World Student Summit for Sustainability 2012

The World Student Community for Sustainable Development (WSCSD) in partnership with the University of Nairobi and UNEP’s Environmental Education and Training Unit (EETU) is organizing the 2012 World Students Summit for Sustainability to be held at the Multimedia University College, Nairobi, Kenya from 12th – 16th  November, 2012.The 2012 World Student Summit for Sustainability (S3 2012) is the first annual WSCSD summit to be held in Africa. The summit will focus on developing a common understanding of a green economy and how youth energy, action and innovation can be harnessed for an enhance impact in sustainable development. The summit topics will focus on energy, waste, water, food and transport. Apart from keynote speeches, poster presentations and group discussions, practical activities will also be incorporated into the summit. Ultimately, it will foster formation of partnerships for collaborative efforts towards a Green Economy and Sustainable Development. GoalTo build the students’ understanding and enhance their actions towards achieving a Green Economy. Objectives

1. To share and document students’ sustainability efforts and engage students, universities and development partners in laying a foundation for a green economy.
2. To enhance understanding of the Green Economy concept and to increase action towards green entrepreneurship by providing a platform for student-student and student-professional interactions.
3. To increase collaborative responses and actions towards the Green Economy by fostering university-industry partnerships.
4. To prioritize youth action towards the Green Economy and Sustainable Development.

Activities Pre-summit:

1. Engage students, universities and sponsors to lay the foundation for a successful summit within all of the five focus topics (energy, food, water, waste and transport);
2. Initiate the design and construction of a model “Green House” assembled from used cargo containers;
3. Create a collaborative educational film – “We Are One” – documenting students’ grassroot actions towards a Green society

During the Summit:

1. Three days of presentations, round-table discussions
2. A special workshop on green entrepreneurship
3. Launch of a mobile sustainability exhibition showcasing everyday sustainable living in shipping cargo containers

Post-summit:

1. Nourishing mentorship, networking, and business support for green careers through Green Fellowship.
2. Mobilising global students’ action in transforming the impoverished Nyakongo village, Kenya into a model Sustainable Village.
3. Developing educational activities to support reorientation of curricula towards sustainable development at universities globally.
4. Screening of the film “We Are One” all over the world through community leaders.

 Outcomes The summit will produce enhanced understanding of a green economy, inspired action and collaborative student-run projects focused on promoting sustainable and resilient communities in developing countries. Concretely, the summit will result in:

1. Improved understanding and capacity of university students worldwide on a Green Economy.
2. Creation of a virtual sustainability education and learning platform targeting university students and young professionals providing information on innovative technologies and social engineering solutions  for green societies.
3. Launch of a sustainable development plan for a rural Kenyan village – Nyakongo.
4. Establishment of a Green Fellowship Program for students motivated to launch green careers and innovative enterprises after the summit.

Participants About 150 (80 Kenyan; 70 International) well selected students, academics, young entrepreneurs and policymakers will gather in Nairobi to share their insights on a green economy and to learn from each other. Plenary sessions will be video streamed online to allow more students to participate in the summit at a reduced cost and impact on the environment.RegistrationThe summit is open to all university students with interest and experience on environment and sustainability.  Only registered students will be admitted to the summit.Participation fee covers entrance at summit events, hotel accommodation in Nairobi in shared rooms (4 nights), all meals and cultural activities. The participation fee does not include air travel to Nairobi.All participants are expected to arrange for their own return air travel to Nairobi. The summit’s secretariat will assist by providing reference letter for fundraising.Limited sponsorship opportunities may be offered to selected SC representatives and presenters depending on the availability of funds.Participation feesStudent from Annex I Countries: USD 600Student from Non-Annex I Countries: USD 400List of AnnexI CountriesNon Annex 1 countriesRegistration Deadline: October 15, 2012Call for Papers and Posters (Deadlines Extended)We invite papers and posters by PhD, masters and undergraduate students from all over the world. These could be original, research-based articles, opinions or fieldwork observations succinctly addressing appropriate solutions or approaches to a green economy with special reference to developing countries.The papers and posters can be summit in the following topics: Energy, Water, Food, Waste or TransportTo be considered for paper or poster presentation, interested participants must submit abstracts that are related to the themes of the summit latest September 10,  2012.An evaluation committee will appraise the abstracts, and will notify authors by September 28, 2012. Successful authors will have to submit their full papers or posters  electronically by October 15, 2012.FormatPaper: All paper should respect the following style and format:

• Type and size of text: Arial 12
• Page size: A4
• Margins: 3 cm on each side
• Alignment: justified to the left only
• Numbered pages
• Figure and table legends
• References: at the end of the article in alphabetical order

Poster: All posters should respect the following style and format:

• Preferred dimensions are 70 cm x 50cm.
• The title, name of the authors and name of the institution must be printed on the upper half of the poster.
• The smallest font on the poster should be no less than 20 points (should be legible from a distance of 1 m).

Submission of papers and postersPlease send abstract, paper or poster before the deadlines by completing the Online Registration Form.For any inquiries please contact the organisers at info@s3nairobi.org and  s3nairobi@wscsd.org for attention of Mr. Bonface Nduma.For more information, kindly visit the the official website: World Student Summit for Sustainability 2012