After a successful inaugural conference in the Kruger National Park in March 2024, the second annual conference will take place from 25 to 27 August 2025 at North-West University’s Sports Village in Potchefstroom.

SASEP hopes to bring philosophers and others from tangential fields (e.g. such as environmental and animal law, conservation, environmental management) together to consider issues related broadly to the environment and its inhabitants. Furthermore, SASEP, and its associated conferences, will provide space for established and emerging environmental philosophers from Southern Africa and beyond to share their research and exchange ideas that focus on all aspects of the environment from philosophical perspectives. The society will welcome a diverse range of philosophical approaches, and also encourage interdisciplinary dialogue with those from nascent academic disciplines, such as the environmental sciences, social sciences, and others.

Themes:
All aspects of environmental philosophy are welcomed, including environmental and animal ethics. The following are guiding questions, but they should not serve as a limitation.

• How can we critically reflect on humanity’s relationship to nature?
• How do we conceive of nature from a broadly African perspective?
• How can we decolonise conservation?
• What kinds of contributions can philosophers make to addressing the environmental crisis?
• What does an African Environmental Philosophy look like?
• How can we philosophise around climate change from an African view?
• How can laws aid/negate human-animal relationships?

Submission of Abstracts:
Please send a 150-250 word abstract to sasepconference2025@gmail.com (cc: Yolandi.Coetser@nwu.ac.za.) The deadline for submission of abstracts is 30 June 2025. Notification of acceptance will be sent latest by 15 July 2025 but please do let us know if you need confirmation earlier. Panel proposals are also welcome.

Conference Fee:
The fee for the 3-full day conference (including tea and lunches), and one conference dinner, is R2500 (US$140or £110) for tenured academics, and R1000 for tenuously employed academics and postgraduate students (US$55 or £45) (can be waived if requested). The mentioned fees also include membership of SASEP for one year.

Special issue:
A special issue with a reputable journal will be published after the conference.

Accommodation:
Accommodation is available at NWU’s Sports Village. A single room (Bed and Breakfast) is R995 a night, and a double room is R1530 a night (or R765pp). Please email sportsvillage@nwu.ac.za and quote #149963 to book your room. 

Air Travel:
The closest airport to Potchefstroom is OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, which is about 150km away from Potchefstroom. There are shuttles daily between OR Tambo and Potchefstroom (Lime Time or City Bug).   

For more information about the conference and/or SASEP, please feel free to email Yolandi.Coetser@nwu.ac.za.