Since its inception in 1988, the Healthy Buildings conferences have been held in various locations throughout Europe, North America and Asia, however, to date, no conferences have been held in the Southern Hemisphere. Given that Australia has been experiencing a steady increase in interest in indoor air quality and healthy indoor environments over the last few decades, we believe that it is timely to hold the next Healthy Buildings conference in Australia. The city of Brisbane, in Queensland, is a great place for holding meetings/conferences, with its ample accommodation options, good climate and numerous opportunities for recreational activities nearby. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is located in the heart of Brisbane and is home to one of the largest academic programs focused on air quality, and in particular indoor air quality, in Australia, namely the ‘International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health’ (ILAQH). The ILAQH is a member of the Faulty of Science and Technology (FaST) and the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI) at QUT, which are the key entities hosting the conference.
The dates for the conference are 8-12 July 2012 and although it will be winter in Australia, the weather is very pleasant, dry and sunny, with an average day time maximum temperature of 21°C (70°F), an average night time minimum temperature of 10 C (50 F), and a total average monthly (July) rainfall a very low 30 mm (1.2 inches). The dates are during the semester break in Australia, which means that we will be able to use many of the Universities facilities, including lecture halls, breakout rooms and refreshment areas. This means that, in light of the current global economic situation, we will be able to keep the conference costs to a minimum. Our intention is to present a social program with a truly Australian spirit, which would enable plenty of opportunities for interaction between the participants, while at the same time allowing for enjoyment of the subtropical ambience of outdoor Brisbane.
The conference will begin on Sunday evening with a Welcome Reception and Opening Session. Every morning (Monday through Thursday) will begin with a plenary session delivered by internationally-recognised experts, followed by a series of six or seven concurrent technical sessions throughout each day. These sessions will reflect the full range of topics of importance to the field of indoor air sciences and health, including the interdisciplinary nature of our field. Technical sessions will include platform (oral) presentations, poster presentations, workshops and forums.
