There will be a pause in our messages due to the university closure period over December and early January. We hope that such pauses can help members rest, relax, and rejoice - and we hope that you all, too, can enjoy a break! Happy Holidays! #ThanatologyThursday

This #ThanatologyThursday we're highlighting a co-authored article that one of our members (Beth) contributed to - From Writing to Doing: Strategies for Approaching Loss, Dying and Grief in Auto/Biographical Writing. oro.open.ac.uk/103894/

Guess what’s back????

Welcome to the official account for the OpenLiving Labs! We are a #citizenscience and #nature restoration project @ #OpenUniversity campus. Please add us to the starter packs, @openuniversity.bsky.social and @oulibrary.bsky.social! Much appreciated 🌼🦦🦋🌳 OLL website: openliving-lab.open.ac.uk

Have you checked out the Open Thanatology Playlist yet? What songs would you add? Let us know in the comments or via DM. #ThanatologyThursday

One of our members, Sam Murphy, was quoted in this article 'The songs I've chosen to help me prepare for dying' by the BBC. What songs would you choose? #ThanatologyThursday

Today's the last day of National Grief Awareness Week. Our reading recommendation today - Supporting Bereaved Children in the Primary Classroom: Helping Children Process Death, Grief and Loss. Co-authored by one of our members, Poppy Gibson. www.routledge.com/Supporting-B... #grief #griefawareness

Looking for a podcast to listen to? We produce Open Thanatology Talks (on Spotify and Amazon, link below), and members and colleagues also have podcasts including the Death Studies Podcast and Careful Thinking. Let us know which ones you like! #ThanatologyThursday

Today's the first day of National Grief Awareness Week. To start the week, why not check out Patrick Wright's poetry collection - Exit Strategy? www.brokensleepbooks.com/product-page... #GriefAwareness #griefpoetry #griefwriting

Contemporary responses in Africa to the aftermath of death: developments and decolonising challenges -- work from some of members of the Existential Dis/Connections group here at Open Thanatology. oro.open.ac.uk/104010/ #ThanatologyThursday

Register now for ‘Decolonising’ ‘grief’? Death and its continuing aftermath in the UK today: What do ‘we’ ‘know’ and how? (Part 1*) Tuesday 2nd December 7-8pm GMT, Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath, online.

Do you teach about dying, death, grief, or end of life care? Need some free resources for your class or assignments? We've got lots of great short articles, animations, and interactives you could use on our Open Thanatology Hub on OpenLearn. www.open.edu/openlearn/he... #ThanatologyThursday

Many thanks to Betsy Thomas for the wonderful review of Exit Strategy in Mortality journal @ouliterature.bsky.social @openthanatology.bsky.social @ouhealtharts.bsky.social @brokensleepbooks.bsky.social

Ever thought about writing to work through or express your grief? Tried nature writing? Explore more in this short article - www.open.edu/openlearn/he... #ThanatologyThursday

Do you teach about dying, death, grief, or end of life care? Need some free resources for your class or assignments? We've got lots of great short articles, animations, and interactives you could use on our Open Thanatology Hub on OpenLearn. www.open.edu/openlearn/he... #ThanatologyThursday

PhD Funding Available - see below - and the successful candidate will be a member of the Centre for Open Thanatology

It's #ChildrensGriefAwarenessWeek. One of our members (Poppy) has co-authored a new book on this topic - Supporting Bereaved Children in the Primary Classroom: Helping Children Process Death, Grief and Loss. www.amazon.co.uk/Supporting-B...

Did you know that Open Thanatology is now a Centre at The Open University? We're growing our research and collaboration, both within and beyond the OU, focusing on the study and education of death, dying, loss, and grief across the life course and in diverse contexts. #ThanatologyThursday

We are now officially the Centre for Open Thanatology at The Open University!!!! Here are a few quotes from the recent announcement of our Centre status from @ericaborgstrom.bsky.social as shared within the Faculty (see thread)...

Interested in doing a PhD? The OU is currently advertising its Grand Union ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership Studentships. Closing date is noon on Jan 7th 2026. Find out more: university.open.ac.uk/employment/g...

If you're local to Dumfries, join us on Nov 25th to discuss death and grief. Tickets are free but registration is required. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/opening-co...

New OpenLearn article - Building peace through teaching Remembrance Sunday. You can read it here: www.open.edu/openlearn/ed... #ThanatologyThursday #RememberanceSunday

Last few tickets remaining so book yours now before they're gone!

Get your own copy here: www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/1...

Happy Halloween! Last treat from our suite of new OpenLearn articles: Mastering our fear of death with the Jack-o’-lantern www.open.edu/openlearn/hi...

Enabling parents to improve children’s services: Walking the Walk in Evelina London Children’s Hospital www.open.edu/openlearn/en... #ThanatologyThursday

And if you want to find resources by Open Thanatology members, you can browse ORO and refine by 'Open Thanatology'

SPEAKING OF WHICH, COME AND LISTEN TO ME BANG THIS PARTICULAR DRUM FOR A FULL HOUR NEXT WEEK

How to celebrate Halloween with young children -- new article on OpenLearn with some practical and inclusive tips www.open.edu/openlearn/ed...

When the skeletons won’t go home: what the law says after Halloween www.open.edu/openlearn/so...

Ever wonder if trick-or-treating is legal or not in the UK? In a new OpenLearn article, Marc Cornock weighs in. www.open.edu/openlearn/so...

New short article out now! -- Between life and death: what Halloween reveals about our fear of the afterlife -- www.open.edu/openlearn/he...

In the lead-up to Halloween, #ThanatologyThursday treats will be peppered throughout the week. Keep an eye out for new OpenLearn articles by Open Thanatology members, and let us know what you're curious about this time of year.

This may be of interest to @openthanatology.bsky.social folk!

One of our members, Korina, has written about the narrative practices of death, dying and mourning in her recent book chapter. oro.open.ac.uk/102428/ #ThanatologyThursday

Still time to register for an in-person evening of conversation about death and dying in Dumfries on Nov 25th - looking forward to meeting some of you there! www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/opening-co...

The bitter taste of death: mourning for the young in ancient Rome --- intrigued? Read more by Valerie Hope on ORO. oro.open.ac.uk/104224/ #ThanatologyThursday

And we all know there's a lot of death and grief in drama! OU staff and students have access to amazing performances filmed at the Globe.

Still some time to register and find out how to do a doctoral degree with at The Open University in the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies (which hosts Open Thanatology). More details below.

Did you go to DDD? A few Open Thanatology members were there, and the @deathstudiespod.bsky.social is co-hosted by one of our members, the one and only Beth Michael Fox!

Re-live DDD17 through our special conference episode! The episode includes a myriad of soundbites from attendees including @ericaborgstrom.bsky.social @lucyhyde.bsky.social @katewoody.bsky.social @hoodcp.bsky.social and many more! @ddd17-2025.bsky.social open.spotify.com/episode/2AX2...

Co-authored by one of our members - From Writing to Doing: Strategies for Approaching Loss, Dying and Grief in Auto/Biographical Writing. oro.open.ac.uk/103894/ #ThanatologyThursday

Want to do a doctoral degree with us? Join a postgraduate open day to learn about the different degree opportunities, funding, and how to apply. Next one: 16th October 2025 (10-15.30 UK time - Online via MS Teams) Register via email to [email protected]

New open access handbook including my chapter “Homing in on societal changes in meanings around place of death” www.elgaronline.com/edcollbook-o...

This month marks our 4-year anniversary! We are working hard on a special DDD17 episode to celebrate which will be released asap! In the meantime: do enjoy our back catalogue! open.spotify.com/show/4n3l0Z7...

New article added to our Open Thanatology Hub on OpenLearn - Ancient ideas: where does the soul go? www.open.edu/openlearn/wh... Short, fascinating read for this #ThanatologyThursday

And thank you for following us!

🚨🚨🚨The CfP for the 2025 BSA #Death, #Dying and #Bereavement symposium is now open! This year's theme is #Care and #Caring, and the University of Nottingham is hosting us. Please submit your abstracts by Tuesday 30th September to [email protected]. We're looking forward to reading them!

Watching Morning Live on BBC One this morning? You'll see our Dr Sam Murphy on there talking about palliative care and music playlists. If you can't watch it live, if you live in the UK you'll be able to catch it on iPlayer from later today. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Today, the House of Lords is considering the Employment Rights Bill, which includes extending bereavement leave beyond existing parental bereavement leave contexts.