SXSW Eco Announces First Keynote, Initial Programming for 2014 Conference

AUSTIN, Texas, June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- South by Southwest Eco (SXSW Eco), a conference connecting the urgency of global challenges with the opportunity for breakthrough solutions, today announced Dr. Robert Bullard, widely regarded as the "father of environmental justice," as opening remarks keynote speaker. SXSW Eco also announced the first wave of programming for the show's fourth annual event, which last year drew over 2,800 attendees from around the world and strives to bring together innovators in the areas of business, technology, design, energy, food systems, land and water, policy and more. SXSW Eco takes place October 6-8, 2014 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX.

Professor Robert Bullard is the author of eighteen books that address sustainable development, environmental racism, urban land use, industrial facility siting, community reinvestment, housing, transportation, climate justice, emergency response, smart growth, and regional equity. Professor Bullard was featured in the July 2007 CNN People You Should Know, Bullard: Green Issue is Black and White. In 2008, Newsweek named him one of 13 Environmental Leaders of the Century. And that same year, Co-op America honored him with its Building Economic Alternatives Award (BEA). In 2010, The Grio named him one of the "100 Black History Makers in the Making" and Planet Harmony named him one of Ten African American Green Heroes." In 2012, he was featured in Welcomebooks Everyday Heroes: 50 Americans Changing the World One Nonprofit at a Time by Katrina Fried. And in 2013, he was honored with the Sierra Club John Muir Award, the first African American to win the award. Dr.Bullard currently serves as the Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University. He received his Ph.D degree from Iowa State University.

"We are very excited to have Dr. Bullard kick off SXSW Eco 2014 and set the tone for the event," said Chris Sonnier, producer and program manager of SXSW Eco. "As the acknowledged 'father of environmental justice,' Dr. Bullard offers a message for conference attendees that we feel is inextricably bound to that of SXSW Eco: that passionate individuals, institutions and organizations can, and already are, driving meaningful, critical change."

Initial announced programming includes:

Advocacy and Policy:

• Building Bipartisan Consensus in the Green War (KL Gates, Holand and Knight, LLP, 7 Second Strategies)
• Beyond Advocacy: Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Think Beyond Plastic Innovation Accelerator, Washburn Consulting, Plastipure, Thula Capital)

Behavior and Design:

• Salvaging the Holocene: Biomimicry & Resilience (Northeast Natural Homes, Inc., NGBC, LLC)
• 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design (Terrapin Bright Green)

Big Data and Technology:

• A Fitbit to Save the Elephants (Microsoft Research, Vulcan Inc., Save the Elephants, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park)
• Space: Earth's Newest Ally Against Climate Change (MissionCTRL Communications, zero2infinity, Lunar Lion)

Business and Finance:

• Entrepreneurs Approach to Ecosystem Collaboration (PieRanch, Kipp, Fish People, Google, The Responsible Entrepreneur Institute)
• City Transit 411: Urban Myths & Urban Mobility (Enterprise Holdings, UC Berkeley, Getaround)

Land and Water:

• How Big Data is Powering Big Water (Imagine H2O)
• Tackling the Renewable Energy - Water Nexus (Dropcountr, EDF, WaterFX, Participant Media)

Health and Education:

• Women First: Improve Society & Protect Environment (National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, Population Media Center, Prajna Productions, FHI 360)
• Toxins All Around Us: Safe, the New Sustainable (Beautycounter, Environmental Working Group, Teens for Safe Cosmetics, Rick Smith, Author)

Energy:

• The Grid Edge: A Next Generation Energy System (Greensmith Energy Management, Advanced Energy Economy, Gridco Systems)
• Natural Gas: What's (Not) in the Pipeline? (American Gas Association, Colorado State University, Arkansas Public Service Commission)

Food Systems:

• Entomophagy 101: Why We Want You to Eat Bugs (World Entomophagy, University of Georgia Department of Entomology, MIGHTY MEALworm, Little Herds)
• Can Mission-Based Companies Change Big Industry? (Whole Foods Market, CEB Iconoculture, Numi Tea, Alter Eco)
• Feed Everyone! (Food Forward)

Smart Cities:

• Transforming Trash: Good Jobs and Zero Waste (Partnership for Working Families, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, Alliance for a Greater New York, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Mayor's Office, City of Los Angeles)
• How Simple EV Charging Future-Proofs Our Cities (Ford Motor Company, Mission CTRL Communications, Pecan Steet Inc, Schneider Electric, Greenlots)

Startup Showcase Competition Applications Now Open:

Spotlighting innovation and entrepreneurship, the SXSW Eco Startup Showcase competition serves as a launching pad for cleantech and social impact companies and ideas from around the world. Pitching at the event offers exposure to potential investors, strategic partners, clients and media outlets. Judges for the 2014 event come from top firms across the country, including Siemens Venture Capital, NEA, Austin Ventures, Shell Technology Ventures, Mercury Fund and more. Collectively, in the past two years, participating companies have gone on to receive seed and series funding totaling over $25M, acquire global brands as clients, partner with utilities and energy companies, and develop other significant business relationships. Applications are being accepted for the Startup Showcase through June 20, 2014. http://sxsweco.com/startup-showcase

The SXSW Eco Exhibition occurs through October 6-7, 2014 and serves as a destination to learn about the newest products, technologies and solutions in the sustainability space. For more information, please go to http://sxsweco.com/exhibitions.

SXSW Eco is sponsored by Austin Energy, Austin Technology Incubator, Lagunitas and the Austin Chronicle. Registration is now open for SXSW Eco 2014. To register, go to http://sxsweco.com/attend and save before the next deadline of June 20, 2014.

About SXSW Eco: 
Now in its fourth year, SXSW Eco attracts a global community to explore, engage and co-create solutions for a sustainable world. A uniquely inclusive platform for professionals, SXSW Eco examines the critical challenges of our times through a kaleidoscopic lens of design innovation, policy tipping points, technological breakthroughs, conservation practice, entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of creativity to transform inspiration into action.

Press Credentials: If you are a member of the press interested in attending SXSW Eco, media registration is now open at http://sxsweco.com/about/press.

Media Contact:
Ariel Miller 
SXSW Eco Publicist
Tel. 512-467-7979 x296 
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE SXSW Eco