By Martin Chemhere
Two significant international conferences, focusing on architecture and urban planning, were concluded yesterday in Zimbabwe. The International Conference on Architectural Criticism, Critical Architecture and Critical Theory (ICACCACT-2025) took place in Bulawayo from February 11th to 12th, 2025, concurrently with the International Conference on Colonial Architecture and Town Planning (ICCATP-25), held in Kariba. Both events were organized by the Science Society, a global organization dedicated to fostering sustainable development in science and technology.
The Science Society welcomed academics, students, researchers, and industry professionals to these important gatherings, facilitating a broad discourse across disciplines. The conferences provided a platform for universities, colleges, academics, and department personnel to engage through distinguished addresses, plenary sessions, workshops, symposia, oral and poster presentations, and virtual/video presentations and webinars.
The ICACCACT-2025 aimed to establish itself as a leading annual conference in its field, bringing together scholars worldwide to present cutting-edge research, exchange ideas, and foster new collaborations. Participants explored advances in architectural criticism, critical architecture, and critical theory, connecting with experts on the fundamentals, applications, and latest developments in these areas.
Similarly, the ICCATP-25 focused on colonial architecture and town planning, providing a forum for global scholars to share their work and insights. The conference sought to become the premier annual event in its domain, facilitating the exchange of ideas and information related to the historical and ongoing impact of colonial influences on built environments. It also offered opportunities for networking and collaboration among researchers and practitioners.
Both conferences offered several benefits to participants. Accepted abstracts were published in conference proceedings, and full papers were slated for publication in relevant international journals, each receiving a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for easy access and citation. Awards were presented for the best research papers and presentations. Furthermore, the Science Society’s Delegates Exchange Programme (IDEP) offered opportunities for delegates with promising research initiatives to conduct research and development activities at collaborating international organizations. The Science Society Research Funding Scheme also provided support for delegates with innovative ideas beneficial to the humanities.
The Science Society, organizer of both events, is a large professional organization dedicated to research, development, and promotion in engineering and technology. It strives to drive technical revolution and sustainable development by bringing together leading experts in various fields. With an International Advisory Board and collaborations with leading technical institutes and universities, the Science Society fosters the exchange of technical knowledge and supports research initiatives. These conferences underscored the Society’s commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering collaboration in critical areas of architectural and urban studies.
