Bayamo, Cuba, November 24th. - 27th., 2009

International Conference

EcoMaterials 4

Paths towards Sustainability

As a follow up of the III International Conference on Ecomaterials held in Santa Clara in September 2005, the Center for Research and Development of Structures and Materials (CIDEM) from the Universidad Central de las Villas; EcoSur, the Network for the Economic and Ecologic Habitat;  the National Union of Architects and Engineers of Cuba and the Ecologic Building Network (EBN), wish to announce the fourth edition of this series of conference, to be held in Bayamo, Cuba, from November 24 to 27, 2009, with the main theme “Paths towards Sustainability”

The “EcoMaterials movement” has consolidated over the last 15 years. It is a good moment to look at the paths followed from the perspective of sustainability, which was the theme of the first of this series of conferences that took place in Havana in November 1998. Production and use of EcoMaterials is becoming more and more frequent in many countries and in some it has entered the formal sector with an impact in the local market. Its utilization in varied contexts, as in post disaster projects, in the fight against poverty or in formal commercial housing, has converted EcoMaterials into versatile solutions. The technologies developed do not constitute cultural, political, social or technical barriers.

The EcoMaterials Conferences are part of the international alternative movement demanding for alternative practices to be introduced into the formal housing market, as the economic, technical and social sustainability have been demonstrated. The Conference has converted into an ideal medium for multilateral contacts and interchanges among personalities and institutions which in one form or another are related with the development, production and trade of EcoMaterials. The work sessions are organized in workshops with debates around the different topics related to the Conference’s main theme.

This time the Conference will be held in Bayamo, one of the seven towns founded by Diego Velásquez, being the capital of the province of Granma, in the eastern part of Cuba. The work sessions will be held in the hotel “Sierra Maestra” which offers appropriate installations and equipment to facilitate the presentation and discussions. In addition, collateral programs will be organized, including technical tours and visits to places of historic and tourist interest.

The methodology
The day will begin with a plenary session of approximately 150 minutes organized as a discussion panel where wellrenowned experts make short contributions that reflects his/her points of view on the day’s theme, which triggers a discussion facilitated by a moderator, where the different expert opinions are debated. Lively discussions shall be sought, aiming at enriching the controversial aspects of the theme.

After this beginning the plenary will be divided into three commissions, each addressing a specific theme related to the main daily theme. The experts join the commissions as guests. Selected papers are presented in oral contributions. As well some papers that will be presented as posters in the daily poster session.

The daily themes are described below:

Languages
The Conference will be bilingual. Official languages will be Spanish and English. The conference’s rooms will have simultaneous translation facilities.