Preface: Proceedings of the 8th International Conference ISMO’19—Innovations-Sustainability-Modernity-Openness ^†

The 8th International Conference ISMO’19—Innovations-Sustainability-Modernity-Openness was held on 22–23 May 2019 in Bialystok (Poland). The conference started few years ago as a meeting for students called “Environmental Engineering—Through a Young Eye”. However, we have changed its formula for the international scientific conference in order to allow the exchange of knowledge between experienced researchers, engineers and young scientists taking their first steps towards innovation. This year, the conference gathered 111 delegates from 11 countries (Czech Republic, Georgia, Italy, Lithuania, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine), who had the opportunity to share their ideas and experiences, present the results of their research, as well as build up new contacts in the field of engineering and technology. The main goal of the conference was to promote research and developmental activities in environmental engineering and protection, as well as renewable energy and other related areas.

This year the conference was co-organized and supported from the project VIPSKILLS—Virtual And Intensive Course Developing Practical Skills Of Future Engineers Erasmus+ 2016-1-PL01-KA203-026152 (www.vipskills.pb.edu.pl), which gathered teachers, scientists and students from Bialystok University of Technology (Poland), University of Cordoba (Spain) and Vilnius College of Technologies and Design (Lithuania) as well as Polish Association of Civil Engineers (Poland) and different cooperating companies. The main aim of the project was to propose changes in the higher education system due to developments in the construction and energy sectors, in order to meet expectations of employers in the international labor market. The project allowed the development of modern didactic materials and books in the area of environmental and civil engineering. The project coupled innovative research with didactic collaborations between universities through joint research, summer schools, international training sessions and workshops.