We are delighted to announce the second U21 Graduate Research Conference

Globally, economies are facing challenges to future sustainability and are investing in strategies to mitigate, and adapt to, the potential of new climatic realities.  People are increasingly moving into urban areas from rural areas, placing stress on transport and other basic infrastructure. The conference will explore issues of sustainability of cities including: energy; water; the built environment; cultural, historical and social issues; human health; transport; and the natural environment.  

Participants will have the opportunity to present and discuss their own work in a multi-disciplinary context through oral and poster presentations. Australia provides an excellent “laboratory” to review the future sustainability of cities, with climate scientists suggesting it will be one of the first countries to be impacted by climate change.

The conference provides an inclusive, multi-disciplinary context to examine topics including:  energy; water; the built environment; cultural, historical and social issues; human health; transport and the environment.  Graduate research students from all disciplines are invited to apply, describing the contribution they can make to the conference.

Participants
All U21 graduate students with an academic/research interest in these topics. The number of participants will be limited to 60 graduate students.  (Eligible Graduate students are those completing a doctoral or masters degree by research)

Registration
AUD$1,000.  This includes the cost of accommodation, local travel (including airfares between the Melbourne and Brisbane venues), and meals.

The conference starts in Melbourne on Sunday 29 November; delegates will be flown to Brisbane on Wednesday 2 December; the conference concludes with dinner in Brisbane on 5 December 2009.

Key dates
Expressions of interest should be submitted by 31 August 2009

Registrations should be completed by 30 September 2009

For immediate enquiries, please contact Professor John Langford at the University of Melbourne via U21-conference@unimelb.edu.au.