A leading international philosopher will present a free public lecture at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 27 April.Professor David Archard, the Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (UK), will deliver the free public lecture.As part of the CSU ‘How to Live Well’ Series, Professor Archard's lecture titled ‘Senior Citizens: Rights, Duties and the Old’ will examine the rights and issues affecting older Australians.Outlining his lecture Professor Archard (pictured) said, “It is all too easy to think of the old within our society as the beneficiaries of collective care at the inequitable expense of others and at the same time as possessed of civic rights – such as that of voting - that are exercised to the detriment of the interests of those who will outlive them.“Yet while we do have duties to the old, there is reasonable disagreement as to the value of longer lives and the place of old age within these.“Such disagreement can only be resolved by political deliberation.“The right to vote should not be accorded only on the basis of a principle of affected interests.“Moreover, the senior citizen has a particular status, perhaps not one as the repository of accumulated wisdom, but as that of our collective memory,” Professor Archard concluded.The free public lecture is from 6pm to 7.30pm on Friday 27 April in room 223 in building 1292 (near car park 7) at CSU, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst.The presentation will include a discussion, followed by light refreshments. Please register your attendance by Tuesday 24 April here.

> CSU launches its $100,000 Community-University Partnerships grants program for 2018. > Up to $20,000 available across five different categories to support our regions.> Launch at CSU in Port Macquarie today. Online applications here. > Grants for projects across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous and discretionary grants for community initiatives. Grant money totalling $100,000 is now on offer from Charles Sturt University (CSU) for local communities following the launch of the 2018 Community-University Partnerships (CUP) grant program.Acting Head of Campus at CSU in Port Macquarie Mr Peter Fraser said, “The University is offering $100,000 in grants as an investment in the development of our regions.“Members of our local community on the NSW Mid North Coast are encouraged to apply for the funding to support their local community groups and activities.“There’s funding from hundreds of dollars, up to a maximum amount of $20,000 in each grant category,” Mr Fraser said.CUP grants are across five separate categories across arts and culture, education, sport, indigenous, as well as discretionary grants to support small community initiatives.Launching in Port Macquarie today, CSU also welcomed successful recipients from last year’s program to congratulate them on their success and for them to share with the community how they spent the grant they received.Among the groups to receive funding in last year’s CUP grant program was the Nautilus Senior College in Port Macquarie. They used funding from the CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program to purchase a set of African djembes for the purpose of providing drumbeat workshops to engage students.Ms Deb Tougher, from Nautilus Senior College said, “The CUP grant application process was very easy and the results were fast. It’s great that Charles Sturt University is offering grants to community projects to assist in breaking down educational barriers.”“Given that winter is just around the corner, we’ve opened the 2018 grant program with the Rural and Regional Sports Development round first and the other grant programs will open in a rolling fashion throughout the year.“Charles Sturt University wants to build higher education aspiration and awareness particularly among young people in rural and regional communities,” Mr Fraser said.BackgroundGrants are available from five different categories. The CUP Head of Campus Small Grants Program, CUP Rural and Regional Arts and Culture Program, CUP Rural and Regional Education Development Program, CUP Rural and Regional Indigenous Community Engagement Program and CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program.Online applications are now open for the 2018 CUP Rural and Regional Sports Development Program, with the other programs to follow. Further information, application packs and program guidelines can be found here.

An information MyDay for students in Years 11 and 12 and their parents will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst on Friday 20 April.The MyDay will focus on courses available for study at CSU in Bathurst for subjects taught in the School of Communication and Creative Industries.CSU prospective student adviser Ms Melinda Negus (pictured left) said, “It is a great opportunity for students and parents to check out facilities, and to have their questions answered about what it’s really like to study at Charles Sturt University and find out about the exciting careers available with a degree from the School of Communication and Creative Industries.“There will also be plenty of opportunities to meet academics, current students, and support staff to get all the information you need about studying at the University.“Parents are also more than welcome to join the MyDay and we will have dedicated information sessions for parents while the students are engaging in projects using our facilities. It’s never too early to start preparing for the exciting journey that lies ahead,” Ms Negus said.The MyDay is free but those interested to attend will need to register: https://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/unilife/social/campus-events/myday/register?event=2733 For more information about MyDay contact Ms Negus on 6338 6030 or mnegus@csu.edu.au

