Seven PhD students will verbally present years of complex research in the most engaging manner in three minutes to an eminent judging panel during the Three-Minute Thesis grand final at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Tuesday 24 September. Ms Cassily Charles, co-organiser of the competition said, “In the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT), research students have to share the big picture of their research in just three minutes, using only one slide, and using language which allows a non-specialist audience to understand. Our participants have all given very engaging presentations in heats at different CSU campuses and online, and we now have seven finalists. These finalists will compete at the CSU 3MT grand final in Bathurst, in front of an audience and expert judges. The winner will represent Charles Sturt University at the 3MT Trans-Tasman competition in Sydney on Friday 18 October.” The CSU Three-Minute Thesis grand final presentations will start at 4pm on Tuesday 24 September at the James Hardie Room, Centre for Professional Development (building S17) at CSU in Bathurst.

A marital and family therapist from Canada, Dr Ann Evans will explore the tension between secularism and Christianity within families in a free public seminar at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga. Hosted by Saint Martin’s College as part of its Occasional Seminar Series, Dr Evans will address the topic, No Creche for Christmas, Mom on Sunday 22 September from 4pm to 6pm in the Fairfax Centre, building 382, Park Place, near car park 19 off Valder Way, CSU in Wagga Wagga. College Head, The Rev. Jenny Willsher said, “This Seminar will interest anybody who has experienced the cultural divide between Christianity and secularism up close and personal; right in their own family.” A therapist in Vancouver, Dr Evans is also doing intensive work with couples in other parts of the world. She has taught pastoral counselling and dream interpretation at The Toronto School of Theology at the Victoria University. Toronto. Dr Evans began her professional life as a member of the clergy in The United Church of Canada.

The benefits of a ‘brain-healthy lifestyle’ will be discussed at a Dementia Awareness Day at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Wagga Wagga on Friday 20 September.  The public event is being held by CSU’s International Student Club to raise awareness of the disease and promote early detection. Club President and PhD student, Ms Saba Nabi said more than 320 000 Australians are living with dementia.  “We want to talk about the disease, where to get help and how looking after your brain, body and heart can help reduce the risk of developing dementia,” she said. “We have a responsibility to care for the elderly members of our community and it’s important to understand the issues affecting them.” The event is being held as part of National Dementia Awareness Week and will feature a panel discussion with researcher, Dr Adam Hamlin from CSU’s School of Biomedical Sciences, aged care advocate, Dr Maree Bernoth from the University’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health and Ms Hannah Klapdor from Aged Care Services with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District. For more information contact Ms Nabi by email.

The environment at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo has been assessed as healthy and improving, with details to be made public at an event at the University on Monday 23 September. Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo, Dr Bev Moriarty, said she is pleased with the outcome of the assessment, which was conducted at all CSU campuses as part of the strategy to reduce energy consumption and waste, and enhance the University’s sustainability. “Despite the continuing growth of the campus in Dubbo, we have reduced water, electricity and gas consumption relative to 2006 when the first data was recorded,” Dr Moriarty said. “A separate consultant’s assessment by FloraSearch undertaken earlier this year details flora and fauna species present on the campus. It includes recommendations to control foxes and feral cats in the wider neighbourhood, which might be targeted by relevant authorities in the future.” The CSU Environmental Scorecard will be launched at 12.45pm on Monday 16 September and will be followed by a barbeque at 1 pm.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is rolling with NSW Bike Week from Monday 16 September, encouraging its staff and students to jump on their bikes for the health and environmental benefits. At CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Kris Whybro from local cycle store, Kidsons Cycles will present a Bike Workshop from 1 pm to 2 pm on Tuesday 17 September. The workshop near the University cafeteria, Eat@20, will cover how to select a bike, cycling safety and basic bike maintenance. On Wednesday 18 September from 8am, staff, students and community members are urged to join in a social ride from Premium Coffee Roasters in Trail Street, through North Wagga Wagga to CSU for a free breakfast from 8.30 am at Eat@20. Other NSW Bike Week events include a game of Bike Polo from noon to 1.30 pm at Eat@20 courtyard on Wednesday 18 September and a scavenger hunt from 3.45 pm to 5 pm on Friday 20 September. To register for any of the NSW Bike Week events at CSU, send an email to CSU Green. Bike and helmets are essential and CSU participants can win a bike and helmet valued at $600.

Following an environmental assessment of all Charles Sturt University (CSU) campuses against the University’s sustainability goals, the Head of Campus in Orange, Dr Heather Robinson, will officially launch the Environmental Scorecard for the campus on Wednesday 18 September. Mr Chris O’Connor, the acting energy manager with CSU Green, said this environmental assessment is relative to the initial 2006 data when the University embarked on the initiative. “Charles Sturt University in Orange, like all our campuses, have continued to grow during this period,” he said. “The introduction of new waste management systems has lifted our recycling rates to about 26 per cent, and we’ve also instituted new ‘office waste’ programs aimed at improving that even further.” In addition, CSU Green has other projects planned to assist the University achieve its recycling and energy management targets. The CSU Environmental Scorecard will be launched at 10.30 am on Wednesday 18 September at CSU in Orange.

Did you know if it is raining fish, then it is most likely to be the Spangled Perch, known to have astounding dispersal abilities? That you can find a nursery for fish eggs under the hood of some male fish? And do you know the age of a 30 kilogram Murray Cod? You can find answers to these and much more in the new book Ecology of Australian Freshwater Fishes being launched on Wednesday 18 September at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga. Book editor and researcher in fish biology with the Institute for Land, Water and Society, Dr Paul Humphries, and several chapter authors from CSU will be on hand at the launch of the book which outlines the biology and ecology of Australian freshwater fish as part of the Murray Darling Seminar Series, starting at 3 pm. “Australia is home to about 300 species of freshwater fishes. Despite the diversity and harshness of the Australian environment in which the species have evolved, populations of these fish have been decimated over the past 200 years, with up to one-third of these species are now threatened with extinction,” Dr Humphries said.

Exposing young school students to important health and safety messages is the focus of a cooperative effort between Charles Sturt University (CSU) and West Albury Primary School at the annual Health and Safety Education Expo. Around 70 students enrolled in CSU’s early childhood education degree will present hands-on learning experiences and displays to 70 children between Kindergarten and Year 2, who will practise snake awareness, healthy eating, escaping an imaginary fire, and will even discover how get a good nights sleep. "CSU students are involved in 'hands on' teaching and learning with the local community. The students researched their topics with the help of local community professionals and prepared interactive experiences for the young school children. The Expo emphasises the importance of giving young children support to promote their own wellbeing from a very young age," said early childhood education lecturer, Angela Fenton, from CSU’s School of Education. West Albury Public School will host the Health and Safety Education Expo between 9.30 and 11.00am on Friday 13 September.

Aboriginal boys from Murray, James Fallon and Albury high schools in Albury will get a glimpse of their own paths in tertiary education when they discuss future study options at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga on Friday 13 September. The 2013 BroSpeak project will finish with a barbeque for participants and speakers, including Mr Brett Biles, who is an Aboriginal man and CSU academic involved in the BroSpeak program which was facilitated by Mr Matthew Hogan from Murray High School. “We are helping these students on their journey to develop life skills and identify and connect with their culture, while encouraging the boys to engage with school. This visit is important in providing these boys with educational goals that they can achieve locally,” Mr Biles said. The BroSpeak project has been run over six weeks by the NSW Department of Education and Communities, CSU and local Aboriginal men from Albury-Wodonga. “The program involves Aboriginal men from the local community providing advice, education and their stories on being successful and proud Aboriginal men, including those involved in tertiary education,” Mr Biles said.