This year when Rio plus 20 took place the most challenging aspect of the meeting showed to be the commitment to change the words into actions. It is something that demands a lot of political and economical efforts of different organizations in order to assure the survival of mankind in the planet. Sustainable economic growth is the objective to be pursued by enterprises; groups of interest and nations, which is something possible and desirable and that the technology available can be a strong allied. The challenges to be overcome start with the adoption of energy efficiency policies, management of water resources, safety, passing by green business and social welfare worldwide. Research is now the key element for the enhancement of technological, economical and social sustainable development.

SHEWC - Safety, Health and Environment World Congress has for many years offered the possibility of updating and revisiting classical concepts and cutting edge useful information in environment, health and safety research developments.

This year the theme of the congress is “Sustainable Growth and Development: Challenges and Needs of the Twenty-First Century". It counts with some of the most recent research of many scientists of scientific international community. It provides a rich encounter with edge research addressed to a wide variety of crucial issues faced by nations.

As the General Chair of SHEWC'2012 on behalf of COPEC team I want to thank the host institution Armando Álvares Penteado Foundation (FAAP) that embraced the organization of this congress. It is imperative to acknowledge and thank in special all the people involved in the organization of this edition of SHEWC such as Prof. Dr. Francisco Carlos Paletta and Prof. Dr. Pedro José da Silva, Local Chairs of SHEWC'2012, who have worked diligently for the accomplishment of a successful event.

The XII Safety, Health and Environment World Congress (SHEWC'2012) is organized by COPEC – Science and Education Research Council and promoted by SHERO – Safety, Health and Environment Research Organization in Technical Cooperation (in alphabetical order): AAMP (Fishing Museum Friends Society), ABENGE (Brazilian Society for Engineering Education), ABO (Brazilian Dental Association), AENUI (Asociación de Enseñantes Universitarios de la Informática), AGERCO (Brazilian Agency for Coastal Management), ASEE (American Society for Engineering Education), ASIBEI (Iberian-American Association of Engineering Education Institutions), GCMM (Global Congress on Manufacturing and Management), IE (Institute of Engineering), IEEE-Ed.Soc. (Education Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), IFEES (International Federation of Engineering Education Societies), IGIP (Internationale Gesellschaft für Ingenieurpädagogik), INTERTECH (International Council for Engineering and Technology Education), IPN (Ingeniøruddannelsernes Pædagogiske Netværk), IRCWR (International Reference Center for Water Reuse), ISTEC (Iberian American Science & Technology Education Consortium), Porto Gente (PortFolk), RBE (Brazilian Network of Engineering), RCI (Réseau Carthagène d’Ingénierie), SBA (Brazilian Automation Society), SBA Young (Student Chapter of the Brazilian Automation Society), SBE (Brazilian Society of Ecotoxicology), SEFI (Société Européenne pour la Formation des Ingénieurs), SPEE (Portuguese Society for Engineering Education), SPEED (Student Platform for Engineering Education Development) and WCCA (World Council on Communication and Arts).

I could not forget to thank to our sponsors FAPESP (State of São Paulo Research Foundation), CNPq (National Council for Scientific and Technological Development), CAPES (Coordination for Improvement of Personnel of Superior Level), SUPNET - Technology & Information and Geofix Foundations.

I want to thank the authors and participants for their collaborations and willing to share their contributions for the development of science and technology for the betterment of humanity in their fields of expertise.

Thank you all

Prof. Dr. Claudio da Rocha Brito

GENERAL CHAIR
President of COPEC