IUPAP GA & ICP 2027

The International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP) supported International Conference on Physics (ICP) 2027, themed “Physics for Sustainable Development: Equitable Wellbeing on a Healthy, Lively Planet,” will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa from 21-23 October 2027, in parallel with the 36th General Assembly (GA) of IUPAP.

The conference will be hosted by the South African Institute of Physics (SAIP) in partnership with the Southern Africa Physics Network (SAPhysNet). The conference will convene approximately 350 in person delegates and 100 online delegates from more than 100 countries, including leading physicists, policymakers, innovators, and early-career researchers. All conference sessions will be in full hybrid mode for online participation. Participation by postgraduate students and early-career researchers will be encouraged, ensuring strong alignment with the human capital development priorities.

The Physics Focus of the ICP will be: The roles that physics is playing, and should be playing, in the present climate crisis of our planet.

This focus is encompassed by four overarching themes:

  1. Physics in Climate Science
  2. Physics in Sustainable Development for Equitable Wellbeing:
  3. Physics in Science Diplomacy and Communication
  4. Physics Education and Skills Development in Climate Physics and Sustainability

The purpose of the conference is to strengthen the role of physics as a foundational discipline addressing complex sustainability challenges including climate change, sustainable energy systems, environmental resilience, and health technologies.

The conference will emphasise interdisciplinary collaboration between physics and emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, big-data modelling, and computational science.

ICP 2027 aligns strongly with the goals of the UN International Decade of Science for Sustainable Development (IDSSD 2024-2033) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Hosting this global event in South Africa provides a strategic opportunity to strengthen Africa’s participation in international physics research and science diplomacy. The conference will enhance global collaboration networks and support regional capacity development through SAPhysNet, ensuring that African researchers are fully integrated into global knowledge production in the physical sciences

Registration and Abstract Submission opening soon