Global meeting on sustainability in commercial environments to take place in the Southwest
Industry meets academics in Southern Arizona for an international conference between those who practice sustainability in manufacturing environments and those who develop the science and engineering behind commercial recycling, remanufacturing and materials reuse.
The International Congress on Sustainability Science and Engineering (ICOSSE '11) is
January 9 - 13, 2011 at the J.W. Marriott Star Pass Resort in Tucson, Arizona. The University of Arizona College of Engineering, co-organizer of the event, is also hosting the global delegation of thought leaders on sustainability from a manufacturing and larger systems perspective.
More than 70 companies, federal agencies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and professional engineering societies like the American Institute of Chemical Engineers will present data, conduct workshops and confer on which sustainable technologies best meet the needs of today's society.
The Southwest was chosen for this year's ICOSSE conference because of its existing sustainability practices, said Dr. Glenn Schrader, Associate Dean of Research at the UA College of Engineering and ICOSSE '11 Vice Chair.
One example of sustainability applied to business is the Marriott Starr Pass, location for the three days of technical sessions, workshops and speakers. Marriott Starr Pass participates in a number of important green initiatives, including the use of recycled fill dirt and natural wash preservation in its construction; the use of reclaimed water on its courses; xeriscape landscaping on surrounding grounds; and the buying of sustainable produce grown in the area.
"Tucson is an excellent cultural environment for this type of conference," Schrader said
The keynote speaker for ICOSSE '11 is Paul Anastas, science advisor to the EPA and assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). Known widely as the "Father of Green Chemistry" for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture, and use of minimally-toxic, environmentally-friendly chemicals, Dr. Anastas has an extensive record of sustainability leadership in government, academia and industry.
Sustainability issues to be focused on at ICOSSE '11 include:
- Sustainable manufacturing practices
- Water reuse and sustainable management
- Natural resource management
- Sustainable materials, processing and product design
- Non-fossil transportation and power generation
- Product life cycle assessment on reuses/recycle/remanufacturing
"This is not a 'pie-in-the-sky' conference -- sustainable solutions that actually work must also be grounded in sound economic thinking, adaptation of public policy, and changes in cultural values," Schrader said.
Sponsors for ICOSSE '11 include the UA College of Engineering, Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy at the Illinois Institute of Technology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Science Foundation, Institute for Sustainability, Sustainable Engineering Forum, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Rochester Institute of Sustainability, University of Kentucky, University of Cincinnati, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Pegasus Technical Services. ICOSSE '11 partners include the Green Chemistry Institute, Council for Chemical Research, Center for Resilience, Ohio State University and U.K.-based IChemE.
Provided by University of Arizona College of Engineering
