The long shadow of Chernobyl

from 14. May 2014
Captivating images by National Geographic photographer Gerd Ludwig’s nine visits to Chernobyl in 28 years tell us tragic stories of the life of the victims, the exclusion zone and the abandoned city of Pripyat. (Hall 50)

Captivating images by National Geographic photographer Gerd Ludwig’s nine visits to Chernobyl in 28 years tell us tragic stories of the life of the victims, the exclusion zone and the abandoned city of Pripyat. Ludwig ventures deeper into the belly of the beast than any other photographer, repeatedly documenting the destroyed reactor #4, which will disappear under a new safe confinement for at least 100 years. Bordering the site of the worst nuclear desaster to date, the abandoned city of Pripyat might face a similar destiny as authorities decide what to do with it. “As engaged photographers“, says Ludwig, „we often report about human tragedies in the face of disaster, and take our cameras to uncharted areas with the understanding that our explorations are not without personal risk. We do this out of a deep commitment to important stories told on behalf of otherwise voiceless victims."

On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at 6:30 p.m., there was held a panel discussion in Hall 50 (2nd floor) on the topic of Chernobyl:

Panel members:
ao. Univ.-Prof. i. R. Dr. Helmuth Böck
(former head of reactor operations, Austrian Research Reactor / Atominstitut Vienna)
em. o. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Walter Kutschera
(former head, Institute of Isotope Research and Nuclear Physics, University of Vienna)
Kurt Langbein
(journalist, producer of the documentary "Bells of Chernobyl")
Prof. Dr. med. Edmund Lengfelder
(Otto Hug Radiation Institute, Munich)
Gerd Ludwig
(photographer, National Geographic)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Köberl (host)
(director general, NHM Vienna)

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Z-nLnXg8l7U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
  
Online-Tickets