The 3rd Latin American SDEWES Conference will be held at the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 380 tr 3 - Butantã, 05508-010, São Paulo
The University of São Paulo (USP) is a public university, maintained by the State of São Paulo and affiliated with the State Secretariat of Economic, Scientific and Technological Development. Various world rankings, created to measure the quality of universities according to various criteria, particularly those related to scientific productivity, have widely recognized the talent and dedication of USP professors, students and employees.
It is the largest Brazilian public university and the country's most prestigious educational institution, the best university in Ibero - America and holds a high reputation among world universities. USP is involved in teaching, research and university extension in all areas of knowledge, offering a broad range of courses.
USP has five hospitals and offers 247 undergraduate programs and 239 graduate programs in all areas of study. The university houses altogether 24 museums and galleries – with half a million visitors a year – two theatres, a cinema, a TV channel and an orchestra. The University of São Paulo welcomes people from all continents and stimulates this process via networks and consortiums.
Fascinating, São Paulo is a superlative metropolis in everything, including diversity. An effervescent cauldron of styles and cultures where people of over 190 nationalities live and also a great entertainment centre: there are more than 140 theatres, 115 cultural centers and 158 museums, as well as numerous nightclubs of the most diverse styles. Not to mention the shopping - with about 53 malls and dozens of shopping streets. And in gastronomy - there are over 20 thousand restaurants, with 52 kinds of cuisine from all over the world. For this reason, it is well worth discovering this global city, full of knowledge, trends, smells and colours.
The city of São Paulo is famous for its business environment, being the most important financial centre in Latin America. However, tourism in the city of São Paulo is much more than just business tourism, with many social options and a pulsating nightlife which attracts visitors from the whole world. More than 10 million tourists visit São Paulo every year. One of the most important elements of the city is its events which are spread throughout the year. However, the city of São Paulo is an attraction and its tourist attractions cater to all tastes. The most visited locations include the São Paulo Art Museum (Masp) on Paulista Avenue, the São Paulo Municipal Market, the Teatro Municipal, the Estação da Luz (train station) and, finally, 25 de Março Street which is famous for its shops selling things at bargain prices.
Though famous for rain, Sao Paulo boasts a pleasant climate and enjoyable weather year-round. Classified as having a humid subtropical climate under the Köppen system, its weather mirrors that of Rio de Janeiro, only slightly cooler, as it is inland. The average temperature for the city is 18 degrees Celsius, but the humidity, ranging from 74 to 80 percent throughout the year, can make it feel hotter. Winters are dry and cool with little rain and July is the sunniest month of the year.
The Brazilian real (Portuguese: real, pl. reais; sign: R$; BRL), is the official currency of Brazil. It is subdivided into 100 centavos.
The dollar-like sign (cifrão) is the currency's symbol, and in all the other past Brazilian currencies, is officially written with two vertical strokes rather than one. Bank notes are in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 reals, and coins in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and 1 real. The US Dollar is also welcome in most tourist establishments. In the main cities, foreign currencies can be exchanged at banks or cambios. There is an extensive network of ATMs in the country and most major international credit cards are accepted.
1 EUR ~ 6,28 BRL
Brazil has a variety of electrical voltages, sometimes within the same city. Most cities, including São Paulo, use 110/127V electricity. Better hotels offer 220 volts, 60Hz. If not, transformers are available in electrical stores. Two-pin plugs with a grounding pin are standard.
The international access code for Brazil is +55. Hotels, cafes and restaurants offering free wifi are widely available in tourist centred areas. As international roaming costs can be high, purchasing a local prepaid SIM card can be a cheaper option.
Tap water is not drinkable. Like with any large metropolis, petty crime and theft does exist, and visitors should always take precautions, particularly in tourist hot spots and crowded places. We recommend always keeping your belongings with you, taking licensed taxis, and ensuring your bags or rucksacks are kept closed. Stick to well-lit streets in the evenings and keep the bling to a minimum.
Don't be out after 10pm! Go to a restaurant, go clubbing, have a drink enjoying the panorama at night. But take the taxi there, and especially back. Sound advice in any large and unknown city. Most street services, like ATMs, will not be available after 10pm anyway to prevent crime and risky behaviour.
