When and where: 2 Dec 2026, Pretoria, CSIR International Convention Centre
Science Forum South Africa 2026 runs from 2 to 4 December at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria, offering three days of open, public debate about where science meets society.
This year's theme is Igniting Conversations about Science, with the tagline From Research to Impact. Discussions will cover how to fund science, technology and innovation; how science links to everyday issues such as farming, health, climate change, space science, the just energy transition and indigenous knowledge; how to turn new ideas into businesses; and how science can drive regional development. Emerging technologies, science journalism and communication, and science diplomacy are also on the agenda.
The forum prides itself on a mixed crowd. Researchers and students sit alongside people from government, business and civil society, along with speakers and delegates from many countries, especially across Africa. Several sessions run in parallel, and part of the programme came from the public through a competitive call for session proposals, which closed on 31 July.
Registration is open on the SFSA website, where you can also view the draft programme and side-event schedule. It is a good fit for students thinking about research careers, science communication or tech entrepreneurship. Recordings of earlier ministerial opening, plenary and closing sessions can be watched through links on the site.
