Rhodes ISER

The Institute of Social and Economic Research invites you to the inaugural LAND INVESTMENTS - SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE IN AFRICA seminar.

Date: Thursday, 27 August 2026
Time: 13:00 - 14:30
Venue: 7 Prince Alfred Street, ISER Seminar Room
Registration: cd50f04d-a2c2-449e-9043-0ecd1e3a17f8@857e225b-73be-41e3-a4d1-908b276714a7" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/cd50f04d-a2c2-449e-9043-0ecd1e3a17f8@857e225b-73be-41e3-a4d1-908b276714a7

The Future Earth Africa Hub, supported by the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre (administered by the ISER at Rhodes University and Future Africa at University of Pretoria) organized and hosted the 4th Sustainability Research and Innovation Africa 2026 Regional Conference, following another successful 2025 SRI Africa conference in Nairobi.

The SRI Africa 2026 Regional Conference was held in Cape Town from 22–26 June, and marked a major milestone in advancing African-led sustainability solutions. Building on the evolution of past events—from the virtual inception in 2021 to regional expansions in Nairobi and Durban—the 2026 gathering emphasized themes such as green, blue, and land economies, sustainability technologies and AI, climate justice, and knowledge systems. The congress combined science, innovation, skill-building, and networking, with strong engagement from early-career researchers through poster competitions and tech demos. In total, the congress hosted 951 delegates (381 onsite, 570 online), 117 speakers, and 60 sessions, representing 52 countries.
Pre-engagement webinars and side events set the stage, tackling issues like science-policy interfaces, AI for environmental action, ecological balance, and youth agency in climate science. The side events (21–23 June) drew 692 delegates (237 onsite, 455 online) from 50+ countries, across 7 events. Participation was diverse: academia (59%), civil society/NGOs/international (27%), public sector (11%), and private sector (4%). The gender balance was nearly perfect, with 49.8% women (155) and 50.2% men (156).
The conference also convened the Future Earth Africa Hub Assembly, focusing on achievements from Phase 1 and strategic directions for Phase 2.
Key takeaways stressed institutionalizing regional observatories, building Africa’s value chains, and ensuring inclusive innovation ecosystems. Discussions highlighted Africa’s need to strengthen science diplomacy, integrate indigenous knowledge, reform funding systems, and empower youth and women in sustainability leadership.

On behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at Rhodes University, we extend our sincere gratitude to you for attending our recent seminar titled “A Resilient Nation? Quality of Life and Political Support in South Africa” held on 9 April 2026 at 14h00 by Dr Ben Roberts (HSRC) and Professor Emeritus Valerie Møller

Your presence and engagement contributed meaningfully to the success of the event. The seminar was particularly timely and significant in light of the upcoming elections, offering valuable insights into public sentiment, quality of life, and political support in South Africa.

ISER remains committed to fostering interdisciplinary research that informs equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, and your participation is integral to this mission.

Please find the recording of the seminar below and the presentation slides attached.

Seminar recording link:
https://youtu.be/16Yq_N7zz6E?si=iOguJxWJfH9GV8bl

Once again, thank you for your time, interest, and support. We look forward to welcoming you to future events.

For more information concerning ISER, please email [email protected] and [email protected].

ISER Seminar 16 October 2025: Charting the course for the next decade of sustainability research This is an ISER webinar presented by Dr Faten Attig-Bahar, an ISER research fellow and Deputy Director of the Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre

Please join us

A great congratulations to parents of Cohort 4 - ISER Honours students graduating in March 2026. Well done to:
Lelethu
Lilitha
Nepo
Dan

Go far !

📢 Postdoctoral Opportunity | 2026/27

The Future Earth Africa Hub Leadership Centre is inviting applications for Postdoctoral Fellowships at Rhodes University.

Work at the forefront of sustainability science in areas such as water resources, ecological financing, environmental learning, and natural resource management.

R320 000 per annum (tax-free) | 2-year fellowship
Closing date: 20 March 2026

🔗 Apply now and be part of shaping sustainability science & policy in Africa.

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