Project Leader:
Prof.dr.hab.dr.h.c. Jan W. Dobrowolski
Dep. of Geo-Information, Photogrammetry and Environmental Remote Sensing, AGH Wydz. GGiIS, AGH Open University,Sci.Council Goetel's School of Enviromental Protection and Engineering - Krakow, Poland
dobrowol@agh.edu.pl

Description:

For the 10th Anniversary of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation, the 12 International Conference EURO-ECO 2008 on Sustainable Development of Historical Cities, based on Sound-tourism and Education will be held in Florence.
Euro-Eco 2008 will be touching upon some of the issues that will be discussed during the forthcoming International UNESCO Conference of the World Culture Heritage Cities that will be organized in Florence in 2009.

- CALL FOR PAPER - All interested participants are invited to present a scientific contribution (in English) pertaining to the subjects and titles planned in the preliminary programme.

The main aims of Euro-Eco 2008 are:

1. Finding new perspectives of contribution to the Promotion of Sustainable Development of the Historical Cities coming from Experts of Different Disciplines (technical, natural, socio-economical sciences, culture, education, etc.) interested in:
a - Better management of tourism in old cities by introduction of sound-tourism and formal and informal education for all interested local people and visitors (including dissemination of knowledge about different cultures and history of cross-cultural relationships in European history, relations between the international exchange of cultural achievements and economics, etc.)
b - Application of modern methods of communication and the spreading of the knowledge about UNESCO World Culture and Nature Heritage on site as well as by INTERNET as contribution to Distance Education for Sound-tourism versus overexploitation of historical cities by traditional tourism and e-learning of staff in this field ( including dissemination of Good Practice).

2. Application of Interdisciplinary case studies focused on Reduction of Negative Effects of Mass Tourism and Motorisation (traffic output) on the Human Environment (both out- and in-door housing environment).
In particular Introduction of Innovative Methods for more efficient elimination of Environmental Risk Factors for:
- human health,
- old architecture, monuments, museums,
- urban green areas
- natural and cultural heritage, cultural landscape, etc.
Through the exchange of methodological experiences and good practice in:
a - Effective and Economical System of Monitoring the Air Pollutants Harmful to Health and Historical Cities and Associated with their Hazard,
b - Environmental Impact Assessment ( based on Human Ecology ),
c - Introduction of Innovative Biotechnology for the acceleration of urban greening as tool of reduction of the spreading of traffic outputs and reclamation of polluted areas,
d - use of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) for supporting spatial planning and Sustainable Management of whole Regions of Historical Cities,
e - new system of eco-segregation of wastes (including initiatives of university students and common action of local inhibitors) and modern management of wastes,
f - innovative biotechnology for water waste treatment and reclamation of deteriorated regions,
g - prevention against flood accidents in historical cities in rivers regions (based on environmental engineering and biotechnology),
h - linkage between environmental management (reduction of concentration of SO2, NO2 and some other air pollutants) and Conservation of Old Architecture and pieces of fine arts (including photogrametric documentation and database of integrated action).

3. Prevention against global warming (change of climate) by:
a - wider use of renovable sources of energy (e.g. biomass from energy plantations, reclamated areas, etc.), bio energy (e.g. biogas production of organic wastes), solar, geothermal, wind energy as well as low-energy heating system in housing environment in historical cities,
b - management of green areas within and outside old cities in connection with protection of landscape and reforestation (including development of energy plantations in surrounding regions).

4. Contribution to a knowledge-based society and
the dissemination of good practices through the common action of scientists, practitioners, local stakeholders, visitors (people of different ages and professions) for improving the quality of the environment and contribution to sustainable development (including new jobs opportunities for graduates of different subjects of studies) and for more effective protection of historical cities against deterioration, as well as for wider dissemination of information and interactive education about culture and nature heritage and their importance for better quality of human life (both in local and international scale). One of proposed topics is revitalization of old cities by different kind of cultural activity (including local tradition and modern technical infrastructure).

SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION

The Conference is open to: scholars (e.g. experts in environmental management, conservation of architecture, spatial planning including GIS use, application of computer science for modern communication and e-learning), representatives of local administration and self governing bodies, professional organizations, NGOs, teachers, journalists and all other persons interested in different aspects of sustainable development of historical cities and linkage between sound-tourism and education (including Open University, Internet-based courses).
The participation of auditors is welcomed as well.
For registration and submission please read below.

Programme:
Friday, November 14th
Arrival of participants

AUDITORIUM AL DUOMO, Via de Cerretani 54r
8.30 –18.00 - Accreditation of the participants at the secretariat
11.00 - 13.00 - Opening of the Florence International Exchange Festival

PALAZZO COPPINI, Via Del Giglio 10, 1st floor, Florence
15.30 (3.30 pm)- 17.30 Welcome and starting of the interdisciplinary

<12th Conference on Sustainable Development of Historical Cities, Qualified tourism, Education>

INTRODUCTORY SESSION – short review of series of previous International Conferences on Sustainable Development 1989-2006 and their recommendations, introduction of the 12th International Conference Programme, as well as information about activity and interest of the participants, expected output of the Conference eg. international new projects, training activity, network for permanent cooperation, promotion of regions etc.
Remarcs: At introductory session are welcome experts who would like to introduce their topics of interests and proposals for the future cooperation (also these persons who did not uploaded their names on enclosed list of the participants).
AUDITORIUM AL DUOMO, Via de Cerretani 54r
18.00 - 19.00 - ‘Get together Cocktail’ following the general programme of EXPO 2008.

