Burns and Nature

This event, presented in partnership with the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow, will explore Burns' relationship to place, his life as a farmer, and his perspective on humanity’s relationship to the natural world. As well as demonstrating how Burns' environmental perspective is evident in his works, the event offers a lens through which we might view the environmental issues we face today.

Robert Burns was a keen observer of nature and had deep connections to the land, both as a farmer and as a poet. His observations of the environment and the impact that 'man's dominion' had on the natural world are evident in his letters, journals, poetry and song.

The evening will combine poetry, spoken word and song, alongside screenings of a specially curated selection of films from the National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive.

About the Centre for Robert Burns Studies (CRBS)

CRBS at the University of Glasgow is the world's leading centre for the study of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns (1759 to 1796), and a global hub for interdisciplinary research, teaching and public engagement. In recognition of its pioneering work, the University of Glasgow was awarded a Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education in 2023. This event is linked to a new CRBS research strand on Burns, nature and the environment.

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Host or Publisher The National Library of Scotland at Kelvin Hall