From the Arab Spring to the Occupy Movement, activists are making strategic use of digital communication networks to encourage social change, according to Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Mr Jake Wallis. Mr Wallis from the School of Information Studies will present a seminar at CSU in Wagga Wagga on Wednesday 5 September, exploring how civil society uses the web and the impact it can have on democratic participation and politics.  “The internet, social media and mobile phones allow messages of protest to spread at high speeds,” Mr Wallis said. “New media can help activist groups to create a hard-hitting emotional narrative around social issues, which can generate support across regional, national and international networks.”  The seminar will also be streamed to the Swedish School of Library and Information Science, University of Borås in Sweden.

Business performance has remained steady across the Central West region of NSW over the September quarter compared to the previous quarter, according to the latest Reliance Credit Union’s Central West Business Survey, compiled by Charles Sturt University’s Western Research Institute (WRI). Chief Executive Officer of the WRI Tom Watson said “despite the drought, more than three-quarters of Central West businesses surveyed reported that sales performance had been maintained or improved in the September quarter. Parkes, West Wyalong, Bathurst and Orange were the strongest performers. A marginal decline is expected in the December quarter, but on the whole performance should remain relatively steady.” The survey also addressed the issue of drought in the Central West. Central West Regional Development Board chair Sandy Morrison noted that nearly 90 per cent of businesses had not decreased staff numbers as a result of the drought, indicating that many regional businesses are relatively insulated from the effects of the drought and they understand it would be easier to retain workers than attract new workers in the future, given the skills shortage. However, almost 60 per cent felt business would decline if drought conditions continued for another six months. Tom Murphy in analysing survey results said, “Although agriculture is important in the region - the diverse nature of the Central West economy means it is resilient to the drought.” The business survey, released on Thursday 2 November, included 100 businesses in the Central West region of NSW and a further 299 across the rest of regional NSW.

A senior educator who recently won a prestigious Churchill Scholarship to investigate the world-class Finnish education system will address middle school teaching students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) on Tuesday 18 September. Ms Margaret Mulcahy, a Principal Education Officer with the NSW Department of Education and Communities, will address how parents and carers can assist in schooling, which complements her interests in learning and thinking by inquiry, curriculum integration, and student-centred learning. She is joined by a senior teacher educator from the University of Lapland in Finland, Dr Tuija Turunen, a research fellow with CSU’s School of Education, who will provide a comparison of how parents work with schools in Finland. She will also address how people become teachers in the Scandinavian country and why most school leavers prefer teaching over law or medicine. Visit coordinator and CSU education lecturer, Dr Liisa Uusimaki, said bringing the two educators from different parts of the world together to share their knowledge with CSU middle school teaching students demonstrates University’s commitment to advancing teacher education for the sake of Australian children.

Eminent academic and leading promoter of regional Australia, Professor Henry Nowik, will be recognised for his services to regional business when Charles Sturt University (CSU) names a major building on its Albury-Wodonga Campus in his honour. CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew Vann will be on hand to name the Nowik Learning Commons from 12noon on Thursday 13 September. The learning commons includes the library, extensive large and small meeting spaces, computer rooms and a kitchenette, most of which are open 24 hours a day, seven days per week to CSU students and staff. “Professor Nowik has a remarkable set of life experiences drawn from a long and rich life, well-lived. He has had a particular interest in the development of the Albury-Wodonga Campus to meet the needs of this growing regional hub, and Charles Sturt University honours Professor Nowik as a champion of regional development, a founding father of modern Wodonga, and as a visionary, philanthropist and benefactor,” Professor Vann said.

Imagine the keys on a piano in front of you moving up and down as a teacher hundreds of kilometres away plays. This unique experience has been made possible for students at the Riverina Conservatorium of Music (RCM)  thanks to technical support from Charles Sturt University (CSU).  The Conservatorium is taking part in a trial which links two pianos over the Internet to allow local students to get expert, real time tuition from teachers at the Australian National University (ANU). To facilitate the trial, CSU’s Division of Information Technology has provided access to the University’s dedicated fibre optic internet connection and technical support. CSU Technical Specialist – Networks, Mr Travis Terry, said, “Charles Sturt University has immense experience in facilitating remote teaching utilising interactive technologies such as video conferencing. Coupling complementary technologies like the digital piano could be a major step forward for remote teaching and we are pleased to explore the possibilities.” Conservatorium Director Mr Hamish Tait said, “This kind of technology helps break downs some of the barriers of living in a regional area by giving local students access to highly qualified instructors hundreds of kilometres away.”

Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) in Port Macquarie has welcomed its first Indigenous Student Support Officer, Ms Helene Jones. Ms Jones headed CSU’s exhibition space at last week’s Deadly Days Aboriginal community event held in Wauchope on 4 September, and said the public reaction to the University’s decision to open a campus in the region had been “amazing”. “Community members were extremely supportive of the University’s decision to commit to the area,” she said. “Many parents and educators of the school students who attended the event made special efforts to visit us at our marquee and thank us personally.” Deadly Days featured entertainment from Justice Crew, Casey Donovan and Troy Cassar-Daley, as well as stalls highlighting higher education and career options. CSU staff ran fun activities to inspire people to consider higher education as an option. “As a new staff member who had ‘come back to country’ after living away for many years, it was heart-warming to see so many familiar faces and to be able to be part of an organisation which is willing to provide opportunities for the people I love and is committed to Aboriginal education on the Mid-North Coast,” Ms Jones said.

Medals marking up to 40 years employment with Charles Sturt University (CSU) and its predecessor institutions will be presented by the CSU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Vann in Wagga Wagga tomorrow, Wednesday 12 September. A lunch will be hosted by the Head of CSU in Wagga Wagga, Mr Adrian Lindner in honour of 21 academic and general staff. Heading the long service list is Associate Professor Geoff Bamberry from the School of Management and Marketing at CSU in Wagga Wagga. He will receive a 40 year service medal during the ceremony. He began work in 1972 as a lecturer in public administration with the School of Business and Liberal Studies in the Riverina College of Advanced Education, one of CSU’s predecessor institutions. The medals recognise service for 20, 30 and 40 years.

The changes in Wagga Wagga’s main street and the stories of the people who lived and worked there will be explored at a presentation by Charles Sturt University (CSU) lecturer Dr Nancy Blacklow on Saturday 15 September. As part of History Week activities, Dr Blacklow from CSU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences will outline the collaborative research project between the CSU Regional Archives and Museum of the Riverina based on changes to Baylis and Fitzmaurice Streets. “The aim is to peel back the layers of time,” Dr Blacklow said. “The research is looking at more than just the physical changes to the buildings, as my work explores personal stories and memories.” The project will culminate with an exhibition, People and Place at the Museum of the Riverina in late 2013.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery has released its first Riesling entirely produced with fruit from its Orange Campus vineyard. The 2012 “R” Riesling is the latest edition to the winery’s Letter Series, which is designed to showcase varieties not traditionally produced by CSU including Merlot, Tempranillo, Grenache and Petit Verdot. CSU Winery Marketing Manager, Mr Justin Byrne said the vintage had been much-anticipated following a couple of difficult seasons. “The Riesling vines were planted on the Orange Campus at the end of 2009, but with cooler and wetter-than-usual seasons in 2010 and 2011 this is the first vintage we have produced from them,” he said. “It is a major triumph for our viticulturist Geoff Cook who nursed the vines through those trying seasons, and it will make a welcome addition to the range”. The CSU Winery Orange Campus cellar door is open 11am-4pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The CSU Winery Wagga Wagga Campus cellar door is open Monday to Friday 11am-5pm and 11am-4pm on weekends.