'Death and Dying' lecture series
We are all guaranteed one thing in life: that, eventually, we will die.
In a series of six panels and lectures at the Intellectual Forum this autumn, we will explore this fundamental human experience from cultural, spiritual, legal, and technological perspectives.
We will consider questions such as:
- Can we combat inequalities in death and dying?
- How are developments in technology changing our experience of death?
- What is a ‘good death’?
Join us for a series of insightful conversations, co-organised by IF Deputy Director Dr Eleanor O’Gorman and ÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±ºÅÂë Postdoctoral Associate Dr Ben Bowers.
'The Cost of Dying' display
17 October - 20 November, West Court, 9.00am - 7.30pm daily. No tickets required.
Explore the lived experiences of death and dying on the margins through "The Cost of Dying," a display of images and stories documenting the lives of people with terminal illnesses.
Captured by award-winning photographer Margaret Mitchell and the participants themselves, these images provide a poignant look into the realities of dying at home while facing financial hardship in Scotland.
Dying at the margins: The inequalities of access to end-of-life care
17 October, Frankopan Hall, 5.30pm-7.00pm.
Death is a universal experience; how we die is not.
Despite advancements in medical care, significant disparities remain in the accessibility and quality of end-of-life care based on socioeconomic status, geographic location, ethnicity, and other social determinants.
Drawing on insights from leading experts in palliative care, social research, and end-of-life studies, this panel will explore the challenges faced by marginalized communities and the steps needed to ensure equitable end-of-life care for all.
After the conclusion of the panel event, Dr Richards, the curator of 'The Cost of Dying' display, will give a short introduction to mark its opening. The IF would then be delighted to welcome you to a drinks reception from 7.00pm - 8.00pm to view the display in West Court.
Digital immortality: On new forms of care, responsibility, and empathy in the age of AI
25 October, Frankopan Hall, 5.30pm-6.45pm.
We have entered an era where our digital immortality is almost as inevitable as our death.
Though digital immortality-related technologies have existed since the 1990s, with the growing amount of data and the advent of new technologies, the way we experience death, dying, and immortality is changing significantly.
With these changes have come ethical, cultural, philosophical, political, and even environmental challenges and risks. How can we plan for this new aspect of death?
The promise of the 'good death': reality or illusion?
30 October, Frankopan Hall, 5.30pm-6.45pm.
In contemporary discourse, end-of-life care is often framed within the ideal of a 'good death': one that is free from distress and discomfort, surrounded by loved ones, and in a preferred place—usually at home. However, this concept can sometimes obscure the complex realities of dying.
This event will challenge the notion of the 'good death', examining how societal and professional assumptions about end-of-life care can sometimes conflict with the realities faced by individuals nearing the end of their lives.
Multifaith perspectives on spiritual care at end of life
7 November, West Court, 5.30pm-6.45pm.
Religious and spiritual beliefs often play a significant role in how many individuals approach their own death and dying. Understanding and respecting these beliefs is crucial for providing compassionate and effective end-of-life care.
This panel event will bring together leaders, researchers and teachers from the traditions of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity to explore how these religions guide individuals and their loved ones through the processes of death, dying, and grief. It also explores how faith finds a place in secular settings such as hospitals, hospices and care facilities and how care workers, medical teams and families can be better informed and equipped to support their patients and loved ones with spiritual care.
What lies beneath: Reflections on historical and contemporary burial beliefs and practices
18 November, Webb Library, 5.30pm-6.45pm. In-person only.
What are we doing when we bury the dead?
Across history and cultures, there are rich variations in beliefs about burial and in burial practices themselves. By attending to these, we can learn not only about the dead, but also insights that might otherwise remain hidden about the beliefs, values, cosmologies and politics of the society in which they lived.
Drawing on 18th and 21st century examples, and approaching these questions from social anthropological and literary-historical perspectives, this panel examines what our relationships with the dead can reveal and why this matters.
Find out more and reserve your place.
Exploring public opinion on assisted dying
20 November, Frankopan Hall, 5.30pm-7.00pm.
Assisted dying is a much-debated topic around the globe. What do the people of England think?
Some form of assisted dying is legal in 27 jurisdictions around the world, but it is not yet permitted in England or in any other UK nations. Though the topic is debated in Parliament and has been the subject of media coverage and public campaigns, there remains a need for more in-depth information about how the UK public perceives this complex ethical, legal, and emotional issue.
To explore public views on assisted dying in England, the Nuffield Council for Bioethics assembled a Citizens’ Jury, broadly representative of the English population, to consider the complexities of the topic. In this event at the Intellectual Forum, Clare Chambers and Molly Gray from the Nuffield Council on Bioethics will discuss the initial report on the top recommendations from the Jury.
