Diary

Citation

(2012), "Diary", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 13 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe.2012.24913caa.003

Diary

Article Type: Diary From: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Volume 13, Issue 3

SEB’12 – International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings

3-5 September 2012, Stockholm, Sweden

Following the success of earlier events in the series, SEB’12, the Fourth International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings, will take place in Stockholm, Sweden at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in partnership with KES International.

SEB’12 invites participation and paper submissions across a broad range of renewable energy and sustainability-related topics relevant to the main theme of Sustainability in Energy and Buildings. Applicable areas include technology for renewable energy and sustainability in the built environment; also optimisation and modeling techniques, information and communication technology usage, behaviour and practice, including applications. Papers are invited on a broad range of renewable energy and sustainability-related topics on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings. Original full, short or work in progress (WIP) papers will be considered and where accepted, full and short papers will be presented orally and WIP papers will be presented as posters. Among the many topics are: governance of sustainability in energy and buildings; policy perspectives on sustainability in energy and buildings; intelligent buildings; control and optimisation of renewable energy systems; people in intelligent buildings and cities; energy and environmental assessment in buildings and cities; and, intelligent systems for sustainability. Further details can be seen at: http://seb.sustainedenergy.org/

Conference – 12th IAEE European Energy Conference – Energy Challenge and Environmental Sustainability

9-12 September 2012,Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy

The International Association for Energy Economics is holding its 12th Annual Conference on Energy Challenge and Environmental Sustainability, which will deal with the important changes underway in the global energy sector and its related environmental implications regarding the CO₂ emissions, as well as the most topical issues ranging from the development of the renewable sources to the nuclear power and the area of fossil fuels. It will feature plenary sessions on energy supply and security; economic recovery and the evolution of energy demand; climate change and the new GHG emission limitation regime; independent markets for energy commodities; environmental threats and opportunities for energy systems; and re-thinking nuclear. There will also be 50 concurrent sessions during the course of the conference. Further details can be seen at: www.iaeeu2012.it/index.html

“1st International Conference in Sustainable Business and Transitions for Sustainable Development”

11-13 October 2012, Konya, Turkey

In the age of globalisation, not only financial and commodity markets and much business have become global, but also many environmental and social problems. The increase in economic activity and related trade not only contributes to climate change and puts pressure on energy supply. It also influences political and social systems and the local environment, not necessarily in a positive way. There is a need for changing policy, institutions, technology and modes of production as well as ways of consumption at different levels of administrative scale. The conference will discuss important issues such as:

• •

  How can business contribute to sustainable development (corporate social responsibility)? Are size and ownership relevant for impact on social and environmental elements of sustainable development? Can technological development and technology transfer solve all problems?

• •

  How to support institutional change and socio-technological transitions in a multilevel governance context?

• •

  How can “smart solutions”, i.e. smart logistics, smart production, smart urban development, smart spatial planning, etc. support sustainable development?

• •

  How can strategies for adaptation or radical change of existing production systems and networks be developed?

• •

  How can sustainability strategies be included in corporate strategies, government strategies, administrative structures, NGOs, etc.?

• •

  How can the institutional capacity to direct transitions for sustainable development be strengthened?

Papers and posters from researchers working in business, economic and political governance and sustainable development, e.g. economics, business, geography, environmental sciences, natural sciences, legal sciences, social sciences are invited. Further details are available at: www.susbusinessconference.com/callforpapers.asp

2012 IADIS International Conference “Sustainability, Technology and Education”

28-30 November 2012, Curtin University, Perth Western Australia

The IADIS International Conference on Sustainability, Technology and Education (STE2012) aims to address the main issues which occur by assessing the relationship between Sustainability, Education and Technology. Broad areas of interest are: sustainability and leadership, sustainability and green IT, sustainability and education. These broad areas are divided into more detailed areas (see below). However, innovative contributes that do not fit into these areas will also be considered since they might be of benefit to conference attendees.

Further details are available at: www.sustainability-conf.org/index.php/call-for-papers

Seventh World Environmental Education Congress

9-14 June 2013, Marrakech, Morocco

The previous congresses took place in Portugal, Brazil, Italy, South Africa, Canada and Australia. In the next few months the location of the 2015 congress will be made known, for which numerous candidatures were presented, from Latin America, Asia and Europe, a sign of the growing interest in this important international event.

The proposal to host for the first time a world congress in a country of Arab and Muslim culture was put forward by the Fondation Mohammed VI pour la protection de l’environnement. This is undoubtedly the most interesting aspect of the next edition of WEEC. Morocco, among other things, is in a state of flux. A new constitution bringing political change has been in force since the end of 2011. A country with a long history and great artistic and natural assets, Morocco has in Marrakech a pearl of international fame.

Another interesting aspect is the theme chosen by the Local Organising Committee: the rural-urban relationship, a particularly sensitive issue in Morocco where, like many other countries, an exodus from the countryside and a strong process of urban migration is being witnessed. In addition, climactic changes are bound to exacerbate the problem of water shortage, strongly felt in Morocco as in many other countries. Further details can be seen at: www.environmental-education.org/

The 6th International Conference on Engineering Education for Sustainable Development (EESD13)

22-25 September 2013, Cambridge, UK

The conference will be held in Robinson College, which is part of the University of Cambridge, and delegates will be able to enjoy the historic city and the university facilities.

A new kind of engineer must be educated who can add to the familiar analytical problem solving skills new approaches to deal with wicked and messy problems, and who can apply a wider set of choice or assessment criteria when formulating solutions. To achieve these goals there is a fundamental need to rethink the engineer’s role and contribution in society, the skills needed to be effective, and how universities can help deliver a reconfiguration of an engineer’s professional outlook and responsibilities. This conference will address these themes and share best practice across academic disciplines and educators and explore how to move beyond merely advocating the next technical fix to finding sustainable solutions to increasingly difficult, complex and diverse problems. Some key questions which will be posed are:

• •

  How to move from narrow engineering optimisation to creating resilient solutions?

• •

  How to engage and learn from other disciplines?

• •

  How to monitor the implementation of new skills when graduates enter employment, and the changes they can lead from within industry?

• •

  What are the most appropriate pedagogical approaches to encourage this re-evaluation of what it means to be an engineer in the next 20 years.

Further details are available at: www-eesd13.eng.cam.ac.uk