Terms and Conditions for Attendance

The Annual Young Scientists’ Conference 2026 is open to early-career researchers based in South Africa. Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Applicants must:

  • be based at a South African institution;
  • be under the age of forty (40) years by the application deadline;
  • hold at least a Master’s degree, or be a PhD candidate, PhD graduate, postdoctoral researcher, or early-career researcher;
  • have research interests aligned with one or more of the conference sub-themes;
  • be available to attend the full conference in person from 13–15 September 2026 at iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, Mthatha Campus, Eastern Cape, South Africa;
  • submit an abstract relevant to the conference theme, which will form the basis for an oral, poster, or alternative/creative presentation;
  • submit only one proposal as the presenting author.

The application form must be completed in full by the prospective presenting author, not by co-authors. Only the presenting author will be considered for attendance support should the application be successful. Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance.

All applications must be submitted via the AYSC 2026 Application Form by no later than 21 June 2026. Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.

There is no registration fee to attend the conference. Applicants who require attendance support may indicate whether they require accommodation support, travel support, or both. The organisers will contact successful applicants directly to make detailed arrangements where applicable. Attendance support is not automatic and is subject to the outcome of the application and available resources.

Successful applicants will receive further information about the conference by email. Applicants are expected to respond to all communication from the organisers in a timely manner.

By submitting the application, applicants confirm that:

  • the information provided is accurate and complete;
  • they meet the eligibility criteria stated in the call for applications;
  • they are available to attend the full conference from 13–15 September 2026, if selected;
  • they understand that submission of the application does not guarantee acceptance;
  • they consent to ASSAf and its partners processing their information for conference administration, selection, communication and reporting purposes;
  • they agree that their name, institution, abstract title and abstract may be included in the conference programme or book of abstracts, if accepted;
  • they consent to photographs and videos being taken during conference activities and shared on ASSAf and partner communication platforms, including websites and social media;
  • should their proposal be approved, and should they accept the invitation to attend, they will respond to all communication from the organisers in a timely manner;
  • they understand that no further changes to their submitted information, abstract, biography or presentation details will be allowed after 31 August 2026;
  • should they no longer be able to participate after confirming their attendance, they must notify the organisers in writing by no later than 5 September 2026.

For enquiries, applicants may contact Mr Kholani Mbhiza at kholani@assaf.org.za.