Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2022 (SRI2022)

The SRI2022 will be taking place from 20 - 24 June 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa and online.

Registration will open in January 2022.

Submission deadline for session proposals is February 5, 2022, at 23:59 SAST (UTC +2).

Description

The Sustainability Research & Innovation Congress is a series of gatherings that unite global research leaders, experts, industries and innovators to inspire action and promote a sustainability transformation.

A joint initiative of Future Earth and the Belmont Forum, the SRI Congress is a space of dedicated advocacy for sustainability scholarship and innovation, transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration and action.

Hosted by the Future Africa Institute at the University of Pretoria, SRI2022 will build on the success of the first SRI Congress which took place in June 2021 and featured 700 speakers and 2,000 participants from 100 countries.

South Africa will offer an inspiring environment for this second edition of the SRI Congress. A leader on the African continent and around the globe for sustainability science and innovation as well as participatory approaches to action research, it also provides a gateway to the wider African continent.

The country boasts an exceptional network of universities working at the forefront of resilience with strong ties to private sector and industry research that is moving new green ideas to market, building innovation capacity and providing sustainability career opportunities to meet Africa’s Agenda 2063.

An important objective of SRI2022 is to amplify the voice of sustainability science and innovation in the Global South, specifically for the African continent, through raising awareness and propelling discussions about sustainable priorities for Africa. Africa has much to offer to the global discussion on sustainability, and SRI2022, together with its host Future Africa, will provide a critical platform for collaboration with local, African and international partners.

Congress Format

A global meeting committed to translating knowledge to action. SRI2022 will be a hybrid meeting, bringing together sustainability professionals and practitioners from all over the world, to attend both online and onsite.

Similar to SRI2021, we anticipate an interactive meeting with significant opportunities for mixing and exchanging information – dialogues, training sessions,, workshops, andinnovation demonstrations, with plenty of space for sponsors and cyber-enabled engagement. A major difference to the 2021 Congress will be extensive onsite activity and creative experimentation with the hybrid experience, which we are focused on making as smooth and engaging as possible.

As inclusivity and accessibility remains two of our main principles, SRI2022 will be designed to service a more diverse group of participants from different geographies, language groups and across sectors. For a global transformation to sustainability, we need a broad coalition of experts and change-makers.

Submit a Session Proposal

The invitation to submit session proposals for the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2022 (SRI2022) is now open. Submission deadline is February 5, 2022, at 23:59 SAST (UTC +2).

> Submit a session proposal

This call for session proposals is open to groups composed of anyone working in sustainability science and practice, which includes the research sector, government, business, philanthropy, art and civil society. 

Help us shape the program of SRI2022, which will consist of over 100 online and hybrid international sessions and events, highlighting the latest research and innovation in the field of sustainability. The first SRI Congress, SRI2021, held in June 2021, brought together over 700 speakers and more than 2000 participants from 100 countries.

For this call, proposals on the four Congress themes will be accepted:

Nexus issues

Novel perspectives looking at critical intersections in multiple areas including but not restricted to sustainable food systems and human wellbeing; resilience, adaptation and addressing risk; evidence-based and actionable contributions to the SDGs and beyond; narratives of progress, wealth and well-being; water, food, energy, society; resources use efficiency.

Different ways of knowing

Recognizing that knowledge is versatile, SRI2022 explores the various ways of understanding, conceptualizing, and learning about the world. An inclusive approach to knowledge will dramatically broaden the spectrum of solutions available for action-forward sustainability work.

New horizons

Sustainability is about our relationship with the future, and SRI2022 seeks to explore emerging issues and trends that shape our world tomorrow. In a time of rapid change, looking ahead is more important than ever. What are the challenges and solutions that might surprise us? How can we get ahead of the curve and build our preparedness and resilience? How to predict the unpredictable? Who are the new players and what are the unlikely coalitions? Under this theme, we are particularly open for new if not unexpected ideas.

African science and innovation (Cross-cutting theme)

One of the key objectives of SRI2022 is to showcase the richness of African science and innovation in sustainability. From tested local solutions to advanced academic research, the African continent has a wealth of knowledge and innovation to offer to the wider world. In addition, SRI2022 is hoping to strengthen the inter-African dialogue and networks by offering an inclusive platform for increased visibility and collaboration.

We are particularly interested in supporting contributions from young and early career professionals, indigenous groups, and participants from low- and middle-income countries.

Proposals can be submitted in English, French, Japanese, Mandarin and Spanish. We accept proposals for both online and hybrid sessions. Explore the congress themes, session types, submission guidelines and selection criteria on our website: https://sri2022.org/submit-a-session-proposal/ 

Important Dates

Other ways to engage in SRI2022 

Become an SRI2022 sponsor. Congress sponsors play a critical role by supporting the costs for both hosting the congress, and participation of innovators and researchers from lower and middle income countries. More information about sponsorship opportunities will be available on the SRI2022 website soon.