Data: Future Solution or Problem?The use of data will be the subject of a free public forum hosted by Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) digital learning innovation laboratory, u!magine in Wagga Wagga on Tuesday 11 April.The panel discussion, being held from 5pm to 7pm, will focus on data, what it is, what it means and how it can be used to change the way business, industry and communications are conducted.CSU online learning innovation leader Dr Lyn Hay said, “From agriculture to logistics, health to communications, data is fundamentally changing how we do things - from making decisions, caring for one another, working with the environment and doing business around the world.“Data is having a huge impact on the way we live our lives and how societies work, from personal privacy, to big business, to government and elections,” Dr Hay said. Moderated by Wagga Weekly editor Dr Pennie Scott, the panellists are: > Dr Tim Caton, Medical Director and CEO of Complete Skin Care in Wagga Wagga; > Mr David Bardos, Business Development Manager, Port of Melbourne; > Ms Deb Blackwell, Owner Sunnybrae farms and Pentland wines; and > Mr James Howell, Managing Director at Professional Data Kinetics. The panel discussion will be held at the Wagga Wagga Council Chambers from 5pm to 7pm on Tuesday 11 April. The event is free and open to the public. It will be livestreamed here. (https://livestream.com/uimagine/data-community)U!magine at CSU aims to spark educational innovation, be a catalyst for new scholarship in online learning, and explore the ways that new and emerging technologies can be used to transform learning as we currently know it.

An information MyDay for students in Years 11 and 12 and their parents will be held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Orange on Thursday 19 April.The MyDay will focus on courses available for study at CSU in Orange and includes dental science, clinical science, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and general studies (science).CSU prospective student adviser Ms Katy Fardell said, “It is a great opportunity for students and parents to check out facilities, and have their questions answered about what it’s really like to study at Charles Sturt University.“There will also be plenty of opportunities to meet academics, current students, and support staff to get all the information you need about studying at the University.“Parents are also more than welcome to join the MyDay and may attend all sessions that are available to students, except laboratory activities or practical sessions. It’s never too early to start preparing for the exciting journey that lies ahead,” Ms Fardell said.The MyDay is free but those interested to attend will need to register: https://futurestudents.csu.edu.au/unilife/social/campus-events/myday/register?event=2733For more information about MyDay contact Ms Fardell on 6338 4629 or kfardell@csu.edu.au

> First MyDay event underway for 2018 underway at CSU in Wagga Wagga this week> More than 280 students to attend the MyDay to learn about degrees in animal and veterinary sciences fields.> MyDay program at CSU gives students a taste of university lifeA range of Charles Sturt University (CSU) degrees in the animal and veterinary sciences field will be on show this week when the annual MyDay program for 2018 gets underway.MyDay at CSU offers school students and their parents a taste of university life including a chance to visit a campus for a day, meet and ask questions of staff and students, tour teaching, learning and research facilities and inspect on campus accommodation.The MyDay at Wagga Wagga on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 April is designed for school students who’ve expressed an interest in degrees such as animal science, equine science, veterinary science, veterinary technology, science and general studies (science).More than 280 students and family members will attend relevant course information sessions over the two days, tour accommodation, the CSU Farm and Equine Centre, anatomy and research laboratories, learn about pathways into CSU, and support services for students including scholarships.MyDay events are also being held this week at CSU in Bathurst and Orange. See the full program here.

