Professor Paolo Luca Bernardini elected foreign member of the Akademie der Weltreligionen in Hamburg

Professor Paolo Luca Bernardini, Full Professor of Modern History at the University of Insubria, has been elected a foreign member of the Akademie der Weltreligionen in Hamburg, an academic institution dedicated to the study of religions and the promotion of dialogue among different religious traditions. The appointment was made during the meeting held on Wednesday, 14 October, and represents international recognition of the scholarly work of the professor from the Department of Human Sciences and Innovation for the Territory.

The Akademie der Weltreligionen, established in 2006 within the University of Hamburg, brings together internationally renowned scholars of religious history and theology. Through research activities, conferences and cultural initiatives, the institution encourages dialogue among different faiths, promoting mutual understanding and interreligious exchange.

“I am deeply honoured by this recognition, particularly because part of my academic research focuses on the history of religions, especially Judaism,” comments Professor Bernardini. “It will also be an opportunity to return to Hamburg, a city where I have frequently worked in the past and to which I feel particularly attached. The Academy is a highly prestigious institution that organises numerous activities in the spirit of reconciliation and dialogue among the world's different religions.”

The appointment reflects Professor Bernardini's academic career, during which he has devoted part of his research to the history of religious traditions and their relationships with culture and society. These interests are also reflected in his forthcoming book, which explores the historical relationship between orality and writing.

“My next book, dedicated to the history of the relationship between orality and writing, will also have a significant historical-religious dimension,” Bernardini adds, highlighting the continuity between his research interests and the activities of the German institution.

The appointment strengthens the University of Insubria's presence within international academic networks and highlights the contribution of the University's humanities research to the study of religions, cultures and the historical processes that have shaped their development.

• Further information: Akademie der Weltreligionen – Universität Hamburg