Association for the Study of Death and Society
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asdsdeath.bsky.social
Association for the Study of Death and Society
@asdsdeath.bsky.social
290 followers 89 following 75 posts
The Association for the Study of Death and Society promotes the study of death in the arts, humanities, and social & allied sciences. Become a member today: deathandsociety.org
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asdsdeath.bsky.social
Join us on 10 December, 16:00 GMT for a free online talk with Evie King, author of Ashes to Admin.
She’ll be sharing stories from her work with Section 46 funerals - exploring care, dignity, and who buries those who die alone.

Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-event...

#deathstudies
November 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Vacancy: ASDS Treasurer
Join the ASDS Council for a four-year term to help oversee the Association’s finances. No formal qualifications needed - just reliability and good organisation.
Closing date: 17:00 GMT Sunday 14th December
👉 deathandsociety.org/vacancies
#ASDS #Vacancy
November 13, 2025 at 5:41 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Come and join our next free online #deathstudies event. On 22 October, Aspen Huls will be sharing their research on historic manipulations of American death and dying.

Book here (and don't forget you can view recordings of previous events too!). deathandsociety.org/online-event...
ASDS logo in blue. Text: Online events series Historic Manipulations of American Death and Dying. Wednesday 22 October, 16:00 BST From the late 19th Century to the present day, America has been experiencing the medicalization of death and thus a distancing from it. Through a presentation that would open into round table discussion, participants will be invited to discuss the death and dying technology evolution within the United States. Aspen Huls is a student and Research Assistant for the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Towson University. Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
September 25, 2025 at 12:38 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
📢 We're looking for a new paid, part-time, ASDS administrator. If you're organised and a good communicator, find out more and apply by 19 Oct. deathandsociety.org/vacancies/
We are looking for a UK-based self-employed administration assistant to help manage the day-to-day running of the Association. Vacancy: ASDS administrator Up to 4 hours per week, worked from home. £15 per hour. Includes producing e-newsletter, minuting meetings, web and social content, and general administration. Closing date: 19 October 2025 Find out more and apply: deathandsociety.org/vacancies
September 25, 2025 at 9:56 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
We hope you are able to join us for two new (free!) online events this autumn. The first is next Wednesday 17 September with Rolando Nooks from Compassionate Reprieve.

Find out more and register here. deathandsociety.org/online-event...

#deathstudies #criminialjustice #deathtech #grief
Autumn online events. (ASDS logo and pictures of speakers) Bridging isolation: DeathTech and grief support in correctional settings Wednesday 17 September, Rolando Nooks Historic manipulations of American death and dying Wednesday 22 October, Aspen Huls Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
September 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Share your skills and experience with someone beginning their career in #deathstudies.

We are still looking for mentors for the ASDS Early Career Mentoring scheme. Find out more and apply by 22 September. deathandsociety.org/mentoring/ @ddd17-2025.bsky.social
ASDS logo and text: Death Studies Early Career Mentoring: Mentors needed After a successful pilot scheme during the 2024-2025 academic year, we are pleased to be accepting applications for a new round of the ASDS Early Career Mentoring Scheme. “I found having my mentor to be so compassionate and helpful. He really understood my struggles and anxiety and made me feel heard.” (2024 mentee) We warmly invite applications from prospective mentees and especially prospective mentors. Deadline extended to 22 Sept: deathandsociety.org/mentoring
September 11, 2025 at 8:27 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
We hope everyone who joined #DDD17 online or Utrecht had a productive, inspiring and enjoyable few days and made new connections.

Huge thanks to the organising team at @utrechtuniversity.bsky.social ... and hope to see you all again in two years time! #deathstudies @ddd17-2025.bsky.social
Text: Politics of Death, DDD17, 27-30 Aug 2025, Utrecht University. Pink background with yellow crosses.
September 1, 2025 at 7:56 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
One of the wonderful things about #ddd17 was the opportunity to connect with death scholars and practitioners from around the world. Here are some of our regional/national ASDS ambassadors. Read more about who they are and what they do. deathandsociety.org/asds-ambassa...
Group of 9 ASDS ambassadors in a line in a classroom
August 31, 2025 at 9:17 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Congratulations to winners of the ASDS Mortality Article Award - Katharina Mayr, Nikias Barth, Andreas Walker and Sophie Gigou for their article: 'Organized rituals – ritualized reflection. On mourning culture in palliative care units and hospices.' #ddd17
ASDS logo and Mortality logo. Text: Katharina Mayr, Nikias Barth, Andreas Walker and Sophie Gigou, 2025 ASDS Mortality Article Award.
August 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
"The remarkable project reaches an under-served community and provides numerous accessible resources around the often neglected area of end of life care planning with people with learning disabilities."

The Victoria and Stuart Project wins the ASDS Public Engagement Award. @tuffrey-wijne.com #ddd17
ASDS logo. Text: The Victoria and Stuart Project, 2025 ASDS Public Engagement Award winner.
August 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
"Compassionate, informative, witty and honest. This highly accessible book offers a fresh perspective on socio-political processes that shape practices related to the management of death in an overlooked socio-legal context."

'Ashes to Admin' by Evie King wins the 2025 ASDS Book Award. #ddd17
ASDS logo. Cover image for Ashes to Admin. Text: 2025 Book Award winner.
August 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
The 2025 ASDS Lifetime Achievement Award is conferred upon Professor Douglas Davies FBA, of Durham University, for outstanding contributions to Death Studies over the course of his career. @durham-university.bsky.social #ddd17
ASDS logo. Text: Professor Douglas Davies, 2025 ASDS Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Picture of Professor Davies.
August 29, 2025 at 4:55 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
"I'm utterly delighted to be taking on the mantle of President of ASDS, an organisation that I have spent many years admiring for its leadership in an interdisciplinary approach to death studies."

Welcome Professor Ruth Penfold-Mounce as the new ASDS President! #ddd17 ‪@deathandculture.bsky.social‬
Text: We are delighted to announce Professor Ruth Penfold-Mounce as the new ASDS President. ASDS logo in blue. Image of Ruth with autumn leaves behind.
August 28, 2025 at 9:39 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Could you help shape the future of the Association for the Study of Death and Society? Here's your chance to stand for ASDS council.

Find out more and apply: deathandsociety.org/asds-council...
Stand for ASDS council Do you want to shape the future of the Association for the Study of Death and Society? Applications welcome from ASDS members for open positions on the ASDS council: Treasurer Events Secretary Up to four General Members PGR representative Find out more and apply before 1 August 2025: deathandsociety.org/asds-council-elections-2025
July 17, 2025 at 10:50 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
You're all invited to the next in our series of free online #deathstudies events on Weds 16 July. Hear from Maria Papalampropoulou on the invisibility of perinatal bereavement.

Book here. deathandsociety.org/etn/the-invi...
The invisibility of perinatal bereavement Wednesday 16 July, 09:00 BST Many parents who experience a perinatal loss feel they have no right to express the feeling of loss and grief, unlike those who mourn for socially recognized deaths. This talk explores how the recognition and acceptance of women’s perinatal loss constitutes the main stage of dealing with perinatal bereavement and how healthcare scientists can take center stage to contribute. Maria Papalampropoulou Maria is a social worker with women who have experienced gender-based or domestic violence. She is studying for a PhD in the Anthropolgy of Health. Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
July 10, 2025 at 3:47 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
📣 Check out our monthly online #deathstudies events from this month until the autumn. All free. All welcome. All available to book right here. deathandsociety.org/online-event...
Online events series. ASDS logo in light blue. The radical fact of death in contemporary political theory Wednesday 25 June, Tomás Speziale The invisibility of perinatal bereavement Wednesday 16 July 2025, Maria Papalampropoulou Bridging isolation: DeathTech and grief support in correctional settings Wednesday 17 September, Rolando Nooks Historic manipulations of American death and dying Wednesday 22 October, Aspen Huls Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
June 14, 2025 at 2:38 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Free, online #deathstudies events from ASDS.

Join us on Weds 25 June to hear from Tomás Speziale about the radical fact of death in contemporary political theory.

Register here. deathandsociety.org/etn/the-radi...
ASDS logo in blue. Online events series. The radical fact of death in contemporary political theory Wednesday 25 June, 18:30 BST In this presentation we will outline the main elements of what we call “the radical fact of death” in contemporary political theory, in particular in the works of Elias Canetti, Jacques Derrida and Ernest Becker. We will show that, for all of them, politics must be understood within its own immersion in the mystery of death. Tomás Speziale holds a PhD in Social Sciences, MA in Interdisciplinary Studies of Subjectivity, BA in Sociology and BA in Political Sciences. Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
June 9, 2025 at 2:23 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
📣 Registration for DDD17 closes tomorrow.

Enormous range of talks and panels. Inspiring keynote speakers. An opportunity to meet others in the #DeathStudies field. In Utrecht (Netherlands) or online. And a discount for ASDS members.

See you there. ddd17.sites.uu.nl/registration/
May 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
We're delighted to share the shortlist for the ASDS book award for outstanding and original books in the field of death studies!

Congratulations to @minakshidahal.bsky.social, @christinamartin.bsky.social & Ruth Toulson (@uwapress.bsky.social)
ASDS book award shortlist ‘The Final Farewell’ by Minakshi Dewan ‘Ashes to Admin’ by Evie King ‘Necropolitics of the Ordinary’ by Ruth Toulson Winner to be announced: August 2025
May 8, 2025 at 7:45 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
⭐️Congratulations to all the ASDS public engagement award shortlisted projects⭐️

Check out @deathstudiespod.bsky.social, @deadgoodlegacies.bsky.social & @victstuproject.bsky.social to discover their brilliant work in raising public awareness of important issues related to death, dying, grief & loss.
ASDS logo. Public Engagement Award Shortlist! Dead Good (deadgood.org) The Death Studies Podcast (thedeathstudiespodcast.com) The Victoria and Stuart Project (victoriaandstuart.com) Winner to be announced: August 2025
May 8, 2025 at 7:17 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
We're looking forward to hearing from Aimee Middlemiss next Weds on personhood, pregnancy loss and the politics of death for the third in our series of free, online #deathstudies events.

Book here. deathandsociety.org/etn/death-si...
ASDS logo. Death situated in life: personhood, pregnancy loss, and the politics of death. This talk explores how the examination of experiences of death in, and shortly after, pregnancy sheds light on many of the political issues implicated in death studies. It draws on Aimee’s multi-sited ethnographic research about women’s experiences of second trimester pregnancy loss in England & collaborations with other researchers. Aimee Middlemiss. Aimee is an interdisciplinary social scientist who draws on sociology, anthropology and STS to investigate the politics of reproduction and death. Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
May 7, 2025 at 2:03 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Join us next Thursday for the second in our online death studies events series. It's free and you can book here deathandsociety.org/etn/religiou... ⬇️
Online events series. Religious freedom at the end of life: legal and social barriers to minority funeral practices in Italy. Thursday 17 April, 16:30-17:30 BST Many minority groups in the European Union face obstacles in conducting funerals according to their traditions, which affects religious expression, emotional well-being, and social integration. This discussion explores the legal and social challenges of funeral practices in Italy. Giorgio Scalici holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Durham University. He is currently a researcher at the University of Palermo. Book here: deathandsociety.org/online-events-series
April 7, 2025 at 11:06 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
Join us for an online workshop on Weds 26 March with Virginia Rammou on 'How do we decide where we die?'

Book your free place: deathandsociety.org/etn/how-do-w...
The workshop will explore how we decide the place of our death. Have we got preferences for the place we want to die and how have these been shaped? What are the drivers and nuances which influence and define where we are going to die? What is the role of family / loved ones / community in the decision making? The workshop will invite participants to share their own knowledge, experience, and stories, personal and/or shared about how we decide the place where we die. It will also question historical, socio economic, cultural, and other influences which shape our decision making. Finally, through stories and shared experience the workshop will investigate if the decision was fulfilled and if not what where the reasons for changing the place of death. Speaker bio: Virginia is an architect and an academic with a career spanning over two decades teaching in Higher Education. She is currently Head of Architectural Technology at the Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art.
March 17, 2025 at 4:03 PM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
💬 We're excited to announce a new series of free online events from ASDS!

From March to July, we'll hear from a range of speakers about their research, with opportunities for discussion.

Full list of dates and topics below. Booking now open.

deathandsociety.org/online-event...
ASDS Online events series. How do we decide where we die? Wednesday 26 March, Virginia Rammou Religious Freedom at the End of Life: Legal & Social Barriers to Minority Funeral Practices in Italy Thursday 17 April, Giorgio Scalici Death situated in life: personhood, pregnancy loss, and the politics of death Wednesday 14 May, Aimee Middlemiss The radical fact of death in contemporary political theory Wednesday 25 June, Tomás Speziale The invisibility of perinatal bereavement Wednesday 16 July 2025, Maria Papalampropoulou
March 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
asdsdeath.bsky.social
🖤 Experience Your Own Death 🖤 Join us Friday 29 August at DDD17 for a powerful meditation on mortality. Prof. Enny Das will guide us through the art of dying, inspired by Buddhist traditions. Confront death, embrace life. 🌿💀
ddd17.sites.uu.nl/registration/
(yellow background) Want to experience your own death? Join us in Utrecht! (yellow background) The pervasive denial of death in modern society has led to an unbalanced relationship with death - treating it as an existential problem to be avoided rather than a natural part of the lifecycle that should be openly discussed. A key barrier to meaningful conversations about death and dying is human's unconscious tendency to suppress thoughts about death and dying. One strategy to overcome this comes from ancient Buddhist and philosophical traditions which proposed that practising the art of dying can help reduce denial of death and foster a greater appreciation of life. Building on these insights, an experiential keynote with guide the audience through a practice of the art of dying through meditation.
March 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM