SAYAS South African Young Academy of Science
Opportunities

Every call. Its honest status.

Calls, nominations, conferences, and workshops in one registry. Each entry carries its real status, so you always know where the academy’s doors stand.

0calls open today
0live or upcoming entries
0closed or completed in 2026
0new members joining from 2026

Where things stand

No call is open today. The cycle is still moving.

SAYAS calls run on an annual rhythm. This year’s membership call opened in late March and closed on 30 June; conference applications closed on 21 June.

The next window announces itself here first.

New calls are published on this page, then shared on LinkedIn and through ASSAf. If you are waiting to be nominated or to submit, the cycle rail below shows when the doors opened this year and what is still ahead.

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The 2026 cycle

When the doors opened, and what is ahead.

The verified 2026 dates, month by month. Completed windows stay on record; the gold marker is where the year stands now.

All year Rolling programmes: science blogging, communication, and Mentor the Young Mentors admit through the year.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
    Nominations openedThe 2026 membership call was issued on 25 March.
  4. Apr
  5. May
    AYSC applications openedThe conference call for applications went out in May.
  6. Jun
    Both windows closedAYSC applications closed 21 June; membership nominations closed 30 June.
  7. Jul
    AYSC proposal resultsSuccessful proposals announced on 31 July.
  8. Aug
    Final changes dueAccepted AYSC presenters finalise submissions by 31 August.
  9. Sep
    AYSC 2026The flagship gathering at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha. 13 to 15 September.
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Scroll the rail to move through the year →

The registry

Every 2026 opportunity, one status each.

This page is the canonical record. If a status here disagrees with anything else on the site, this page wins and the other page is wrong.

Live and upcoming

5 entries
  1. Public science

    National Science Month

    Countrywide public science under the theme of igniting young minds through science.

    1 to 31 July 2026Nationwide
    Happening now
  2. Announcement

    AYSC proposal results

    Successful conference proposals are announced; final changes to submitted information follow.

    31 July 2026Final changes by 31 August
    This month
  3. Conference

    Annual Young Scientists’ Conference 2026

    The flagship research gathering, themed on sustainable water availability and safe sanitation for Agenda 2063.

    13 to 15 September 2026Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha
    Upcoming
  4. Public science

    Women in Science celebration

    SAYAS activity celebrating women in science, planned within the science communication programme.

    August 2026Date to be confirmed
    Date TBC
  5. Workshop

    AI Workshop Series

    Ethics, the African context, internationalisation, and entrepreneurship; scheduling depends on confirmed speakers.

    Q2 to Q3 2026Dates to be confirmed
    Dates TBC

Closed and completed in 2026

5 entries
  1. Nomination

    Membership nominations 2026

    Twenty new members join from 2026, each serving a five-year term. Candidates are under 40 and generally within seven years of the PhD.

    Closed 30 June 2026Call issued 25 March
    Closed
  2. Call

    AYSC 2026 applications

    Applications to present at the September conference, open to early-career researchers at South African institutions.

    Closed 21 June 2026Results 31 July
    Closed
  3. Webinar

    Careers and funding for young African scientists

    Scholarships, grants, and international collaboration, with NRF, ASSAf, NASAC, TWAS, and DSTI.

    5 June 2026Hosted by the SAYAS Co-Chairs
    Completed
  4. Workshop

    Science Communication Workshop

    Practical training for postgraduates and early-career researchers, with ASSAf and DSTI.

    2 June 2026Virtual
    Completed
  5. Webinar

    Africa Day: the water and energy nexus

    Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development in Southern Africa, with regional young academies.

    25 May 2026With ASSAf, LAST, LesYAS, DSTI
    Completed

Always running

2 entries
  1. Programme

    Science blogging and communication

    Mentored public science writing on the SAYAS blog, running through the year.

    Throughout 2026Rolling
    All year
  2. Programme

    Mentor the Young Mentors Initiative

    Mentorship and career support for early-career researchers, continuous through 2026.

    Throughout 2026Continuous
    All year

Stay ready

Never miss a call again.

New calls are published on this page first. Write to the academy or follow SAYAS on LinkedIn, and the next window will find you.

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