The distinguished speakers at the conference will present the very latest thinking on virtually every aspect of the sustainability spectrum, from alternative fuels to green buildings, from water management to low-carbon power generation, from ecosystem engineering to bio- and nano-technologies.

The second International Congress on Sustainability Science and Engineering, or ICOSSE-11, will be held Jan. 9-13, 2011 at the J.W. Marriott Star Pass Resort in Tucson, Ariz. The University of Arizona College of Engineering is co-organizing the event.

The ICOSSE congress was established in 2009 to bring together scientists, engineers and economists to exchange ideas about how to protect the environment and its resources in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and societal benefits. The focus of the 2010 congress is managing sustainability using scientific and engineering innovations.

More than 70 companies, plus federal agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and professional engineering societies such as the American Institute of Chemical Engineers will present data, conduct workshops and debate which sustainable technologies best meet society's needs.

The Southwest was chosen for this year's ICOSSE-11 conference because of its existing sustainability practices, said Glenn Schrader, associate dean of research at the UA College of Engineering and ICOSSE-11 vice chair.

One example of sustainability in action is the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, the location for the three days of technical presentations, workshops and speaker sessions. Marriott Starr Pass participates in a number of important green initiatives, such as using recycled fill dirt and reclaimed water, xeriscaping its grounds, and buying locally grown sustainable produce, or growing its own.

"Tucson is an excellent cultural environment for this type of conference," Schrader said.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Paul Anastas, EPA science advisor and assistant administrator of the agency's office of research and development. Is known in environmental circles as the "father of green chemistry" for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture, and use of minimally toxic, environmentally friendly chemicals. Anastas has an extensive record of sustainability leadership in government, academia and industry.

"This is not a pie-in-the-sky conference," Schrader said. "Sustainable solutions that actually work must also be grounded in sound economic thinking, adaptation of public policy, and changes in cultural values."

Conference topics will include practices and technologies for achieving sustainable manufacturing and sustainable standards of living, hot topics for the people and industries of Arizona. Schrader will co-present a session on designing new materials and products to achieve sustainability, featuring recent advances in the fields of nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Sustainability subjects on the agenda at ICOSSE-11 include:

• Sustainable manufacturing practices
• Water reuse and management
• Natural resource management
• Green chemistry and engineering
• Climate change
• E-waste
• Sustainable materials, processing and product design
• Non-fossil-fuel transportation and power generation
• Strategies for the reuse, recycling and remanufacturing of resources
• Alternative transportation
• Sustainability education
• The built environment

Sponsors for ICOSSE-11 include the UA College of Engineering, Wanger Institute for Sustainable Energy at the Illinois Institute of 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, Rochester Institute of Sustainability, University of Kentucky, University of Cincinnati, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and Pegasus Technical Services. ICOSSE-11 partners include the Green Chemistry Institute, Council for Chemical Research, Center for Resilience, Ohio State University, and the UK-based Institution of Chemical Engineers.