In 2026 we celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of Stanislao Cannizzaro (1826–1910), a key figure in the history of modern chemistry and one of the most emblematic intellectuals of 19th-century Europe.
Born and raised in Palermo, Cannizzaro is universally remembered for his decisive contribution to the redefinition of atomic theory at the Karlsruhe Congress of 1860. His lucid defense of Avogadro’s hypothesis and his methodological rigor provided chemistry with a stable theoretical framework, paving the way for the development of the periodic system and the modernization of the discipline.
Yet Cannizzaro’s significance reaches far beyond the confines of the laboratory. His life unfolded during one of the most turbulent and transformative periods in European history. He was a protagonist in the intellectual ferment of the Italian Risorgimento, actively participating in the 1848 Sicilian revolution for independence and later becoming a senator of the Kingdom of Italy. Cannizzaro’s scientific work cannot be separated from his civic and political commitment: he believed in science as a force for progress and national unity, and he dedicated himself to building modern educational institutions capable of fostering free thought and innovation in a newly unified Italy.
Palermo, Cannizzaro’s native city, was both the cradle of his education and the arena of his earliest political engagement. In the 19th century, Palermo was a city of contrasts: a place where the weight of tradition met the aspirations of modernity, where Bourbon rule clashed with liberal revolutions, and where a vibrant scientific and cultural community laid the groundwork for Sicily’s contribution to the national and European stage. It is no coincidence that Cannizzaro chose to return to Palermo as professor and rector, contributing to the renewal of its university and civic life.
Hosting this international conference in Palermo offers a unique opportunity not only to honor Cannizzaro’s multifaceted legacy but also to reflect on the broader intersections between science, politics, and society in the 19th century. Palermo today, with its rich historical layers and its dynamic cultural scene, provides an inspiring backdrop for this commemoration. A crossroads of Mediterranean civilizations, a city of dialogue between cultures and disciplines, Palermo invites us to rediscover Cannizzaro’s world and to explore how his life and work still resonate with contemporary debates on science, education, and civic responsibility.