The Fds welcomes Mr. Satoshi Tanaka, a Hiroshima survivor and member of the organization that won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize

The University of Montpellier and its Faculty of Sciences are honored to welcome Mr. Satoshi Tanaka, a Hiroshima survivor and member of the Japanese association Nihon Hidankyo, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October 2024.

As the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki approaches, this event offers a rare opportunity to engage in dialogue with a firsthand witness to these tragic events—dark moments in human history.

She also reminds us that knowledge—even the most fundamental kind, often developed in university laboratories—can certainly be beneficial, but unfortunately can sometimes be misused and lead to catastrophic consequences.

This opportunity for dialogue will therefore be a key moment for us to reflect together—80 years after the opening of this atomic Pandora’s box—on the responsibility of scientists and on the role of universities in fostering dialogue among people of all backgrounds, as well as in promoting the values of peace.