Members

U.S. members of the USBSC include Ball State, The University of Texas, and the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS). Brazilian members include the Federal Center for Technological Education in Curitiba, the Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, and the Technological Institute of Parana.

Ball State University: BSU, a national leader in sustainability, implements the teacher-scholar model to bring interdisciplinary sustainability experiences into curricula via various programs. These include BSU’s Cluster of Interdepartmental Minors in Sustainable Practices, biomass initiative, ecological restoration certificate program, university-wide Green Committee, Green2 initiative, five national “Greening of the Campus” Conferences, global media network, and education for sustainability initiatives).

The University of Texas: The University of Texas at Austin, a major research university that is home to more than 48,000 students and 2700 faculty, includes a Latin American Initiative that consists of inter- and multi-disciplinary Latin American Studies, the Institute of Latin American Studies and its prestigious Brazil Center. The IC2 (Innovation, Creativity Capital) Institute at the University (www.ic2.org) links technology, entrepreneurship and education to foster sustainable, social, and economic development worldwide.

Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems (CMPBS): CMPBS, in Austin Texas, is a not-for-profit and national leader in sustainability education, research, demonstration, and outreach sustainability. The Center provides expertise in ecobalance-based planning and design and opportunities for internships in sustainability, ecological footprinting, dynamic modeling, eco-balancing, and projects that promote change in epistemology of the planning and design professions.

Federal Center for Technological Education of Parana: The CEFET/PR Civil Production Engineering addresses sustainable community planning, energy efficiency at green buildings, land use, GIS for environmental impact evaluation, green materials, ecological restoration, and urban development. Its Sustainable Technologies Research Program focuses in alternative and green materials education, life cycle analysis, landscape ecology, business incubation, waste issues, alternative wastewater treatment, job-generation and sustainable development, sustainable carbon-neutral urban development.

Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul: PUCRS has undergraduate degree programs, specialization courses, master’s degree programs, and doctoral degree Programs. It has three physical facilities in Porto Alegre (Central Campus, North District Campus, Villa Fatima Social Project in the Favelas). The School of Architecture works closely to increase awareness of sustainability and housing for the poor. The City of Porto Alegre is a global social sustainability leader.

Technology Institute of Parana (TECPAR): The technology Institute for Parana, is located in Curitiba. It has a 60+ year history working with universities to implement community-based, environmental, technology information, environmental certification, comparison of global systems, and other sustainable development projects.