wagga on Saturday 16 March, the day before St Patrick’s Day. Known as Aonach Australia, it was originally an annual ‘assembly’ of tribal chieftains in Ireland where laws were discussed and disputes settled, followed by horse racing and games. In more modern times, riders compete with their horses in a friendly atmosphere. CSU equine science lecturer, Mr Hunter Doughty, said it is fitting the event is held at the University’s Equine Centre because of the ongoing relationship with the Connemara breed in Australia and Ireland. “The aim of the event is to educate and entertain owners, breeders and the general public, and to provide some competition for ridden Connemara pure-bred and part-bred ponies,” Mr Doughty said. “Charles Sturt University has a history with the Connemara breed including the purchase of a Connemara stallion called Glenormiston Celtic Pride in 2011.” Event organiser, Zita Denholm said good support has been promised with ponies coming from the central west, the NSW south coast, and the Victorian Alps, as well as locally.

High school students in the NSW Mid-North Coast, central and southern NSW and regional Victoria can learn vital life skills while running a simulated business in an online game to be hosted by Charles Sturt University’s Faculty of Business. The GameOn! organisers at CSU are now calling for teams of Years 10 and 11 students from high schools around regional NSW and Victoria to participate in the game in 2013. The game was first staged in 2012. “The student teams will make vital business decisions about marketing, human resources, operations and finance for an online, simulated business. Apart from developing problem-solving skills in their businesses, GameOn allows students to develop important life skills such as leadership, group work, critical thinking, negotiation and time management,” said GameOn coordinator Dr Abbey Dwivedi.  Teams will need to be nominated by the extended deadline of Friday 5 April, with eight rounds of ‘decisions’ to be made during the year and winning teams due to be announced in September 2013.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Ms Hannah McKenzie has been awarded for her support of moves to reduce bottled water at the institution. The animal science student from Young won a bicycle after completing a quiz to promote student awareness about the environmental, financial and health benefits of using tap water over purchasing bottled water. It is part of CSU Green’s Free Water Project which includes new bubblers and bottle refilling stations and the sale of reusable bottles at CSU retail outlets. CSU Green Manager Mr Ed Maher said, “The prize of a bike aims to encourage students to cycle to and from campus as well as around campus instead of driving. This benefits their health and wellbeing, hip pocket and the environment. As part of our sustainability targets, Charles Sturt University wants to reduce waste, save water and cut carbon emissions.” The bike was supplied by local business, Kidsons Cycles. You can read more about CSU Green’s Free Water Project here.

Participants are being sought for a new study at Charles Sturt University (CSU) into the experiences of overseas qualified nurses and midwives. Lecturer with the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Ms Sophia Dywili, is seeking the assistance of those health professionals whose first nursing qualification was obtained from a country in sub-Saharan Africa, and who then moved to work in rural and regional NSW and Victoria. Ms Dywili is exploring the migration experiences of nurses and midwives moving from sub-Saharan African to Australia for her PhD. Research participants would be involved in a confidential interview and/or focus group discussion. Ms Dywili moved from Zimbabwe to work as a Registered Nurse at Bankstown Hospital in 2004. She also worked as a Clinical Nurse Educator at Liverpool Hospital before taking up a lecturing position at CSU in 2009. For more information, contact Ms Dywili by email (sdywili@csu.edu.au ) or telephone 02 6933 2452.