Globally, the rate of loss of freshwater wetlands exceeds that of any other ecosystem and predicted climate change will greatly exacerbate the trend in the future. According to Charles Sturt University (CSU) vertebrate ecologist Dr Iain Taylor, wetlands provide invaluable ecosystem services to humans throughout the world and are essential habitats for an amazing diversity of flora and fauna. “Many species of water birds are in serious decline and the on-going drought in southeast Australia has caused a massive and probably irreversible decline in most of the larger water birds such as egrets, ibises and spoonbills,” he said. Dr Taylor is the convener of the international conference, Wetlands and Waterbirds: Managing for Resilience in Leeton in the Riverina region of NSW from Monday 9 November. Also presenting at the conference is CSU wetland ecologist Professor Max Finlayson who said climate change will place many wetlands and species under further pressure from rising temperatures and changes to their water regimes as rainfall patterns change. “If anything we should be constructing or restoring more wetlands, not degrading those that are left. They are valuable and have been under stress for far too long,” said Professor Finlayson, Director of CSU’s Institute for Land, Water and Society.

Student leaders at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga will reveal more than usual when they unveil a 2010 calendar to raise money for men’s health. The male Residential Advisors or RAs will launch their nude calendar from 2.30pm on Friday 6 November. Funds raised from the sale of the $10 calendars will go to support the annual Movember campaign highlighting men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. The RAs featured in the calendar will be on hand at CSU at Wagga Wagga on Friday 6 November to autograph their favourite month. During the event, students who participated in the Moctober Challenge – Grow or Design a Mo’ - from Friday 9 October to Friday 6 November will participate in a final shave-off and celebrate with a barbecue. The calendar launch and final shave-off for Moctober will be held near the student canteen, building 20, near car park 2, Darnell Smith Drive, CSU at Wagga Wagga.

The Chancellor of Charles Sturt University (CSU) Mr Lawrie Willett AO will praise the academic achievements of almost 70 graduates who are eligible to receive their awards at a ceremony in Hong Kong on Saturday 7 November. The graduates will receive their postgraduate and undergraduate awards from the University’s Faculties of Arts, Business, Education and Science from 10.30am in the Langham Place Hotel in Hong Kong. The occasional address will be delivered at the graduation ceremony by Mr Steve O’Conner, the Librarian at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Mr O’Conner has worked in Higher Education for most of his career and has researched, published, spoken, consulted and taught very extensively in the areas of change, organisational management, information delivery, scenario and strategic planning, as well as the wider library and information environment. Graduates have completed a range of courses at CSU in areas such as theology, business, information technology, hotel management, arts, primary education, library and information management, medical imaging and clinical nursing.  

An art exhibition by two Indigenous students at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Visual and Performing Arts at Wagga Wagga will be opened today, Tuesday 20 October. Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) student, Ms Melanie Evans, and postgraduate jewellery student, Mr Wayne Simon, will showcase their works in Crafts of Contrast to be opened at the William Merrylees Library at CSU at Wagga Wagga from 3pm by Mr Ray Eldridge, Manager of the University’s Indigenous Student Services. There will be a Welcome to Country by Wiradjuri Elder Aunty Sandy Warren. The exhibition of black and white photographs and linoprints by Ms Evans and jewellery by Mr Simon will remain on display in the library foyer until Tuesday 3 November. “In the exhibition, we play with the differences and similarities of the white and black cultures that we belong to and the journey of self discovery,” said Ms Evans.  “We have walked contrasting paths, but have met at a crossroads where we can nurture and challenge each other’s ideals in order to strengthen our cultural identities.”

The work of veterinary practices throughout the Riverina in supporting the veterinary science program at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga will be recognised by the University this week. The support includes hosting CSU students for practicum placements during the past five years. “This contribution has made an enormous difference to the development of these students as skilled veterinarians for rural and regional Australia,” said Head of the School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Professor Kym Abbott. As thanks for this vital contribution to the veterinary science program, the School will host the inaugural Practitioner Appreciation Day (PAD) from 5pm on Tuesday 20 October. “The partnership that has been formed between the University and practicing veterinarians is highly valued by staff and students at Charles Sturt University,” said Professor Abbott. During PAD, local veterinarians will be able to inspect the veterinary science facilities, including the Veterinary Clinical Centre, the new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and the University’s cattle handling facilities. Academics will also deliver presentations on new developments in the veterinary science field, including new antibiotics and analgesics.

A public forum to be held in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 28 October will explore the benefits of Vocational Education and Training (VET) in schools and the relevance of Certificate I and II qualifications in the workforce. VET provides an opportunity for high school students to commence industry qualifications while still at school, and provides an important link between the school-based qualification and employment. A panel, including representatives from the School of Education at Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Wagga Wagga, will provide an insight into research and teaching in the area. They will also examine whether VET qualifications have made the transition from school to work smoother for students. “VET in schools provides a pathway from school to work that allows students to focus their study on a specific vocation quite early in their education,” said Mr Paul Galloway from the School of Education.  “It is interesting to note that VET in schools can also develop a strong study philosophy, and many students continue on to tertiary study.”

The International Centre for Water for Food Security (IC Water) at Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host a seminar by the head of Murrumbidgee Irrigation this week as part of its mission to work closely with key stakeholders to find solutions to national and international water problems. Murrumbidgee Irrigation Managing Director, Mr Brett Tucker, will present Murrumbidgee Irrigation's take on the current water situation in Australia: Reinventing century old schemes at Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 21 October. Mr Tucker said there’s little doubt that the face of irrigation in the Murray-Darling Basin has changed with the prolonged drought, combined with changes to climate patterns, leading to unprecedented low water availability. “In this environment the key challenges for Murrumbidgee Irrigation include the integrated management of water and energy, and developing effective strategies for mitigating diversification and investment risk,” he said. IC Water is leading a SAM-ET project, funded by National Water Commission, in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area to map out actual water, soil moisture and land use and land cover classification using high spatial resolution satellite imagery.

A special presentation during a Leeton High School assembly on Tuesday 27 October will honour Year 11 student Mr Micheil Smith for his selection for Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Gifted and Talented program run by the CSU Faculty of Business. The Gifted and Talented program gives high school students an opportunity to study a university subject. Attending the assembly in Leeton will be Associate Professor John Louis and Mr Anthony Chan from the University’s Faculty of Business, and Ms Roxanne Locke, Manager of the Division of Student Administration at CSU. Mr Smith is studying the subject Introduction to Data Communications through CSU at Wagga Wagga.

An edible oils researcher with Charles Sturt University (CSU), Dr Rodney Mailer, has been named the winner of the 2009 Farrer Memorial Medal. Industry & Investment NSW Director-General Dr Richard Sheldrake presented the prestigious award to Dr Mailer at the 28th International Society for Fat Research Congress dinner in Sydney on Monday 28 September. Dr Richard Sheldrake said Dr Mailer’s award recognises his outstanding contribution to edible oils research in Australia, in particular his work on canola and olive oil. "Over the last 30 years Dr Mailer has become internationally recognised for his work on variety breeding and quality testing," Dr Sheldrake said. "Dr Mailer has been involved with the release of 22 canola cultivars, which have at times made up 50 per cent of Australia’s $600 million canola crop. His studies on olive oil quality, harvest timing, irrigation and storage have earned Dr Mailer international recognition for his major contribution to the development of the Australian olive industry.” Dr Mailer is an Adjunct Professor with the School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences at CSU at Wagga Wagga. He is currently a Principal Research Scientist with Industry & Investment NSW and the E H Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation.