All in all, the conference was attended by more than 360 interested adults and students who represented six Sarasota County schools and several universities. A total of 21 speakers gave presentations at the conference. You can enhance your knowledge on one of the most critical issues of our time and future by viewing their slide presentations on our conference web site.
Conference Update
All in all, the conference was attended by more than 360 interested adults and students who represented six Sarasota County schools and several universities. A total of 21 speakers gave presentations at the conference. You can enhance your knowledge on one of the most critical issues of our time and future by viewing their slide presentations on our conference web site.Sarasota County Sustainability Workshop
The Keynote Speakers have been announced and a tentative Agenda is now available for the 8th Annual Sustainable Communities Workshop, to be held on Dec. 18, 2013. Please register now to attend this exciting workshop.
Businesses and organizations are also invited to consider partnering in presenting this important workshop asExhbitors and Sponsors. The 2013 Sustainable Communities Workshop theme is "Investing in Our Future." Please support this goal and have your commitment to community sustainability recognized.
Register Now!
Workshop Sponsors
Workshop Exhibitors
November 21, 2013
Register now for theDecember 18, 2013.
Thanks from Antonio Zonta
Dear Sarasota Sister City Association, dear USF, dear Friends and Colleagues
First of all I want to thank the Sister City Association and the USF for the warm hospitality that I was offered in Sarasota, and for the faultless organization and the high scientific level of the conference.
But I also remember the wonderful experience that has allowed me to meet new colleagues and make new friends: I really hope that we can keep in touch and find new opportunities to meet.
Thanks so much to all of you and take care!
Grazie a tutti e un grande saluto!
Antonio Zonta
First of all I want to thank the Sister City Association and the USF for the warm hospitality that I was offered in Sarasota, and for the faultless organization and the high scientific level of the conference.
But I also remember the wonderful experience that has allowed me to meet new colleagues and make new friends: I really hope that we can keep in touch and find new opportunities to meet.
Thanks so much to all of you and take care!
Grazie a tutti e un grande saluto!
Antonio Zonta
Director of the Building and Estate Department
Province of Treviso
Haifa Professor at Sustainability Conference
 |
| Professor Ori Lahav with Sarasota Sister Cities Tel Monde Director Linda Rosenbluth at Museum of Whimsey amongst the “hands of friendship” sculptors |
The Sarasota Sister Cities Association recently organized and hosted an International Conference on “Sustainability through Renewable Energy & Aquaculture” at the University of South Florida-Sarasota/Manatee, Nov 13-15, 2013. Representatives from six of our eight sister cities and from all four area Colleges and Universities gave presentations at the conference. Over 300 people were in attendance.
The theme for Day 1 of the conference was Sustainability Concepts and Practices and in this session Professor Ori Lahav, the Sister City delegate for Tel Mond, Israel, provided an enlightening presentation on “Improving the Quality of Desalinated Seawater”. Dr. Lahav is an Associate Professor of Environmental, Water and Agricultural Engineering at Technion-the Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, Israel. His research interests focus on water quality and aquacultural engineering. He has received several significant awards for research innovation and academic excellence in this field. Dr. Lahav arrived from Durham, NC where he is currently on sabbatical leave at Duke University.
Professor Lahav was thrilled to be a part of the program and is planning to develop cooperative work with Dr. Kevan Main, the Director of the Mote Marine Laboratory, Aquaculture Facility in Sarasota. Dr. Main’s presentation at the conference was on “Opportunities to Conserve Our Fisheries and Ocean Resources Using Sustainable Aquaculture”. Forty percent of the seafood consumed worldwide is from aquaculture. Water quality is a very important factor for production of healthy seafood from aquaculture and cooperation between these two institutions will provide new insights for future developments in aquaculture.
Our Thanks and Acknowledgement
The Sustainability Conference held November 13-15, 2013 was a great success with interesting and informative presentations made by experts from all over the world. The importance of sustainable activities are obvious in everything from our energy resources to our food supply.
Our thanks to Ray Young and his committee who did an outstanding job. We, also, thank our outstanding presenters who spoke to the conference. It is rare that a conference of this caliber can be developed by a Sister Cities Organization. We thank the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee for their participation and support.
Our thanks to Ray Young and his committee who did an outstanding job. We, also, thank our outstanding presenters who spoke to the conference. It is rare that a conference of this caliber can be developed by a Sister Cities Organization. We thank the University of South Florida Sarasota/Manatee for their participation and support.
Beth Ruyle Hullinger, President Sarasota Sister Cities.
Sandy Murray, Scotland
Colleagues,
Can I pass my thanks for your hospitality and the chance to meet you last week, it was a great experience. I hope we can build on what was started at the meetings and look forward to help in any way I can. Just to keep you informed it is freezing here in not so sunny Scotland L!
Thanks again and take care.
Thanks,
Sandy Murray CEng FIMechE BEng (Hons) DEM
Assistant Head of School (Rosyth Campus)
Fife College
Wood Road
Rosyth Business Park
Rosyth
Dunfermline
KY11 2EA
Tel: 01383 559144 (ext 5144)
email: sandymurray@fife.ac.uk
Merida - Humberto Cervera Comments
Dear Sarasota Sister Cities Association and USF-S/M:
Now that we are back and more or less organized after taking care of the pending work, due to a week's absence, we want to thank you all of you, and those whose addresses we don't have, for your warm hospitality and the invaluable experience the International Conference provided to the Merida delegation.
Fernando Herrera and myself are truly grateful and hope that as a result of our visit, the wonderful people we met, the variety and importance of the topics presented,we can establish solid links with all the sister cities and develop projects of common interest in the near future.
Looking forward to seeing you again, perhaps in Merida, we send you our best wishes for all the great work you do.
MuchÃsimas gracias,
Humberto Cervera
Great Conference
The Sustainability Conference was a great success. Speakers from six of our Sister Cities made fine presentations. We all learned a great deal about sustainability and will take this knowledge back to our part of the world for implementation.
The International Sarasota Sister City Conference on Sustainability will be held at the University of South Florida-Sarasota/Manatee, November 13-15, 2013. The Public is welcome to join us for Outstanding Presentations by Experts from around the World.
The conference will be of interest to a wide segment of the public from Students and Teachers to Government employees and Business Owners. Get the latest information on sustainable communities, sustainable tourism, sustainable business innovation, solar energy and sustainable aquaculture. The cost of the conference is only $75.00 and free for students.
The Conference is sponsored by the Sister Cities Association of Sarasota and the University of South Florida Sarasota / Manatee. Sarasota a great place to visit and we look forward to meeting you at the conference.Dr. Ray Young
Conference Director
International Sustainability Conference
To Be Held At The
University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee
Sister Cities Association of Sarasota has teamed with the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee to host a major three-day conference on “Sustainability Through Renewable Energy & Aquaculture” Nov. 13-15, 2013 in USFSM's Selby Auditorium, 8350 N. Tamiami Trail.
The goal of the conference is to bring together both professionals and students from Florida and internationally with Sarasota’s Sister Cities in a forum based on Sustainability. “One of the major missions of Sarasota Sister Cities Association (SCAS) is to foster international relationships through exchanges in areas of business, culture and education,” stated SCAS President Beth Ruyle Hullinger. “SCAS’s objective is to develop respect, understanding and cooperation through citizen diplomacy.”
The conference will focus on three individual topics:
- Sustainability, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 13
- Renewable Energy Alternatives, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 14
- Sustainability of Ocean & Water Resources, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Nov. 15
Topics covered will include:
- Sustainability - exploring sustainability concepts; sustainable communities; sustainability management; sustainable agriculture, and water sustainability.
- Renewable Energy Alternatives - exploring new developments in solar energy; photovoltaics; fuels from biomass, and ocean wave technology.
- Sustainability of Ocean Resources - exploring closed circuit, non-polluting aquaculture, aquaculture practices and aquaculture of giant prawns, sturgeon, and caviar.
Information on speakers:
The conference will involve presentations by international universities from five of Sarasota’s Sister Cities (Dunfermline, Scotland; Merida, Mexico; Perpignan, France, Tel Mond, Israel and Xiamen, China); seven Florida universities or colleges; three regional businesses; plus the Florida Department of Energy; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Agency and Mote Marine Laboratory.
The introductory speaker for the Sustainability sessions Nov. 13 will be Patrick Sheehan, director of Florida’s Office of Energy in Tallahassee. Other speakers for this session will represent the Institute for Eco-Municipality Educations & Assistance in Cambridge, MA and Umea Sweden; The Walt Disney Company, Orlando; the Patel School of Global Sustainability at the University of South Florida (Tampa); State College of Florida; New College of Florida; the University of Florida; and Ringling College of Art & Design.
Keynote speaker for the Renewable Energy sessions on Nov. 14 will be Energy Consultant and Lecturer Michael Alexy. Other presentations will be made by representatives of the University of Perpignan of Perpignan, France; the Florida Solar Energy Center of the University of Central Florida; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; the Brilliant Harvest Company, Sarasota; Carnegie College & Whitlock Energy Collaboration Center of Dunfermline, Scotland, and Safrema Energy of Lakewood Ranch.
Keynote speaker for the Sustainability of Ocean & Water Resources sessions on Nov. 15 will be Russell Dunn of the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). Other presentations will be made by representatives of the University of the Yucatan of Merida, Mexico; Jimei University of Xiamen, China; the Israeli Institute of Technology; Mote Marine Laboratories, and Florida Organic Aquaculture of Jupiter, FL.
Attendance is open to the public, but requires registration. Full registration for the 3-day conference is $75. An option for attending select daily sessions is $30 per day. Lunch is included for those with paid registrations on Nov 13 and 14. College and high school students may register at no cost. Lunch will not be provided to college or high school students registered to attend the sessions at no cost.
Details on registration will be available Oct 1 at:
________________________
About Sarasota Sister Cities (SCAS)
We have friends in places you have never been
The mission of Sister Cities Association of Sarasota, Inc. (SCAS) is to foster international relationships between Sarasota and cities that have similar interests by creating exchanges in areas of culture, education, tourism, business and government. SCAS’s objective is to develop respect, understanding and cooperation through citizen diplomacy. To accomplish this mission we develop relationships with people in cities that have cultural, education, tourism and business environments similar to Sarasota’s. Working outside the realm of government, but with its support, we encourage and facilitate cultural and education exchanges, business opportunities and increased tourism.
About University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee (USFSM)
The University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee is a comprehensive, four-year university for those interested in pursuing a baccalaureate or master’s degree, professional certification, or continuing education credit. USFSM offers the prestige of a nationally ranked research university with the convenience of a hometown location, including classes in North Port and Manatee County.
Media Contact:
Tom Halbert
Immediate Past President
Sister Cities Association of Sarasota
941-485-8596 (Primary)
941-4160-0486 (Cell)
halbertjt@gmail.com
Conference Contact:
Tom Halbert
Immediate Past President
Sister Cities Association of Sarasota
941-485-8596 (Primary)
941-4160-0486 (Cell)
halbertjt@gmail.com
Conference Contact:
Program Agenda
International Conference
“Sustainability Through Renewable Energy & Aquaculture”
Sarasota Sister Cities Association
University of South Florida-Sarasota/Manatee
November 13-15, 2013
DAY 1 NOV 13 SUSTAINABILITY
Morning Session
8:00-9:00 am Conference Check-In
9:00 Introduction – Dr. Raymond A. Young, Sarasota Sister Cities Assn.
