SXSW Eco strives to cultivate collaborative solutions to real problems throughout the realm of sustainability. In this vein, we are excited to host the UVA Bay Game, a large-scale watershed simulation in which participants assume diverse roles of Chesapeake Bay stakeholders such as farmers, developers, and policy-makers.

In a fun, interactive format, players will experience the complex system of watershed management and the various actions through which every citizen can contribute to environmental conservation. The Bay Game will be presented by the project’s developers, Philippe Cousteau and Andrew Snowhite of Azure Worldwide and Jeffery Plank, UVA’s Vice President for Research.

Sign up now to reserve your spot for the 10:00am or 3:30pm session of the Global Water Games: The UVA Bay Game, taking place on the second day of SXSW Eco, on Thursday, October 4th. More details and enrollment can be found at http://sxsweco.com/baygame.

The SXSW Eco Hackathon presented by the U.S. Department of Energy and Cleanweb Worldwide is open for registration! Interested coders, designers, data or knowledge experts are all welcome to join the fun.
Sign up now for the SXSW Eco Hackathon!

We are excited to announce Chevrolet, a long standing partner of SXSW events, has joined SXSW Eco as a Premier Sponsor for 2012! Chevrolet has demonstrated a responsible environmental approach to auto making, as seen with the carbon dioxide emission reducing and fuel-saving, Chevrolet Volt.

With SXSW Eco just around the corner, we're gearing up to bring you the best programming and sessions from experts in the public, private and academic sectors committed to finding solutions for a sustainable world.

With over 130 sessions, workgroups and special events to choose from, what will you decide to attend? Build and organize your own day-by-day schedule, browse cutting-edge panels, and explore the list of inspiring keynotes and speakers with the 2012 SXSW Eco Schedule. From distinguished speakers, like author of An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace, Tamar Adler, and President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, Larry Schweiger, to events like Global Water Games: The UVA Bay Game and the Startup Showcase competition.

We are proud to introduce our Startup Showcase Semifinalists! Congratulations to the following companies, which have pioneered their innovations across a wide range of cleantech sectors, including agriculture, air, energy, green building, recycling, transportation and water.

Lance Hosey SXSW Eco is pleased to announce Keynote Speaker Lance Hosey, President & CEO of GreenBlue and author of The Shape of Green: Aesthetics, Ecology and Design, as well as the Startup Showcase semifinalists, and the launch of the SXSW Eco schedule!

Keynote Speaker Lance Hosey will draw a complete picture of aesthetics, ecology and design based on his latest book, The Shape of Green. From products to cities, at every degree of scale, Hosey outlines a clear set of principles that integrates laws of good design into the necessary realm of sustainability. Hosey will answer the question, “Does going green change the face of design or only its content?” The answer integrates principles of good design into the vital needs of sustainable design. His philosophy and guidelines are firmly rooted in the belief that aesthetic attraction isn’t a superficial concern - it’s an environmental imperative. He believes that, “Beauty could save the planet.” Learn more about Hosey's Keynote here.

We are adding to the impressive list of SXSW Eco 2012 speakers and presenters everyday, and we're particularly excited about the latest group of Distinguished Speakers including Bryan Walsh, Thomas Brookes, Jean Brittingham and Bill McKibben. Read their bios and explore who else is coming to SXSW Eco in October by visiting sxsweco.com/speakers.

SXSW Eco is pleased to announce more speakers, sessions, and special events for the October event.

Here are some highlights:

Jigar Shah will be joining Senator Byron Dorgan for a no-holds-barred Keynote Discussion on Thursday, October 4th, where they will explore the advancements in clean energy transport technologies and solutions to the obstacles surrounding the deployment of the clean energy economy.

New speakers have been announced including Karen Barnes, Ernest Davis and Mashari Perry. Click here to see who's coming in October.

We are happy to announce a partnership with our newest SXSW Eco sponsor, Staxxon.

Joining the Sierra Club and the Austin Chronicle, Staxxon, LLC is a privately funded startup company has been developing dynamic space/slot optimization technology for empty shipping containers, which reduces back-haul moves and saves on related energy and operating costs.