Conference – History and Geopolitics of Nuclear Deindustrialization – June 11 & 12, 2026 – Turin
Conference – History and Geopolitics of Nuclear Deindustrialization GeoNuFE Co-Organises International Conference on the History and Geopolitics of Nuclear Deindustrialization On 11–12 June 2026, the University of Turin will host the international conference History and Geopolitics of Nuclear Deindustrialization, jointly organised by the DENUCLIT and GeoNuFE research projects. Bringing together scholars from across Europe, the conference will explore the historical, political, environmental and territorial dimensions of nuclear deindustrialization. As nuclear infrastructures age and many facilities enter phases of decommissioning, questions surrounding waste management, site redevelopment, environmental legacies and the future of nuclear territories have become increasingly important. The conference aims to address these issues through interdisciplinary dialogue, drawing on perspectives from history, geography, political science, environmental studies and science and technology studies. GeoNuFE will play a central role in the event. The project’s Principal Investigator, Teva Meyer, will deliver the opening remarks alongside Barbara Curli (University of Turin), chair the panel Post-Nuclear Materials: Political Geographies, Geologies and Economies of Fuels and Waste, and provide the conference’s concluding remarks. The programme features four thematic panels addressing regulatory frameworks for decommissioning, post-nuclear environments and local mobilisations, nuclear materials and waste, as well as the relationship between technological futures and nuclear decline. Participants will also engage with recent publications in the field through a dedicated book preview session. The conference will bring together leading scholars working on the history, politics and geographies of nuclear energy, including Jayita Sarkar (University of Glasgow), Tatiana Kasperski (Södertörn University), Per Högselius (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) and Paul Josephson (Colby College). Jayita Sarkar will deliver the conference keynote lecture, The Global History of Nuclear Infrastructures. By fostering exchanges between researchers working on nuclear infrastructures, fuel cycles, territorial transformations and environmental legacies, the conference contributes to ongoing debates on the changing geographies of nuclear energy and the long-term consequences of nuclear industrial development. Practical Information Dates: 11–12 June 2026Venue: University of Turin, Campus Luigi Einaudi, Turin, ItalyOrganisers: DENUCLIT Project (University of Turin) and ERC GeoNuFE Project (Université de Haute-Alsace)Featured Speakers: Jayita Sarkar (University of Glasgow), Tatiana Kasperski (Södertörn University), Per Högselius (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) and Paul Josephson (Colby College)Conference Theme: History, geopolitics and territorial legacies of nuclear deindustrialization. Further information: DENUCLIT: https://www.denuclit.unito.it/home GeoNuFE: https://geonufe.eu Program
Kick off – Discussing the geopolitics of nuclear energy – June 6, 2025
Kick-off – Discussing the geopolitics of nuclear energy Discussing the geopolitics of nuclear energy A day of roundtables ERC GeoNuFE project kick-off events Save The Date Since 2022, the invasion of Ukraine has triggered a rapid geopoliticization of nuclear energy. Governments in Europe and North America have launched initiatives to support their national industries in competing with Russia’s Rosatom in the global nuclear technology market. Simultaneously, efforts have intensified to reduce dependence on Russian-controlled fuel supply chains, amid concerns that Moscow could leverage these interdependencies for geopolitical influence. Rising uranium prices have prompted the reopening of mines, yet uncertainties remain over the capacity to convert raw materials into sufficient fuel for the next generation of reactors. Meanwhile, as Western policymakers focused on Russia, China unveiled an unprecedented acceleration of its nuclear energy expansion. As governments and industries compete to secure energy resources for AI-driven infrastructures, the availability of nuclear power is becoming a strategic concern, adding another layer of complexity. The first months of Donald Trump’s second presidency have further disrupted these dynamics, raising critical questions about the future of nuclear energy geopolitics. Will Trump’s attempt to reset US-Russia relations lead to a reversal of Washington’s ban on Rosatom’s uranium products? How might a new global trade war reshape the uranium market? Beyond rhetoric, how will Trump’s « energy dominance » agenda materialize? How will other nuclear powers respond to these shifts? What are the implications for the non-proliferation regime in an increasingly competitive nuclear export market? Will Rosatom’s dominance in reactor exports be challenged—and if so, by whom and how? Join us on June 6, 2025, in Brussels for a series of three roundtables bringing together leading scholars, policymakers, and industry experts to discuss the evolving landscape of nuclear energy geopolitics. This event will also mark the official launch of the ERC-funded GeoNuFE project (Critical Geopolitics of Nuclear Fuel Supply in Europe), led by Assoc. Prof. Teva Meyer. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101162722 Program Gallery