The Radioactive Decay of the Iron Curtain: Re-Examination of the Chernobyl Catastrophe in Comparative Perspective
17–19 April 2026 | New Bulgarian University, Sofia
New Bulgarian University and ERUA are announcing a call for participation in an International Conference on the 40th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster: The Radioactive Decay of the Iron Curtain: Re-Examination of the Chernobyl Catastrophe in Comparative Perspective. The Conference will take place between 17 -19 April 2026 at New Bulgarian University in Sofia.
It seeks to revisit the broader political, social, psychological, and ecological implications of the Chernobyl disaster from a comparative perspective. The explosion, with its immediate health, technological, social, and environmental effects, stands as a symbolic tipping point, revealing an imminent legitimacy crisis within communist states and societies and signalling many of the changes that unfolded in 1989. By comparing the experiences of different countries in Europe, the organisers aim to uncover both the unique and shared aspects of this transformative period on both sides of the Iron Curtain and across various European contexts.
Student Creative Workshop
In parallel with the academic conference, we will host a hands-on creative workshop designed for MA students with background in creative writing, journalism, script-writing, media studies, and marketing from within the ERUA network and beyond. The workshop aims to bridge academic research and creative communication by encouraging students to explore how catastrophes – and their memory – shape public understanding, democratic engagement, and environmental awareness.
Guided by experienced tutors, the students will observe selected conference panels and work collaboratively on scripts, storyboards, or short media concepts that translate the scholarly debates on Chernobyl’s political, social, and ecological legacy into accessible narrative and visual forms. Through interdisciplinary exchange and experimentation with diverse media formats, participants will strengthen their skills in societal storytelling, science communication, and cross-cultural collaboration.
Students may apply either independently for the workshop or in combination with a paper proposal for the conference.
Conference focus/Thematic scope:
- State and society reactions to the news of the Chernobyl explosion; reconstruction of institutional chains of command as well as the history of (miss)management – decisions to take or not to take measures to protect the population from detected radiation;
- Collection of data and its interpretation – different expertise and registers of knowledge on radiation, institutional and disciplinary approaches / divisions; Systematization, dissemination and communication of gathered data;
- Ecological mindsets – various regimes of thinking about environmental risks on different levels of state and society (back then and now);
- Media and popular reaction – official policies, informal means of communication, trans-border media and everyday knowledge;
- Political and social relevance of the disaster – a threat, a failure, a precursor of collapse…;
- Long term effects, health hazards and their (im)possible evaluation;
- Transitional justice – judicial prosecution, public condemnation and culprits; Perpetrators and victims – is there a clear boundary?
- Arts and the representations of Chernobyl in institutional and popular culture, education, nowadays politics;
- Remembering Chernobyl and its relevance to contemporary crises.
Application process
Eligible applications
- Scholars of the social sciences and the humanities who are interested in the thematic fields of the conference;
- MA students, PhD students, and post-doctoral researchers with interests and a record of accomplishment in the thematic scope of the conference;
- MA students in creative fields (creative writing, journalism, scriptwriting, media, communication, marketing) may apply for the Creative Workshop.
How to Apply
Applicants should submit:
- Academic CV
- Topic proposal / abstract
Applications must be sent to chernobylbg.project@gmail.com
Deadline: 15 February 2026
Applicants to the Creative Workshop only should include a brief motivation letter (max. 300 words) outlining your interests and relevant experience.
Organizers
- Dimitar Vatsov, New Bulgarian University, Department of Philosophy and Sociology
- Momchil Metodiev, Institute for Studies of the Recent Past / New Bulgarian University
Contact:
Dimiter Dimov
New Bulgarian University,
Sofia 1618, Montevideo Str. 21
Campus 3, Floor 4
Tel: +359 2 811 0442
Email: chernobylbg.project@gmail.com
Further information you may find here.
For questions regarding funding opportunities, please contact your local ERUA team at your home university.
Looking forward your contributions and participation!
