Symbioses. Synergies. Sustainability.

26 to 29 January 2026

MAKHANDA

Connecting researchers across the Biosciences Spectrum to shape the future of bio-based research towards global sustainable futures

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Join the Bio26 Congress Live

Bio26 warmly invites members of the wider community to join a live stream of the following lectures

  • 27 January 14:00

Prof Salim Abdool Karim – A Research Response to a Pandemic

  • 27 January 18:00

Prof Karin Jacobs – Soil Health: The Small Things Matter

  • 27 January 18:00

Dr Rachel Sipler – Working Together for Healthy Water: Lessons from Community Partnerships

  • 28 January 18:00

 Mr Peter Nel – African Medicine Security through Cannabinoids

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Guest Speakers

We are excited to confirm the following BIO26 South Africa Congress speakers.

PLENARY SPEAKER

Prof Salim Abdool Karim

Director, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA); CAPRISA Professor of Global Health,

Columbia University; & Pro Vice-Chancellor: Research, University of KwaZulu-Natal

PLENARY SPEAKER

Professor Russell T. Hill

Professor & Director: Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET),

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, USA

PLENARY SPEAKER

Dr Vasilis Kokkoris

Assistant Professor: Systems Ecology,
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Netherlands
PLENARY SPEAKER

Professor Rachel Wynberg

Professor of Environmental and Development Studies

University of Cape Town

PLENARY SPEAKER

Dr Rachel E. Sipler

Senior Research Scientist & Director: Center for Water Health and Humans,

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, USA

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Professor Fidele Ntie-Kang

Associate Professor: Pharmaceutical Chemistry; & Head of the Centre: Drug Discovery (UB-CeDD),

University of Buea, Cameroon

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Professor Pedro Estrela

Director of Centre for Bioengineering & Biomedical Technologies (CBio)

Professor of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering 

University of Bath, United Kingdom

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Professor Carminita Frost

Associate Professor in Biotechnology

Nelson Mandela University

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Professor Thulani Makhalanyane

Full Professor, Department of Microbiology and The School for Data Science and Computational Thinking

Stellenbosch University

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr Jennifer Molwantwa

Chief Executive Officer, Water Research Commission

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Professor Anthony Okoh

Director, SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre

Distinguished Professor of Microbiology

University of Fort Hare

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Mr Ben Durham

Chief Director: Bio-innovations

Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Dr Lucia Steenkamp

Principal Scientist and R&D Lead, Biomanufacturing Industry Development Centre (BIDC)

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

SUNSET SPEAKER

Mr Peter Nel

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

GES Labs

SUNSET SPEAKER

Professor Karin Jacobs

Professor of Microbiology

Stellenbosch University

SUNSET SPEAKER

Dr Rachel E. Sipler

Senior Research Scientist & Director: Center for Water Health and Humans,

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, UK

Poetry from the Congress

Bio26 | South Africa Congress is hosted in partnership by The South African Society for Microbiology, Rhodes University and Biotech SA 2026

CONTACT US

For general enquiries or more information please contact the Organising Committee via sasm2026bio2026@gmail.com

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