Call for Presentations – RSAfrica26

Research Software Without Borders

Building Equitable, Sustainable, and Connected Research Software Communities

Conference date: 25 August 2026
Part of the Global South Research Software Group of Conferences

About RSAfrica26

The Research Software Africa Conference (RSAfrica26) brings together people involved in building, using, supporting, and sustaining research software across Africa.

In 2026, RSAfrica is part of a coordinated Equersa Group of Conferences, running across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and Latin America over the same dates. Together, these events create space for regional conversations alongside shared global exchange.

This year’s theme, “Research Software Without Borders”, is about breaking down barriers between regions, institutions, disciplines, and communities to build research software that is equitable, sustainable, and community-led.

We invite contributions from anyone involved in research software, including research software engineers (RSEs), researchers, infrastructure providers, librarians, data specialists, community organisers, students, and funders.

Topics of Interest

We welcome presentations related to the theme, including (but not limited to):

Equity, Access and Knowledge

• Equitable access to research software and infrastructure
  
• Indigenous, local, and culturally grounded knowledge systems
  
• Data sovereignty, governance, and ethical research software
  
• Accessibility, multilingualism, and inclusive design (e.g. barriers for people with English as a second language in jobs and funding opportunities)

Infrastructure and Platforms

• Cloud, HPC, and hybrid infrastructure for research
  
• Shared platforms and regional services
  
• Open, community-owned, or sovereign infrastructure
  
• Doing more with limited resources

Reproducibility, FAIR and Open Research

• Reproducible workflows and good research practice
  
• FAIR data and software in practice
  
• Provenance, metadata, and research integrity
  
• Open collaboration and reuse

Community and Collaboration

• Building and sustaining research software and RSE communities
  
• Community governance and leadership
  
• Cross-institution and cross-regional collaboration
  
• Lessons learned from community practice

Data Platforms and Data Spaces

• Research data platforms, commons, and shared environments
  
• Interoperable data spaces for cross-institution and cross-regional collaboration
  
• Federated data systems and trusted research environments
  
• Integrating data platforms with research software and workflows

Skills, Training and Careers

• Teaching and learning research software skills
  
• RSE career paths and recognition
  
• Mentoring, leadership, and capacity building
  
• Supporting early-career practitioners

AI and Emerging Tools

• AI-enabled research software and workflows
  
• Responsible and ethical use of AI
  
• Automation, agents, and emerging technologies
  
• Real-world experiences and lessons learned

Sustainability and Impact

• Sustaining research software beyond funding cycles
  
• Maintenance, support, and stewardship models
  
• Environmentally responsible computing
  
• Measuring and communicating impact

Presentation Options

When submitting, please choose one of the following:

5-minute Lightning Talk

A short presentation to share a new idea, early work, lessons learned, or a brief case study.

10-minute Demo / Showcase

A practical demonstration of a tool, workflow, platform, or technique, focusing on real-world use.

15-minute Presentation

A standard conference presentation that allows time to explore a topic in more depth.

Flexible Presentation Format

If your proposal does not fit the options above, you are welcome to suggest an alternative format (for example, a workshop, a panel, or a facilitated discussion).

Note: Non-presentation formats, such as posters, are not included in this Call for Presentations.

We particularly encourage first-time presenters, early-career practitioners, and community-focused submissions.

Submission Guidelines

When submitting your proposal, please include:

• Title of your presentation
  
• Presentation type (from the options above)
  
• Abstract (approximately 150–300 words)
  
• Learning Objectives (3–5 key takeaways for the audience)
  
• Presenter Information (name, affiliation, bio up to 150 words, and contact details)

Submissions should clearly describe what attendees will learn and how the presentation connects to research software practice or community.

You do not need to have a finished project. Work-in-progress, lessons learned, and honest reflections are welcome.

Review Process

Submissions will be reviewed based on:

• Relevance to the RSArica26 theme
  
• Clarity and coherence of the abstract
  
• Practical applicability and potential impact
  
• Alignment with the interests of the research software community
  
• Inclusivity of speaker(s)

Talks from beginners, early-career RSEs, and those covering fundamental topics are encouraged. The conference welcomes diverse perspectives and aims to lower entry barriers for new speakers.

Submission Timeline

• CFP Opens: TBD
  
• Submission Deadline: May 1st, 2026
  
• Notification of Acceptance: July 7th, 2026

Code of Conduct

RSAfrica is committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful conference environment. All participants are expected to follow the RSEAA Code of Conduct.

Why Submit to RSAfrica26?

• Be part of a globally connected set of conferences
  
• Share your work with a supportive, community-led audience
  
• Learn from research software practitioners across regions
  
• Help shape the future of research software in the Global South

Diversity and Inclusion

We encourage submissions from individuals of all backgrounds, disciplines, and career stages. RSA26 is committed to creating an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and experiences. The conference actively promotes Digital Accessibility, and we encourage presenters to: - Use clear and readable slides with high contrast. - Provide alternative text (alt text) for images, charts, and figures. - Include captions in videos to improve accessibility. - Avoid reliance on color alone to convey information.

Submission Process & Contact

Submit your proposals via the RSAfrica26 online submission system at submission link/TBD. (To register for the submission platform, visit registration link. Note: All external profile information on the registration form is optional.) For questions, please contact the RSAfrica26 Organizing Committee at info@rseaa.org.

Submit Presentation for RSAfrica26

We look forward to your participation in RSAfrica26, as we come together to strengthen our community connections and advance the field of research software!

For more information, visit https://rseaa.org.

The Microsoft CMT service was used for managing the peer-reviewing process for this conference. This service was provided for free by Microsoft and they bore all expenses, including costs for Azure cloud services as well as for software development and support.