46th Annual Congress of the Italian Society for the History of Physics and Astronomy (SISFA)

15 - 18 September 2026, Naples, Italy

The 46th SISFA National Congress will take place across three major scientific and historical venues: INAF - Astronomical Observatory of Capodimonte, Museum of Physics of the University of Naples Federico II, and the INGV - Vesuvius Observatory, where Friday’s session will be hosted in its historic building on Mount Vesuvius. The opening session is scheduled for the afternoon of 14 September 2026 in the prestigious Sala dei Baroni at Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino), one of the city’s most iconic historical landmarks.
The Congress is part of a well-established series that SISFA has organized annually since its foundation.

Topics
Proposals for oral communications should primarily address themes in the history of physics and astronomy, including their connections with related fields such as mathematics, chemistry, and the broader history of science and culture. Contributions focusing on historical scientific instruments and documentary sources relevant to these areas are also welcome. Equally pertinent are studies exploring the role of the history of physics and astronomy in science education and in the design and interpretation of museum exhibitions.

Thematic sessions
The Physics of the Cat: One Hundred Years of the Schrödinger Equation ; The Historical and Scientific Legacy of Giuseppe Piazzi ; Physics and Physicists of the Twentieth Century in Naples ; The Development of Meteorology and Volcanology ; History of Physics and Astronomy from the Seventeenth to the Nineteenth Century ; Dialogue Between History, Education, and Public Outreach in Physics and Astronomy ; Museums and Scientific Collections of Physics and Astronomy in Italy and Worldwide.

Grants
Three grants of 350 euros each will be available for scholars under the age of 35 who are up to date with the SISFA 2026 membership fee.

Important dates

• The call for abstract submission is open, deadline: 31 May 2026
• Registration and payment of conference fee, deadline: 27 July 2026

Contact
[email protected]

Congress Bulletin
First Announcement, March 2026