Welcoming Remarks
Patrick Sheehan
Director, Florida Office of Energy, Dept of Agriculture & Consumerism
9:30 Keynote Address: Sustainability Business Innovation
Prof. Sharon Hanna-West
School of Sustainability, University of South Florida-Tampa
10:00 Issues for Sustainable Management
Prof. Adrienne Gould-Choquette, State College of Florida-Venice
10:30 Break
11:00 The Eco-Municipality Movement in Sweden and the USA
Sarah James & Torbjörn Lahti, Institute for Eco-Muncipality Education
& Assistance, Cambridge, MA & Umea, Sweden
11:30 Sustainable Communities
Prof. David Brain, New College of Florida, Sarasota
12:00 Programs for Sustainable Buildings in Treviso Province, Italy
Antonio Zonta, Treviso Province Administration, Treviso, Italy
12:30-1:30 Lunch
Afternoon Session
1:30 The Walt Disney Company: A Case Study in Sustainable Tourism
Dr. David Randle, Patel School of Global Sustainability, USF-Tampa
2:00 Valuing Nature's Service – Green Infrastructure and Economics of
Ecosystem Services, Prof. Tim Rumage, Ringling College of Art & Design
2:30 Improving the Quality of Desalinated Seawater
Prof. Ori Lahav, Technion-Israel Inst. of Technology (Haifa, Israel)
3:00 Energy Solutions With Sustainable Agriculture Practices
Roy Beckford , University of Florida-Extension, Ft Myers, FL
DAY 2 NOV 14 RENEWABLE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES
Morning Session
9:00 Opening – Nan Summers, USF-Sarasota/Manatee
Keynote Address: Solar Power Plants and Energy Storage for Global Energy
Needs
Keynote Address: Solar Power Plants and Energy Storage for Global Energy
Needs
Dr Elias Stefanakos, Director, Clean Energy Research Center,
University of South Florida-Tampa
9:30 Solar Energy Storage
Prof. Xavier Py, Vice President, University of Perpignan (Perpignan, France)
10:00 Retrofit Your Home & Drive for Free and PV on Your Roof & Pay
$1.08/Gallon
Dr. James Fenton, Florida Solar Energy Ctr, Univ. of Central Florida
10:30 Break
11:00 Energy from Biomass
Dr. Thomas Elder, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, (Pineville, Louisiana)
11:30 Transition to a Renewable Energy Economy
Bill Johnson, Brilliant Harvest Co., Sarasota
12:00-1:00 Lunch
Afternoon Session
1:00 Facing the Energy Skills Challenge
Prof. Sandy Murray, Carnegie College & Whitlock Energy
Collaboration Center (Dunfermline, Scotland)
1:30 Energy from Ocean Currents
Bruno Andreis, Safrema Energy LLC, Lakewood Ranch, FL
2:00 Poster Session
DAY 3 NOV 15 SUSTAINABILITY OF OCEAN RESOURCES
Morning Session
9:00 Opening – Prof. Erin Martin, USF-Sarasota/Manatee
Welcoming Remarks: Dr. Jane Rose, Dean, Arts & Science
USF-Sarasota/Manatee
Keynote Address: U.S. National Perspectives on Sustainable
Fisheries and Aquaculture
Russell Dunn, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration - Tampa
9:30 The Yucatan Fishery Resources: Trends and Perspectives to Sustainability
Prof. Carlos Gonzalez-Salas & Prof. Humberto Cervera,
Autonomous Univ. of the Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
10:00 Opportunities to Conserve Our Fisheries and Ocean Resources
using Sustainable Aquaculture
Dr. Kevan Main, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, FL
10:30 Break
11:00 Characteristics and Developmental Trends of China’s Fisheries and
Aquaculture
Dr. Qian Ma, Mote Marine Laboratory and Yellow Sea Fisheries Research
Institute, Qingdao, China
11:30 Florida Shellfish Aquaculture
Leslie N. Sturmer, University of Florida IFAS, Cedar Key, FL & Dr. John Scarpa,
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Inst. at Florida Atlantic Univ., Ft. Pierce, FL
12:00 Sustainability and Profits in Aquaculture
Clifford Morris & Jose Manzo – Florida Organic Aquaculture, Fellsmere, FL
12:30 Closing Remarks & Presentations - Dr. Raymond A. Young, Sarasota Sister
Cities Assn.
Appreciation is Expressed to our Conference Sponsors
Walmart Corp. & Huisking Foundation
Special Thanks to the
Sarasota Chamber of Commerce
and the
Green Business Leadership Council
for assistance with the event
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