> CSU introduces three new wines in 2018 to its boutique range and have been well received by critics.> Third Vintage for new look winery – new additions of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Prosecco.> Media Winner - 2017 Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show - high praise for its boutique range of Chardonnay, Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo and Tempranillo Rose,> Halliday Wine Companion 2018 - 2016 Tumbarumba Chardonnay (95 points), 2016 Canberra District Shiraz scoring (93 points) and 2016 Orange Chardonnay (91 Points).> Winery draws on expertise and research from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences.> CSU Cellar Door open for sales - Mambarra Drive, at CSU in Wagga Wagga.Care and craftsmanship characterise wine making at the Charles Sturt University (CSU) Winery.As grapes from the 2018 harvest arrive at the boutique winery at CSU in Wagga Wagga, wine maker Mr Campbell Meeks is impressed with the quality of the fruit and excited about the prospect of making more great wine.“Vintage is always a busy time and it’s wonderful to be working with a dedicated group of growers who are producing quality fruit,” Mr Meeks said.This is the third vintage for the new-look winery, focusing on producing wines showcasing grapes sourced in premium growing regions.The winery has won high praise for its boutique range of Chardonnay, Shiraz, Nebbiolo, Tempranillo and Tempranillo Rose, with every wine picking up a medal at the 2017 Australian and New Zealand Boutique Wine Show. Read more here.The range has also been well received by wine critics, with the 2016 Tumbarumba Chardonnay and 2016 Canberra District Shiraz scoring 95 and 93 points respectively in the Halliday Wine Companion 2018.The 2016 Orange Chardonnay also scored 91 points in the Halliday Wine CompanionThe Winery is pleased to be adding wines, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Prosecco.​“We’re excited to be making Pinot Noir this year,” Mr Meeks said. “We are sourcing the fruit from Geelong in Victoria and coming from a cool climate, the generous and complex flavours make it perfectly suited to the style of wine we aim to make.“A Pinot Gris from the NSW Hilltops region will be added to the boutique range, while a Prosecco will also be made for our Alumni range,” Mr Meeks said.The Winery draws on expertise and research from CSU’s School of Agricultural and Wine Sciences and is at the forefront of viticulture practices and wine making techniques.The Boutique wines are made from grapes sourced from premium growing regions and are complex but still retain the fruit characteristics typical of the respective regional styles.The Alumni wines are made by wine makers who are CSU alumni or current students.The wines are sold online and are available through the Cellar Door, Mambarra Drive, at CSU in Wagga Wagga.

- Albury students working in CSU award-winning grey treatment system at CSU.- Students will prepare a case for Council consider water recycling systems for Albury housing estate developments.- Project between CSU and Department of Education to equip local students with skills to address local environmental challenges into the future.Year 9 students from three Albury high schools will seek to show how Mother Nature can work with land development to clean up waste water in our region.On Tuesday 3 April, 60 students from Albury, Murray and James Fallon high Schools will test and investigate the award-winning grey water treatment system used at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga.“During their visit, the students will use various equipment to test waste water from storm water drains, kitchens and wash basins in campus buildings,” said project coordinator and lecturer with the CSU School of Education, Mr Paul Grover.“This waste water has been treated and purified through a series of carefully designed settling ponds, and is then stored in dams on the campus for re-use on campus,” Paul Gover said.At 10am, the students will be briefed on how the wetland system works by Dr John Rafferty from the CSU School of Environmental Sciences. They will then, in conjunction with their science teachers, don waders to use water-testing equipment in the field in the CSU David Mitchell Wetlands and filtration ponds until 2pm.“Using the evidence they gather, the students will prepare a case for AlburyCity and propose that Council consider water recycling systems for new and established housing estate developments,” Mr Grover said.Mr Grover noted that the project is part of a partnership between CSU and the NSW Department of Education.“The project provides high school students with real-life issues to investigate and prepare solutions and present these to local interest groups, in this case the Council and land developers,” Paul Grover said.

Talented Bathurst school student Will Hazzard will stage a solo exhibition of his works at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Dubbo starting on Monday 2 April.The ‘Share the Earth’ exhibition by the award-winning 16-year old artist will feature 22 works reflecting his love of animals and the environment. Mr Hazzard lives with his parents at a property at Meadow Flat near Bathurst, and is a student of the Dubbo School of Distance Education.Head of Campus at CSU in Dubbo Ms Cathy Maginnis said, “We’re truly delighted to host this outstanding exhibition by Will. By providing areas at the CSU Dubbo campus for local artists to exhibit their artworks, at no cost, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the ethos of yindyamarra winhangana and our connection to the community.”Mr Hazzard has been awarded prizes for exhibiting at the Royal Bathurst Show, the Sofala Show, the Blayney Show, Textures of One, Evans Art Exhibition, Ironfest (Lithgow), and Waste To Art. One of his designs was chosen to feature at the NSW Department of Education music festivals. He won an ‘Advocate for Children and Young People’ competition and met the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. His work has toured NSW as part of Operation Art, and is featured in an exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.In June the University will call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) from interested artists to apply for exhibition time at CSU in Dubbo during the period July 2018 to June 2019.