CONFERENCE THEME
Since the release of Limits to Growth in 1972, there has been increased global discussion on issues related to sustainability. One definition of sustainable engineering is “the design of human and industrial systems to ensure that humankind’s use of natural resources and cycles do not lead to diminished quality of life due either to losses in future economic opportunities or to adverse impacts on social conditions, human health, and the environment” (Mihelcic et al., 2003). This is often practically interpreted as mutually advancing the long‐terms goals of economic growth, societal prosperity, and environmental protection.
The Environmental Engineering Body of Knowledge (BOK) (AAEE, 2009) states that “environmental engineering problem formulation and solution must be accomplished in the context of sustainability, must meet societal needs and must be sensitive to global implications.”
To recognize this competence, AAEE has created a new certification category in sustainability. As the world’s population and per‐capita consumption of water, energy, and materials increase, so does the urgency for environmental engineers and scientists to protect and enhance the environment and communities. This, however, presents numerous global challenges. For example, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) lists ten existing or emerging environmental issues:
Ten existing and emerging environmental issues (UNEP, 2002).
1. Globalization, trade & development
2. Coping with climate change & variability
3. The growth of megacities
4. Human vulnerability to climate change
5. Freshwater depletion and degradation |
6. Marine and coastal degradation
7. Population growth
8. Rising consumption in developing countries
9. Biodiversity
10. Biosecurity |
Our plan is to build the AEESP Education and Research Conference around these issues, and around the theme of global sustainability, using the following 6 tracks:
- Advances that deal with water depletion and degradation
- Advances that assess and improve waste management and air quality
- Infrastructure that serves an expanding and urbanizing population
- Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change
- Global issues in Environmental Engineering
- Energy as a cross‐cutting theme
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