Robert J. Koester is a Professor of Architecture at Ball State University. He teaches design-for-sustainability studios, Sustainability Seminars, Vital Signs Courses and co-teaches the Daylectric™ Studio - focused on integrating daylighting and electrical lighting strategies in architectural design.
Mr. Koester is Founding Director of the Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) providing interdisciplinary academic support focused on issues related to energy and resource use, alternatives and conservation. He serves as Chair of the university-level Council on the Environment (COTE) a clearinghouse for campus-wide sustainability. He also serves as Co-Chair of the Greening of the Campus Conferences, the 8th of which was held in Indianapolis September 20-23, 2009.
In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) and the Formal Education Committee of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC.) He continues to work to build an important bridge between these two organizations and to lead collaborative initiatives supporting cross-campus greening efforts.
He has presented at international conferences in Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Ireland, and Japan, and at domestic conferences including the national meetings of AASHE, AIA, APPA, ACSA, ASES, SBIC, SCUP and USGBC.
For the last five years he has collaborated in offering FEMP workshops on "Design Strategies for Low-Energy, Sustainable, and Secure Buildings" throughout the country based on a curriculum model which he structured.