Who Will Benefit From Iaia12?

• Policy makers and decision makers
• Corporate, industry, and foundation leaders
• Practitioners and users of IA
• Government agency staff
• Educators, trainers, and students
• Consultants
• Legislators
• All others with an interest in impact assessment

Why Should You Attend IAIA12?

• Networking: expand and maintain contacts with your peers, clients, and those who conduct, evaluate and require IAs.
• Education: explore current best practice principles, recent tools and techniques.
• Options: choose from numerous and diverse training courses, theme forums, technical visits, and over 90 sessions ranging from interdisciplinary approaches to topic-specifi c workshops.
• Inspiration: attend and participate in stimulating and thought-provoking discussions.
• Innovation: learn about cutting-edge IA theory and practice from around the world.
• Dissemination: present your work and receive international feedback.
• Enjoyment: participate in one or more of many social events in a unique and beautiful city.

Why Are IAIA Conferences Special?

• IAIA is the only international, interdisciplinary conference dedicated to the art and science of impact assessment ... the only one.
• Exclusive mix of high-level speakers representing many areas of expertise and interest.
• A very participatory conference: numerous in-depth workshops, roundtables, Q&A sessions, forums, and concurrent sessions mean you can participate actively and present your work and ideas.
• Access to training, papers, publications, tools, techniques, and case studies.

Procedure

Conference submissions take place in three phases.

• Session proposals. In July and August, session proposals are invited. Accepted sessions are listed in the preliminary program in October.
• Paper and poster abstract submissions. From October to January, papers and posters are invited on the topics and sessions listed in the preliminary program. Accepted papers and posters with the primary author registered by 28 February are listed in the final program.
• Papers for online proceedings. From February through 31 March, paper and poster presenters are invited to prepare 5-page papers to be included in a review process for online proceedings. To be published online, the paper or poster abstract must have been accepted by the program committee, and the presenting author must be registered by 28 February. Instructions for paper preparation and submission are provided to authors upon both submission and acceptance of a paper or poster abstract.

How To Send A Session Proposal Or Paper/Poster Abstract

Follow the instructions at www.iaia.org > IAIA12 > Submissions.

Language

English is the primary language used at IAIA conferences. Unless otherwise noted in the preliminary or final program, sessions will be held in English.

Acceptance And Registration

Session organizers and authors will receive an immediate confirmation of successful online submission.

The Program Committee will notify session organizers of acceptance status for sessions between 1 September and 10 September.

Session chairs will notify authors of papers or posters of acceptance status by 15 February.

All session chairs and presenting authors or speakers listed in the final program are required to submit a registration form, with full conference fees paid, by 28 February 2012. Please submit an abstract only if you will have funding to cover your travel and registration; individuals not able to comply with the registration requirement and deadlines will not be included in the program and proceedings.

Remember: Early registration will also save you money! IAIA does not have funds available to pay registration and travel expenses for program participants.

Program

We hope that you will join us in Porto to share your experiences, concerns, and ideas about the IAIA12 theme and other important topics. Papers, Posters, and workshops are welcome on all aspects of the conference theme and within the scope of all IAIA Section topics.

In addition to conference sessions, workshops, and training courses, you will also be able to choose technical visits, sightseeing tours, networking opportunities, and more.

Potential technical visits include:

• The Porto Refinery
• Production Facilities of Wind Energy Turbines
• Waste Management System of the Metropolitan Area of Porto
• Foz Tua Dam
• Walking Tour in the Historic Centre of Porto
• Stock Exchange Palace
• Port Wine Cellars

The preliminary program and registration materials will be available on the IAIA website in October 2011. We encourage you to sign up now at www.iaia.org to receive updates about this conference.

The conference will be structured around 4 thematic streams

Renewable Energy

During the last decade, the research and development of renewable energy sources has been intense, encompassing a large set of technological solutions: onshore and offshore wind farms, geothermal, passive solar, photo-voltaic, biofuels, hydropower, tidal energy, etc.

• What are the future impacts of expanding the development and utilization of these sources of energy?
• What long-term impacts may evolve from massive adoption of these technologies?
• How can we cope with the competition between agriculture/forest and biofuel production?
• Which technologies will emerge as the “next big things” in our global future?

Electric Powered Transportation

The next decades will be shaped by an ever increasing penetration of electrical mobility in public and individual transport. This emerging trend will be followed by challenges not yet identified.

