A free public lecture about sexuality and spirituality will be delivered at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 13 September. The public lecture, titled ‘Eros, Intimacy and the Mind of God’, will be presented by Dr Patricia Weerakoon, an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, and is co-hosted by the CSU Bathurst Christian Students club and Bathurst Presbyterian Church as part of a larger weekend-long event. One of the event organisers, Mr Jonty Perrett, said, “Dr Weerakoon will explore recent scientific research on sexual desire (eros), attraction (love) and long-term attachment (bonding), and the relationship of this research to the teaching of the Bible. Everyone is welcome, and there will be a question and answer panel following the lecture.” The ‘Eros, Intimacy and the Mind of God’ public lecture is at 7.30pm on Friday 13 September in building S15, room 2.23, CSU in Bathurst. The evening will conclude with tea, coffee and supper and the opportunity to discuss the topic with Dr Weerakoon. For more information contact Mr Jonty Perrett on mobile 0404 975 499 or send an email.

The assessment of the sustainability goals at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst will be revealed at the launch of an Environmental Scorecard on Thursday 12 September. Head of Campus at CSU in Bathurst, Mr Col Sharp, said 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, is a work-in-progress. “Like all Charles Sturt University campuses, Bathurst has continued to grow, and this assessment is relative to 2006 when the University embarked on this CSU Green initiative and the baseline data was recorded,” Mr Sharp said. “Electricity consumption plateaued in 2012, with overall electricity consumption remaining fairly consistent since 2009. Overall, gas consumption on the main campus has plateaued as well. There was an increase in water consumption in 2012 compared to 2011, which is mostly attributed to the significantly hot, early summer experienced on the campus in late 2012. Bathurst proved to be the showcase in terms of waste management in 2012 when it transitioned to a new waste collection system which significantly increased the amount of commingled recyclables that are being diverted from landfill. This also freed staff for other duties that were previously diverted to collecting waste.”

The phrase ‘You deserve a medal’ will ring true for some long-serving staff members at Charles Sturt University (CSU) this week. CSU Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Andrew Vann will present medals to six staff for 30 and 20 years of service to the University and its predecessor institutions. Among those receiving a medal is former Head of the University’s School of Education in Wagga Wagga and researcher with the Centre for Indigenous Studies and Research Institute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education, Associate Professor Ros Brennan-Kemmis, AM, for her 20 years of service. “In these 20 years Charles Sturt University has grown and matured as a regional and international university. It has been a wonderful place to work full of opportunities and wonderful colleagues and friends,” she said. “Every morning as I walked to my office from the car park I thought of the amazing privileges that the University provided and the opportunities for teaching and research that have enriched my life in so many ways.” Professor Vann will present the medals to the staff over lunch in the Chancellor's Room in the Convention Centre at CSU in Wagga Wagga from noon on Wednesday 11 September.

A program to advance Charles Sturt University (CSU) as a leader in higher education teaching and learning will be launched in Bathurst on Tuesday 17 September. CSU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Garry Marchant, said, “Given the ongoing growth of student numbers and evolution of the higher education sector due to theoretical and technological developments, the launch of ‘Smart Learning’ will enable a stronger professionalised teaching focus to improve student engagement and maintain high-quality teaching standards at the University. With the implementation of Smart Learning, Charles Sturt University will lead the way in higher education learning and teaching innovation.” Information about Smart Learning and the next steps in establishing this program will be presented at the launch at The Grange, CSU in Bathurst at 3pm on Tuesday 17 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.