Abstracts are now being accepted for the 13th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium (ZIRS) to be hosted by the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ). The Symposium will be held in Victoria Falls from 4-6 October 2023. Abstracts can be submitted for either oral or poster presentations. Authors must specify whether they prefer to make oral or poster presentations, taking into account that space for poster presentations is limited.

ZIRS is an international event dedicated to showcasing the latest scientific research results, networking and creating smart partnerships. Other benefits include the opportunity to meet face-to-face with experts from various disciplines and identify new areas of cooperation.

The Symposium is also a platform for identifying gaps and challenges faced by sectors in the development of targeted and evidence-based strategies. Young researchers have the chance to receive mentorship from more-seasoned researchers, and early-career scientists and researchers may also receive career guidance. Authors benefit from the publication of their papers in the ZIRS Book of Papers presented, refereed and edited to international standards and accredited with highly accredited journals.

13TH ZIRS OBJECTIVES

  • To provide a platform for nurturing relationships between industry and academia for national sustainable development and shaping of the National Research Agenda.
  • To facilitate increased transfer of knowledge, from knowledge generators to knowledge users (Industry, entrepreneurs, investors).
  • To bring to the fore research outputs with commercial value.

MAIN THEME

Embracing Research and Innovation for Sustainable Industrialisation.

SUB-THEMES

Abstracts are expected to focus on but not limited to the following sub-themes:

 

  1. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES
  • Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy in mitigation power cuts;
  • Information Communication Technologies (ICTs), as enablers of economic development;
  • Demystifying Intellectual Property Rights in Zimbabwe;
  • Fostering Public-Private Sector Partnerships for sustainable development;
  • Infrastructure and its impact on productive sectors of the economy and on the level and access to services;
  • Innovative strategies to attract Foreign Direct Investment for sustainable development;
  • Unlock investment in driving sustainable economic growth;
  • Diaspora Participation in National Development;
  • Reducing Extreme Poverty and Improving Access to Basic Social Services;
  • Promoting connectedness and flow of funds in the National Science Technology and Innovation System;
  • Improving access to financial services for Zimbabwe;
  • Human Capital Development and Innovation as the engine in driving economic growth;
  • Strengthening Special Economic Zones;
  • Curbing foreign currency externalisation and smuggling of goods;
  • Financial inclusion in promoting inclusive growth;
  • Nurture industry-academia linkages through R&D funding;
  • Youth Participation in decision-making and development processes;
  • Establishment of an ecosystem that allows for leisure time through Sports and recreation;
  • Promoting business incubation programmes for sustainable development;
  • Enhancing capacity, retooling, and recapitalisation of industry through R&D;
  • Harmonisation of investment laws and policies;
  • Governance community based and people centred through Devolution;
  • Land Delivery for Urban and Rural Housing;
  • Accelerating commercialisation of R&D for industrial growth;
  • Achieving the national socio-economic gender equality and equity; and
  • Strengthening Gender Equality and Social Inclusion for sustainable development.
  1. SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT:
  • Transforming agriculture through increased productivity and food security;
  • Sustainable production systems in enhancing agricultural productivity for enhancing food security;
  • Strengthen local agro-processing value chains;
  • Mineral beneficiation and value addition through creation of value chains in anchoring the national reindustrialisation;
  • Value addition to Zimbabwe’s natural resources as a cornerstone for industrial development;
  • Searching for R&D solutions to challenges on availability of water;
  • Responding to climate change and vulnerability through R&D;
  • Promoting climate justice and gender justice through R&D;
  • Understanding and exploiting deep earth resources;
  • Developing sustainable energy resources for sustainable development;
  • Creating platforms for technology transfer, acquisition, and adoption by industry;
  • Mitigating land degradation;
  • Rehabilitation and development of public infrastructure; and
  • Water harvesting technologies.
  1. PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH:
  • Increasing access to health facilities for vulnerable populations;
  • Improving Access to Primary & Secondary Health Care;
  • Healthy Lifestyles and Sport for Health Purposes;
  • Strengthening biotechnology research for disease prevention and control;
  • Preventative health care;
  • Juxta positioning Indigenous Knowledge Systems in pharmaceuticals industry;
  • Revitalising Zimbabwe’s national health delivery system;
  • Patenting traditional medicine to unlock revenue for the local pharmaceutical industry;
  • A Healthy start to life: countering impacts of genetic, maternal, social and environmental factors which dispose infants to ill-health and reduce their well-being and life potential;
  • Focus on non-communicable diseases including cancer;
  • Gender, Public Health and well-being;
  • Universal access to safe, effective and quality-assured blood and blood products; and
  • Preparing for future pandemics: lessons learnt from COVID-19.
  1. NATIONAL SECURITY:
  • Countering corruption through e-governance;
  • International Engagement and Re-Engagement;
  • Enhancing inclusive corporate governance;
  • Combating crime, terrorism, and human trafficking;
  • Tackling revenue leakages;
  • Money laundering and externalisation of foreign currency;
  • Controlling invasive species;
  • The nexus between food security and national security;
  • Improved drought-tolerant crops;
  • Cyber-security for sustainable development; and
  • Gender and Disability Mainstreaming for enhanced social protection and peacebuilding.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ABSTRACTS

Abstracts of not more than 300 words should be submitted, in 12 Times New Roman, MS Word format and include the following:  abstract title, author’s name, sub-theme chosen, author’s institution, and contact details (functional email addresses and cell phone numbers). In the case of abstracts for published papers, authors should give a statement stating that the work has been published elsewhere. Full papers presented by authors whose abstracts are accepted will be published in the 13th ZIRS Book of Papers presented. Authors of accepted abstracts are expected to make oral or poster presentations. Please submit only if there is commitment to register for conference attendance and come for the presentations.

 

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES     

Deadline for submission of abstracts                         31 March 2023

Feedback on reviewed abstracts                                 30 April 2023

Due date for submission of full papers                      31 May 2023

Feedback on reviewed full papers                              30 June 2023

Deadline of receipt of corrected papers                     31 July 2023

Early registration begins                                            1 August 2023

Late registration begins                                              15 September 2023

 

CONFERENCE FEES Amount (US$)
Conference presenters
International 300
Local 200
International Student 100
Conference delegates
International 200
Local 100
Local Students 50

The Conference fees include the Book of Abstracts, teas, lunches, a welcome cocktail, and a conference bag. An additional $10 will be charged for all late registrations.

 

METHODS OF PAYMENT

Conference presenters and delegates can use one of the following ways to pay registration fees.

  1. Bank deposit

Banking Details

Research Council of Zimbabwe, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ),

LOCAL CURRENCY (using the official exchange rate of the day)

Currency Account:  ZWL

Bank: Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ)

Account Name: Research Council of Zimbabwe

Account No: 01120016740027

 

Branch: Nkwame Nkrumah

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY ACCOUNT

Currency Account:  USD

Bank: Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ)

Account Name: Research Council of Zimbabwe

Branch: Nkwame Nkrumah

Account No: 011 200 1674 0067

Swift Code: COBZZWHAXXX

Branch sort Code: 6101

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Abstracts should be sent to symposium@rcz.ac.zw, Abstracts sent after the deadline or to the wrong email address will not be accepted.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For any queries or additional information contact our team on;

Tel. +263-4-304733, 304787

Cell phone +263 712 954 330/2