SAYAS 2026
A national platform for young scientists advancing research leadership in South Africa.
- Mentor the Young Mentors Initiative
- Youth Indaba
- Annual Young Scientist Conference
- Research & Commercialisation Series
- National Science Month
- SAYAS Podcast
- Personal Development Workshops
- AI in Scientific Writing
What SAYAS does
Three commitments to South African science.
SAYAS brings the country’s leading young scientists together to grow research careers, shape policy, and take science to the public.
Research leadership
Growing the researchers South Africa needs, from first postdoc to first professorship.
Mentor the Young Mentors, the Annual Young Scientist Conference, researcher profiles, and training workshops for early-career scientists.
Explore the programmesPolicy influence
Putting young scientists in the room where science decisions are made.
National science networks, young academy partnerships, science forums, and evidence-based inputs that give early-career voices real standing in policy.
Read our policy workScience in society
Taking research out of the lab and into South African public life.
School outreach, National Science Month, the SAYAS blog and podcast, and feeding the pipeline. Science communication by the people doing the science.
See public scienceCalls and opportunities
Open, upcoming, and closed. Honestly.
Every call on this page carries its real status. As of July 2026 no SAYAS calls are open; here is what is moving right now.
Annual Young Scientists’ Conference 2026
13 to 15 September at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha. Theme: assuring sustainable water availability and safe sanitation systems for the goals of Agenda 2063.
AYSC proposal results
Successful proposals are announced on 31 July. Final changes to submitted information are due by 31 August.
National Science Month
1 to 31 July across South Africa, with the theme of igniting young minds through science.
Membership nominations 2026
The call closed on 30 June. Twenty new members join from 2026, each serving a five-year term.
The academy in motion
A year of science, month by month.
Follow the 2026 programme as it happens: what’s done, what’s on right now, and what’s still to come.
- Jan
- Feb
AI in Scientific WritingQuarterly series on responsible research communication.
- Mar
- Apr
Research & Commercialisation SeriesFrom research insight to market, April to August.
- May
Africa Day WebinarThe water and energy nexus, with Southern Africa’s young academies. 25 May.
- Jun
Youth IndabaNational youth conversation on research commercialisation and entrepreneurship.Winter WebinarsScience communication workshop (2 June); careers and funding for young African scientists (5 June).
- Jul
National Science MonthIgniting young minds through science. 1 to 31 July, countrywide.
- Aug
Personal Development WorkshopsLeadership and marketing yourself, August and September.Women in ScienceSAYAS celebration of women in science. Date to be confirmed.
- Sep
AYSC 2026The flagship gathering at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha. 13 to 15 September.
- Oct
Mental Health WorkshopWellbeing support for early-career researchers.
- Nov
- Dec
Scroll the rail to move through the year →
Voices
Young scientists, in their own words.
The academy’s members write, speak, and broadcast about research life in South Africa, honestly and in public.
Respect goes a long way: why all research fields matter.From the SAYAS blog: read member stories
Publications
The academy on record.
Reports, statements, and resources documenting what SAYAS has done and where it stands.
Membership 2026
Twenty new members join the academy this year.
The 2026 nomination round closed on 30 June. Nominations reopen with the next annual call, announced here and on the academy’s channels. Members serve five years at the centre of South Africa’s young science community.