Global Change 2025

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF), in partnership with the national Global Change Science Committee (GCSC) and the University of Mpumalanga (UMP) are organizing a four-day 6th National Global Change Conference, under the theme: TRANSFORMATIVE SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN A CHANGING WORLD. The conference will take place at the UMP Campus, in Mbombela, on 1-4 December 2025.
 
The National Global Change Conferences are held biennially under the banner of the Global Change Grand Challenge (GCGC) - one of the five focus areas known as grand challenges in the 10-Year Innovation Plan (TYIP) of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). The conferences provide a platform for networking and knowledge sharing among global change stakeholders and role players, and bring together approximately 300-600 change agents from the research, development and innovation (RDI) sector, industry or private sector, government and policy-makers, and civil society, to discuss topical issues and share science, technology and innovation solutions to some of the challenges facing society and the economy. In particular, the conferences provide an opportunity for post-graduate students as well as young and emerging researchers to become advocates of change – change agents, which will drive a comprehensive knowledge economy and ensure research benefit society. Priority is strategically given to post-graduate students to present their scientific work at the conferences, with full funding support provided.