Held 25–27 September 2025, Jelsa, island of Hvar
The Fragility of Islands and/or Islands of Fragility: Island Lives, Contemporary Changes and Uncertain Futures
From 25 to 27 September 2025, Jelsa on the island of Hvar hosted the 13th Anatomy of Islands International Scientific and Professional Symposium, which brought together 38 scientists delivering 29 presentations and offering multidisciplinary insights into the current challenges of island life.
The 13th edition opened a discussion on the fragility of island worlds – how it is shaped, how it manifests itself and how it is understood in contemporary circumstances. Rather than interpreting fragility as weakness or isolation, the symposium approached it as a warning and as an opportunity to reflect on a different future for islands.
Reflecting on the fragility of islands opens up a range of relevant research questions: the loss of biodiversity and changes in ecosystems, the uncertainties brought about by climate change and natural disasters, depopulation, excessive dependence on tourism, the consequences of “apartmentisation” (the spread of tourist apartments), poor connections with the mainland and the lack of links with neighbouring islands, as well as administrative divisions and the perception of space solely as a resource and of heritage as a product.
Particular attention was paid to the role of civil society, educational initiatives and practices of care that foster solidarity and togetherness, as well as to the challenges of the island economy, agriculture and self-sufficiency. In the context of the various crises that mark our times – climate, economic, health and ecological – the aim was to understand the cracks and fractures that are becoming ever more visible in the lives of islands and islanders.
The symposium in Jelsa thus became a meeting place for scientists, islanders and the wider public, as it sought to view the fragility of islands not only as a challenge but also as an opportunity to shape more sustainable, better connected and fairer futures.
Organisers:
Anatomy of Islands Association – Centre for Research and Development; Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research; Institute for Migration Research; Department of Ethnology and Anthropology, University of Zadar; Municipality of Jelsa; Jelsa Tourist Board; Jelsa Municipal Museum; Jelsa Municipal Library and Reading Room; Hvar Secondary School; LAG Škoji; FLAG Škoji; and Stari Grad Plain Management Agency.
Supported by:
Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds; Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia
Programme of the 13th Anatomy of Islands (in Croatian)