Florence / Online, 16 April 2026 – The European Observatory on Memories (EUROM), in collaboration with the European University Institute (EUI), will host the fifth edition of the Subaltern Memories conference, titled “Remembering Environmental and Natural Disasters in Europe.”
Marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster, which is commemorated on April 26, the one-day event aims to provide an initial exploration of the topic, bringing together scholars and researchers to ensure that these memories are acknowledged and made present in contemporary discourse. The event will take place in Florence and online via Zoom, making it accessible to participants worldwide.
Exploring Memory and Environmental Justice
As the consequences of climate change become increasingly visible, the conference highlights the importance of understanding how past disasters shape collective memory and can contribute to public awareness in the present. The programme addresses a range of themes, from the environmental consequences of armed conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and the Spanish Civil War, to the long-term social and ecological impacts of technological disasters such as the Vajont Dam or the Seveso disasters in Italy.
Programme Highlights
- Panel 1: War and Environmental Consequences
- Whose Environment? Perspectives on Environmental History and Historiography in Europe and Beyond – Corinna Unger
- Weaponising Water in the Spanish Civil War: An Environmental History – Santiago Gorostiza
- Submerging and Surfacing: Nova Kakhovka in Ukrainian Contemporary Art – Polina Baitsym
- Visit to the Historical Archives of the European Union
- Participants attending in person will have the opportunity to explore original archival documents related to European environmental policy and memory.
- Panel 2: Environmental Impacts of Technological Disasters in Italy: Memory and Recognition
- The Vajont Dam Disaster (1963) – Chiara Calzana
- The Seveso Disaster (1976) – Monika Baar
- Keynote Address
- A Beacon of Hope, a Catastrophe, a Landscape Scar. Chernobyl’s (In-)visible Impact – Achim Klüppelberg
Accessible to a Global Audience
The conference will be held in English both in person in Florence and online via Zoom, enabling participation from across the globe. This hybrid format reflects EUROM’s commitment to inclusivity and international collaboration.
Registration and Further Information
The full programme and registration details are available at:
https://europeanmemories.net/activities/subaltern-memories-2026/
About the Organisers
The European Observatory on Memories (EUROM) is a transnational network and think tank based at the University of Barcelona and dedicated to the analysis and promotion of democratic memory policies in Europe.
The European University Institute (EUI), based in Florence, is an international research institution specialising in social sciences and humanities, fostering advanced research on European integration and global challenges.