UNITED NATIONS GROUP OF EXPERTS ON GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES
Romano-Hellenic Division
International Scientific Symposium
“How toponymy can contribute to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”
Roma [Rome] – Italia, 3 – 5 June 2026
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Romano-Hellenic Division (RHD) of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical
Names (UNGEGN) announces its fifth International Scientific Symposium focused on
“How toponymy can contribute to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”
The event will be held in Roma [Rome], Italia, at “Palazzetto Mattei in Villa Celimontana”,
headquarters of Italian Geographical Society, from 3 to 5 June 2026, in partnership with the Joint
ICA/IGU Commission on Toponymy, and in close cooperation with the Italian Geographic Military
Institute and the Italian Geographical Society.
Members of UNGEGN, scholars (geographers, cartographers, historians, linguists etc.), administrators
and planners are cordially invited to attend the symposium. Participation is free of charge. Languages:
English and French.
The symposium will focus on the contribution of toponyms – particular historical placenames and the
implementation of policies for the assignment of new toponyms – to the achievement of the United
Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Building on discussions launched in 2024 and 2025, the event will explore how geographical names
can serve as instruments for fostering bio-cultural heritage preservation, gender equality and
sustainable communities. Particular attention will be given to two strategic perspectives: enhancing
gender balance in the naming of public spaces and urban features, and drawing lessons from historical
toponymy to inspire more sustainable human-environment relationships. The symposium will provide
an interdisciplinary platform for scholars (geographers, historians, linguists, cartographers…)
policymakers, and practitioners to share research findings, methodologies and case studies.
Presentation proposals: proposals should be submitted through the specific form accessible through the following LINK and QR Code:
Deadlines
- 31 January 2026: abstracts submission (max. 400 words);
- 28 February 2026: authors of accepted abstracts are notified by the Scientific Committee
- 2 December 2026: submission of final papers, complete with images and captions
Scientific committee
- Andrea Cantile, Honorary Chair of the Romano-Hellenic Division, IGMI, and University of
Florence (Italia);
- Gianluca Casagrande, Chair of the Romano-Hellenic Division, European University of Rome
(Italia);
- Catherine Cheetam, Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (United Kingdom);
- Annalisa D’Ascenzo, Roma Tre University (Italia);
- José Miguel Delgado Barrado, Universidad de Jaén (España);
- Elena Dai Prà, Co-Chair of Joint ICA/IGU Commission on Toponymy University of Trento (Italia);
- Peder Gammeltoft, University of Bergen (Norge);
- Helen Kerfoot, Former Emeritus Scientist Natural Resources Canada, Honorary Chair of UNGEGN
(Canada);
- Joan Tort i Donada, Universitat de Barcelona (España).