MINNEAPOLIS
Research on integrative medicine: The North American Research Conference on Complementary & Integrative Medicine will take place May 12-15 at the Hilton Minneapolis Hotel, showcasing original scientific complementary, alternative and integrative medical research through keynote and plenary presentations, oral and poster presentations, and innovative scientific sessions. This conference is sponsored by the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, which consists of 42 leading academic medical centers from across North America. This is a follow-up to the successful first conference presented in Edmonton, Alberta, in May 2006, which was itself the third in a series of international meetings initially co-sponsored by Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Francisco. Areas presented and discussed at this conference will include basic science, clinical, methodological, health services and education research. All interested researchers, educators and practitioners as well as conventional practitioners are urged to attend. For more information, call 712.767.7984. – www.imconsortium-conference.org
CHICAGO
Earth Dreaming: Explore the meanings and mysteries of dreams and dreaming with noted authors, psychotherapists, psychotherapists, artists, educators and researchers during the 26th annual Conference of the International Association for the Study of Dreams June 26-30 at the Wyndham O’Hare Hotel at Chicago O’Hare Airport. More than 140 workshops, lectures, exhibits and events will examine dreaming and dreamwork as presented through traditional and innovative theories and therapies, personal study, scientific research, cultural and spiritual traditions, extraordinary and PSI-related dream phenomena, and the arts. Special events include an opening celebration and reception, world-renowned keynotes and a distinguished invited presenter, a dream art exhibit and reception, a dream telepathy contest, a dream hike and the closing costume Dream Ball. The Invited Speaker is Robert Moss, M.A., presenting “The Secret History of Dreaming, describing why we need the skills of both shamans, scholars and detectives to fathom the past and to prepare for the changes that are coming. The International Association for the Study of Dreams is a non-profit, international, multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the pure and applied investigation of dreams and dreaming. Visit www.asdreams.org/2009 for more information and online registration.
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND
Global classroom design: Worldwide, 776 million people are illiterate. To address this crisis by providing access to a quality education for all children, there is a pressing need to upgrade the crumbling infrastructure of tens of millions of existing classrooms, and build ten million new classrooms. Meeting this challenge represents the largest building project the world has ever undertaken. In response, Orient Global, Architecture for Humanity and a consortium of partners are launching the 2009 Open Architecture Challenge: Classroom, the first large-scale initiative to improve the design of classrooms around the world. The 2009 Open Architecture Challenge invites the global design and construction community to collaborate with primary and secondary school teachers and students to create smarter, safer and more sustainable learning environments. Teams can partner with a school of their choice or design a classroom for one of our school-building partners. Registration ends May 1 and entries are due June 1. The winning school will receive up to $50,000 to build or improve its classrooms and its design team will receive a $5,000 grant to help make it happen. The design competition will be judged by an international, inter-disciplinary panel of experts in the fields of both education and architecture (including students themselves). The resulting entries will be available and accessible to all on the Open Architecture Network [www.openarchitecturenetwork.org]. – www.goodnewsagency.org
LOS ANGELES, CA
Conscious convenience stores: Locali Conscious Convenience Stores is taking grab ’n go to a whole new level. The new convenience store is encouraging its customers to Think Globally While Acting Locally and with so many delicious offerings the prospect doesn’t seems too difficult. Locali Conscious Convenience launches a chain of sustainable convenience stores with the first store now open in Los Angeles. Locali Chief Executive Officer Greg Horos said: “We’ll have healthy and eco-friendly versions of the all the typical things you’d find at a convenience market with the exception of cigarettes and lotto tickets – no clean versions of those.†The store carries ridiculously delicious green versions of convenience store staples like organic hot pretzels, grass-fed beef hot dogs, and agave sweetened slushies that will more than satiate your cravings. There’s also organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines, beers and sake, along with fair trade coffees, yerba mate, and tons of vegan and gluten-free options. The store itself is also green. Built according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, it will use energy efficient appliances. The store also minimizes waste through composting and recycling. It uses biodegradable takeout containers and emphasizes local providers when possible. With no refined sugar, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup or genetically modified products on site, you know you’re getting the good stuff even when eating on the go. – www.treehugger.com
