NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

12^th ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

 Dates: 16 - 17 October 2025

Venue: National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Council Chamber, Bulawayo

Theme: Communication and Integration of Innovations, Strategies, and Partnerships for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Futures

Background

The unprecedented and accelerating climate change, attributed to anthropogenic activities, has presented significant challenges for global sustainability. Extreme climate events such as droughts, tropical cyclones and floods have been increasing in frequency, severity and intensity, disproportionately affecting the Global South (Deivanayagam et al., 2023). Addressing these challenges requires innovative and integrated approaches to strengthen resilience and transition to sustainable futures. Communication and information science play a crucial role in ensuring public access to information, fostering understanding, influencing behaviour, and encouraging collective action towards climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience building. Information intermediaries such as libraries, archives, publishers, civil society organisations and the media can leverage their expertise and resources to help scientists, governments, institutions and individuals communicate, organise, structure, and understand information and knowledge related to climate change and sustainable development (Appleton & Woolley, 2023). Effective information dissemination enhances public involvement in the climate discourse, can help mobilise the public for climate action, strengthens community involvement, and encourage organisations to invest in innovative solutions and support climate change related policies. This is essential for climate change mitigation and bolstering resilience to climate shocks, and ensure sustainability.

Strengthening resilience and building sustainable futures also requires a synergistic approach that integrates innovations, strategies, partnerships, and transdisciplinary research for effective interventions. As the impacts of climate change become more apparent, innovation is expected to be a key factor in enabling global decarbonisation and resilience building (Matos et al., 2022). Technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, big data, virtual and augmented reality and block chain amongst others have emerged as instrumental in ensuring public access to climate information and promoting climate action, disaster prediction, simulation and response.

To contribute to the global sustainability discourse therefore, we are calling for abstracts with theoretical and empirical contributions on innovation, climate resilience and sustainable futures within the communication and information science field. The conference welcomes contributions from academics, researchers, policy makers, civil society organisations, industry and students. This shall be a hybrid conference to accommodate those interested in participating online. The abstract for this conference should fall within but not limited to the following sub-themes:

Sub-themes

1. Crisis Communication Strategies for Climate Emergencies
2. Digital Platforms for Climate Advocacy
3. Accessibility in Environmental Communication and Advocacy
4. Reporting on Climate Change: Challenges and Innovations
5. The Role of Media in Shaping Public Perceptions of Sustainability
6. Investigative Journalism on Environmental Issues
7. The Impact of Social Media on Climate Activism
8. Storytelling for Climate Action: The Role of Film and Media
9. Sustainable Publishing Practices in the Digital Age
10. Open Access and Climate Research: Opportunities and Challenges
11. Publishing Climate Narratives: Strategies for Impact
12. Emerging Technologies in Publishing for Environmental Awareness
13. Libraries as Community Hubs for Climate Action
14. Information Literacy for Sustainable Development
15. The Role of Libraries in Promoting Environmental Literacy
16. Women and Climate Justice
17. The Impact of Big Data on Climate Solutions
18. Data Management Strategies for Climate Resilience
19. Indigenous Knowledge in Climate Adaptation Strategies
20. Nexus between peace, climate change, and development
21. Utilising Archives for Climate Research and Education
22. Data Governance for Climate-Related Information
23. Integrating Climate Change into Educational Curricula
24. Social Mobilisation and Behaviour Change for Sustainability

Abstracts guidelines

Please submit a 250-word abstract with a brief bio to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Your abstract should also include the following: title of the paper, email address of the author(s), 5 - 7 keywords, and sub-theme. All papers submitted will undergo a double-blind review process. Presenters will be provided with participant certificates and a book of abstracts. Outstanding papers will be featured in the Southern African Journal of Communication and Information Science (SAJCIS) special edition.

Important Dates

Deadline for full paper submission:                  15 September 2025

Conference Fees and Registration

The conference registration fees are as follows:

1. Delegates:                                          USD$150
2. Students: USD$50
3. Online participation: USD$50

Contact details

Dr E. Mupaikwa, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. +263778828644

Mrs Christina Ncube, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  +263773200881

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis, and places are reserved upon full payment of the registration fees. The banking details for registration fee payment will be provided upon request.