About BERN

The British Enlightenment Research Network (BERN) focuses upon the rich historical epoch known as the Enlightenment, an age of political, intellectual, social and cultural change in Europe that had an ideological foundation among the philosophers who believed in human perfectibility and reason. As a progressive movement, it aimed at making the world a better place: ‘our first concern as lovers of our country, must be to enlighten it’, declared Richard Price, one of the leading British figures of the Enlightenment.

Although the Enlightenment was a broadly European phenomenon, the focus of this Network will be Britain during the Enlightenment period. The richness, scope and influence of the Enlightenment project makes determining chronological parameters difficult and for this reason BERN will adopt a fluid conception of dating the Enlightenment, with the concept of the ‘long eighteenth century’ used as the chronological framework.

The main aims of BERN are to:

• Develop innovative team-based research projects, with a scale and scope that will be competitive in today’s research funding environment;
• Harness Australia’s international standing in British Enlightenment studies and to coordinate existing research expertise to generate collaborative, interdisciplinary research partnerships and linkages;
• Link Australian researchers with international scholars, with a view to building a new capacity for collaborative research;
• Generate a national benefit by enhancing Australia’s capacity to develop innovative and significant research with international recognition, as well as to provide high-quality research training opportunities for postgraduate and postdoctoral scholars; and
• Foster exchanges and relationships with networks and research centres within Australia and abroad.

BERN projects will develop under a series of research nodes. To encourage and facilitate the collaborative projects, BERN will host activities such as thematic workshops, symposia, seminars, and public lectures. For further information on BERN events, click here.