ZIRS 2019

Call for Papers

Abstracts are now being accepted for the 12th Zimbabwe International Research Symposium (ZIRS) to be hosted by the Research Council of Zimbabwe (RCZ). The Symposium will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre from 13-15 February 2019. 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 publication of their papers in the ZIRS Book of Papers presented, refereed and edited to international standards and accredited with ISBN and ISSN standard numbers.

12th ZIRS OBJECTIVES

• To provide a platform for nurturing relationships between industry and academia for national socio-economic growth 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

The main theme for the 12th ZIRS is “The Nexus between Research and Industry: Key to Innovation and Sustainable Development”.

 SUB-THEMES

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

1. SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

• Demystifying Intellectual Property Rights in Zimbabwe
• Fostering Public-Private Sector Partnerships for sustainable development
• Innovative strategies to attract Foreign Direct Investment for sustainable development
• R&D as an investment for unlocking sustainable development
• Promoting connectedness and flow of funds in the National Science Technology and Innovation System
• Improving access to Financial Services for Zimbabwe
• Strengthening Special Economic Zones
• Curbing foreign currency externalisation and smuggling of goods
• Strengthening industry-academia linkages through R&D funding
• Promoting business incubation programmes for sustainable development
• Enhancing capacity, retooling and recapitalisation of industry through R&D
• Harmonisation of investment laws and policies
• Accelerating commercialisation of R&D for industrial growth

2. SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Transforming Agriculture through increased productivity and food security
• Value addition to Zimbabwe’s natural resources as the cornerstone for industrial development
• Searching for R&D solutions to challenges on the availability of water
• Responding to Climate Change and variability 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
• Water harvesting technologies

3. PROMOTING AND MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH

• Increasing access to health facilities
• Strengthening biotechnology research for disease prevention and control.
• Preventive Healthcare
• Juxta positing Indigenous Knowledge Systems in the 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

 4. NATIONAL SECURITY

• Countering corruption through e-governance.
• Enhancing good 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

 GUIDELINES FOR WRITING ABSTRACTS

Abstracts of not more than 300 words should be submitted in 12 Times New Roman in MS Word format and include the following:  abstract title, author’s names, 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 12th ZIRS Book of Papers Presented. Authors of accepted abstracts are expected to make oral or poster presentations.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES   

Deadline for submission of abstracts                          30 June 2018

Feedback on reviewed abstracts                                 20 July 2018 

Due date for submission of full papers                       15 October 2018 

Feedback on reviewed full papers                              15 November 2018 

Deadline of receipt of corrected papers                      30 November 2018 

Early registration begins                                             1 October 2018 

Late registration begins                                               4 February 2019

CONFERENCE FEES

Conference presenters                        Amount($)

International                                                300

Local                                                              250

Student                                                          100

Conference delegates 

International                                                  200 

Local                                                                150 

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. Online payment via Paynow
2. Bank deposit
3. Mobile money transfer (Ecocash Merchant Code:115292)

Banking Details

Research Council of Zimbabwe, Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe, Nkwame Nkrumah Branch Account Number 

 01120016740027.

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