From 3 to 5 June 2026, the Italian Geographical Society hosted, at its headquarters in Villa Celimontana — Palazzetto Mattei, the 5th International Scientific Symposium of the Romano-Hellenic Division of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names — UNGEGN — dedicated to the theme “How toponymy can contribute to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. The initiative was held in cooperation with the Italian Geographic Military Institute and the Joint ICA-IGU Commission on Toponymy. (IGU Online)
The symposium brought together scholars, experts and representatives of national and international scientific institutions to reflect on the role of geographical names in the knowledge, protection and enhancement of territories. The discussions focused on toponomastics not only as a tool for identifying places, but also as cultural heritage, an archive of collective memory and a resource for more inclusive and sustainable territorial policies.
The sessions addressed highly topical issues: from the relationship between place names and environmental risks to the protection of linguistic minorities; from the historical memory of communities to gender representation in public space; and from the contribution of cartography, geographical education and toponomastic standardisation to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda. The programme was organised into seven scientific sessions, with contributions from several countries in the Romano-Hellenic area and from wider international contexts.
The proceedings opened with institutional addresses by Gianluca Casagrande, Chair of the Romano-Hellenic Division; General Luigi Postiglione, Commander of the Italian Geographic Military Institute; and other representatives of the geographical and academic communities. Pierre Jaillard, Chair of UNGEGN, contributed to the opening of the second day, further confirming the international significance of the initiative and its place within the broader framework of United Nations activities dedicated to the standardisation of geographical names.
During the event, the exhibition “Place names and odeporical sources. Socotra and its liminal geohistories — Toponomastica odeporica. Socotra e le sue geostorie liminari”, curated by Professor Annalisa D’Ascenzo, was also inaugurated.
The discussions confirmed the importance of geographical names as instruments of knowledge, dialogue and governance: through them, it is possible to read landscape transformations, recognise local identities, preserve linguistic and cultural heritage, and promote more informed territorial management. From this perspective, toponomastics proves to be an essential field of study for building more resilient, inclusive and sustainability-oriented communities.