• How should we plan our cities for rapid transition and expansion of electrified transportation systems (both public transit and electric vehicles)?
• How can we adapt growing megacities to these challenges, especially in less developed nations?
• How will logistic supply chains react?
• What kind of resources will be needed to support these new technologies?

Fossil Fuels

Available data indicates that global oil and gas supplies are peaking. This challenges oil companies to look for new areas of exploration and also require the development of new technologies and new environmental practices.

• Which challenges will impact assessment community face with these new developments?
• How can we handle environmental risks of deep sea drilling and tar sands exploitation?
• How can we prepare society for a daily life more independent of fossil fuels?

Electric Power Leap

Society will require a growing dependence on electricity in the future. The simultaneous presence of multiple and different power sources will impose great challenges, including a rapid transition to expanded electrical grid systems.

• What are the land and societal limits to the coexistence between human society and the basic infrastructures on which we depend?
• How will we mitigate impacts of increased electricity production?
• How can we develop decision-making processes that smooth out conflicts with the population?
• How can we promote the involvement of these same people in the decisions that affect them?

A defining issue throughout human history has been how societies have pursued the supply and management of energy. Our view of the world and the world economy over the last 3-4 human generations has been shaped by assumptions of infinite energy supplied primarily by fossil fuels. Impact assessments have scrutinized thousands of energy projects, but few have considered the long-term future supply and sources of non-renewable and renewable energy as critical to decision-making. Now, however, the basic principle of limitless energy is under challenge.

Impact assessment has proven to be a powerful evolving tool able to incorporate environmental, social and health concerns, among others, in decision-making processes. More integrated approaches are being tested for biodiversity and climate change. Understanding the future of energy must also be one of the highest priorities for impact assessment professionals. What is the role of impact assessment on future global, national and local energy decisions and choices? How can we tackle the environmental and social risks that will appear as a result of our quest for the development, production and management of new energy sources?

Program

In addition to conference sessions, workshops, and training courses, you will also be able to choose technical visits, sightseeing tours, networking opportunities, and more.

Potential technical visits include:

• The Porto Refinery
• Production Facilities of Wind Energy Turbines
• Intermunicipal Waste Management of Greater Porto (LIPOR)
• Foz Tua Dam
• Walking Tour in the Historic Centre of Porto
• Stock Exchange Palace
• Port Wine Cellars

The preliminary program and registration materials will be available on the IAIA website in October 2011. We encourage you to sign up now at www.iaia.org to receive updates about this conference.

Renewable Energy

During the last decade, the research and development of renewable energy sources has been intense, encompassing a large set of technological solutions: onshore and offshore wind farms, geothermal, passive solar, photovoltaic, biofuels, hydropower, tidal energy, etc.

• What are the future impacts of expanding the development and utilization of these sources of energy?
• What long-term impacts may evolve from massive adoption of these technologies?
• How can we cope with the competition between agriculture/ forest and biofuel production?
• Which technologies will emerge as the “next big things” in our global future?

Electric Powered Transportation

The next decades will be shaped by an ever-increasing penetration of electrical mobility in public and individual transport. This emerging trend will be followed by challenges not yet identified.

• How should we plan our cities for rapid transition and expansion of electrified transportation systems (both public transit and electric vehicles)?
• How can we adapt growing megacities to these challenges, especially in less developed nations?
• How will logistic supply chains react?
• What kind of resources will be needed to support these new technologies?

Fossil Fuels

Available data indicates that global oil and gas supplies are peaking. This challenges oil companies to look for new areas of exploration and also require the development of new technologies and new environmental practices.

• Which challenges will impact assessment community face with these new developments?
• How can we handle environmental risks of deep sea drilling and tar sands exploitation?
• How can we prepare society for a daily life more independent of fossil fuels?

Electric Power Leap

Society will require a growing dependence on electricity in the future. The simultaneous presence of multiple and different power sources will impose great challenges, including a rapid transition to expanded electrical grid systems.

• What are the land and societal limits to the coexistence between human society and the basic infrastructures on which we depend?
• How will we mitigate impacts of increased electricity production?
• How can we develop decisionmaking processes that smooth out conflicts with the population?
• How can we promote the involvement of these same people in the decisions that affect them?

Authors of abstracts submitted by 31 December, 2011 will be entered into a drawing for a free IAIA12 conference registration. There is no special entry form; all abstracts received through 31 December will be automatically entered.