Miscellaneous Information

Zero Footprint Efforts

Ecological Engineering is the practice of finding solutions that result in mutual benefits for human society and natural environment.  As such, we will strive to be as “zero footprint” as possible at this year’s conference. Under guidance of the UT Office of Sustainability, we will endeavor to take the following actions to minimize the energy, carbon, and water footprint of our event:

• Conference swag will include a reusable Muir Mug coffee mug and set of utensils that will help reduce the need for disposables not only at the conference, but also after you return home.
• No bottled water will be available at any time during the conference. During field trips, we will have large water dispensers and we encourage you to bring your own reusable bottle.
• Printing will be kept to a minimum, and when needed, 100% recycled paper will be used. Abstracts will not be printed, but rather found online.
• All meals at the conference venue will be served using china, glassware and metal utensils, all reusable and no disposables.
• Area information (e.g. maps, lists of restaurants, etc.) will be available, but not automatically distributed in the welcome packet. To reduce waste, we ask that you pick up the information as needed at the registration desk and share when possible.
• To help offset the carbon footprint of conference travel, the UT student club the “Hydrolunteers” planted nearly 300 native tree seedlings in a riparian buffer at a local middle school just a few miles from downtown Knoxville.
• Name badge carriers are all reused from previous events.
• Conference attendees are encouraged to use low footprint transportation as much as possible during the conference (e.g. walking, biking, carpooling). As the conference venue is located downtown next to the university, local transportation via foot will be generally convenient.
• Conference feedback surveys will only be available online.
• Recycling bins will be present throughout the conference venue.
• Exhibitors are encouraged to limit the amount of materials they bring and distribute in order to reduce waste.

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