Conference to be held in Naples to mark 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster

On 15 April 2026, Naples will host an academic conference entitled ‘Chernobyl 1986–2026: The Legacy of the Disaster and Contemporary Risks’, marking the 40th anniversary of the tragedy at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

The event will take place at the Department of Social Sciences and will form part of a course on the anthropology of communication. It is organised by academic and cultural institutions with the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Naples.

The conference will be attended by Italian and Ukrainian academics, as well as eyewitnesses to the events — the accident liquidators. Topics of the presentations include:
•Chernobyl as a historical turning point in a global context; the
•social perception of the tragedy and its impact on children; the
•cultural context prior to the disaster; the development
•of the nuclear age and the construction of the plant; and
•the current state of the exclusion zone

. Particular attention will be paid to the first-hand accounts of the liquidators, who will share their personal experiences of helping to overcome the consequences of the accident.

The aim of the event is to reflect on the long-term consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, as well as to discuss current challenges related to nuclear safety and information accountability. The conference

begins at 9.30 am. Admission is open to all interested parties.