Saturday, November 15th

PALAZZO COPPINI, Via Del Giglio 10, 1st floor, Florence

Morning: 9:00-13:30

Session 1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF HISTORICAL CITIES AND THEIR REGIONS
Subjects:
1 A. Cooperation of scientists and practitioners on sustainable tourism (sound tourism) and education on culture (incl. museums) and nature heritage (incl. protected areas),
1 B. Training of staff (such as teachers, managers of tourist agencies and hotel managers) on qualified tourism, educational tourism (out of tourists season), nature-based tourism etc.
1.C. Sustainable waste management and wastewater treatment in old cities,
1.D. Sustainable transport in historical cities and their regions (incl. nature-based tourism, recreation and naturotherapy e.g. balneotherapy outside the cities).
1.E. Biodiversity (green areas) in cities and the way to use it in the promotion of the region (including ecotourism and ecological education).

Lunch break

Afternoon: 14:45-17:30

Session 2: LINKAGE BETWEEN CONSERVATION OF HISTORICAL ARCHITECTURE AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT (including monitoring of the air pollution)
Subjects:
2 A. Cooperation of experts in monitoring of pollutants and conservation of buildings, monuments, fine arts.
2 B. Environmental monitoring and management of historical cities (focused on minimization of negative effects of motorized tourism).
2 C. Photogrametric documentation of culture heritage and modern (Internet based)communication system
2 D. Human Ecology and Environmental Impact Assessment in historical cities and tourists centres.
2 E. System approach to sustainable management and protection of cultural landscape in regions of old cities and protected areas (national, regional parks, cultural heritage outside big cities, historical health resorts, etc.) including GIS application.


Sunday, November 16th

PALAZZO COPPINI, Via Del Giglio 10, 1st floor, Florence

Morning: 9:00-13:30

Session 3: NETWORKING BETWEEN REGIONS SURROUNDING HISTORICAL CITIES AND THEIR EFFORTS TO PREVENT LARGE-SCALE DISASTERS
Subjects:
3 A. Renewable sources of energy and low-energy lighting and heating system as contribution to prevention of Global Warming effect.
3 B. Innovative technologies for prevention of acidification and
eutrophication in regions of historical cities and areas for recreation (environmental biotechnology in particular).
3 C. Renovation of old cities after flood incidents and prevention against flood in river regions (Good Practice from different countries).

Lunch break

Afternoon: 14:40-18:00

Session 4: POSTER SESSION AND POSSIBLE PROMOTION OF HISTORICAL CITIES AND REGIONS FOR QUALIFIED TOURISM AND EDUCATION-RECOMMENDATION OF JOINT INTERNATINOAL PILOT PROJECTS (including the use of the Informatics’ Technology for education about different cultures and peace promotion on international scale).
Subjects:
4 A. Knowledge-based Society and education of stakeholders in local community and visitors for Common Action focused on Sustainable Development.
4 B. Social Corporate Responsibility for Sustainable Development on local and international scale.
4 C. Cooperation of Experts, Non Governmental Organization, Self-Governing Bodies and Local Society for promotion innovative, environmentally technologies and System of Sustainable Management of the Regions.Round-table discussion;
Recommendations for future cooperation-interdisciplinary pilot projects,problem-solving training, open for all distance eduction focused on common action for sustainable development.
Monday, November 17
Departure or possible participation to the sessions of the Florence International Exchange Festival

LANGUAGE
All session of the conference will be held in English.

VENUE
Venue of the conference: PALAZZO COPPINI, Via del Giglio 10, Florence – Italy

PARTICIPANTS
The speakers are requested to fill out the Registration Form before September 30th, 2008 Once the form is completed and sent, they will receive a password for uploading their abstract on their personal web page.
To finalize the registration the participants (speakers or auditors) are requested to proceed with the payment of the fee for registration and accommodation.



INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPATION
REMARCS (after deadline of submission order form);

Please contct about up to day situation with the Conference fee, information about hotels in Florence the Organizing Team by e.mail: info@florence-expo.com

Participation fee:
Reduced registration fee: 150 Euro (

Registration fee covers:
Participation to all the sessions, possibility to present the paper within the sessions, meeting rooms, audiovisual equipments, 2 coffee breaks per day, dinner on arrival day, secretariat expenses, personnel assistance during the conference, badge, bag for documents, programme.
Other than this the participants will have free access to the venues of the Florence International Exchange Festival and to its sessions: conferences, case histories and company presentation, company, university and students exhibition area, evening performances and other parallel events.

FULL REGISTRATION IS POSSIBLE UNTIL AVAILABILITY OF SEATS.


To pay by Credit Card: click here
We accept payments by credit card when the name of the credit card holder is the same as the name of registered participant.

To pay by bank transfer:
First click here to register on our website
Then proceed to the payment made out to:
Fly Events srl
12 International Conference Euro-Eco 2008 (please indicate the registration nr.)
Via del Giglio n. 10 – 50123 FIRENZE – ITALIA
IBAN IT 91 I 06160 02821 000915509C00 SWIFT CRFI IT 3F XXX
Banca Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze Agenzia 21, Via Mugello 27 50127 Firenze

Kindly send us the certificate of the money bank transfer by e-mail (info@florence-expo.com) or by fax to the nr. +39 055 28 32 60 specifying the registration number, your name and the name of the event.

PAY ATTENTION: all paid fees shall be net of all bank costs and commission

Cancellation policies
The cancellations of the registration fees and hotel packages carried out before September 30, 2008 will be reimbursed with a 70 Euro deduction for secretarial costs. After this date no reimbursements will be possible, unless the cancellation is for a visa problem. Any reimbursement will be given at the end of the congress and will be realised through the same mean you paid. In case of bank transfer the IBAN and SWIFT code are necessary.



For any questions about the economic aspects, payment and accommodation, mail here
(organizing office Promo Florence Events Srl)