In 2017, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called the disappearance of Central Asia’s Aral Sea “probably the biggest ecological catastrophe of our time.” Centering the people who lived around the sea and their stories, this talk examines the causes and the consequences of the disaster. And rather than framing the Aral case as a uniquely Soviet story, it will consider what we can learn from it as we confront similar cases of shrinking bodies of water around the globe.
This talk is part of the Davis Center's Graduate Student Conference on Central Asia, taking place May 1-3, 2026.
Accessibility
The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact us at 617-495-4037 or daviscenter@fas.harvard.edu in advance of your participation or visit. Requests for Sign Language interpreters and/or CART providers should be made at least two weeks in advance if possible. Please note that the Davis Center will make every effort to secure services but that services are subject to availability.
