The Environmental Materials Information Technology (EMIT) Consortium has announced its first Chairman, and the date of its first Steering Committee meeting. The meeting will include an open seminar, enabling participation by any engineering enterprise with an interest in eco design or environmental regulations.

The Consortium, which began work on July 1, 2008, is developing information resources and software that aid members' response to regulations such as REACH and enable design for minimum environmental impact, including low carbon footprint, energy efficiency, and reduced wastes and emissions.

The founder members are Emerson, Eurocopter, NASA, Rolls-Royce, and the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL). Granta Design is the primary software developer. The project's Steering Committee will be chaired by Jean-Marc Berthier of Eurocopter. The group will hold its first project review meeting at Eurocopter's Marseille site on October 14-15.

The Consortium is inviting colleagues from any engineering enterprise with an interest in eco design, REACH, or similar regulations to join an open seminar on October 15. Seminar attendees will hear presentations from Consortium members, see demonstrations of the latest software, and discuss critical issues affecting their design process.