A great opportunity to shape the future of sociology! The BSA seeks one Membership Services Trustee and two Teacher Trustees for its governing Board. Applications by 14 April, details at: www.mi-nomination.com/bsatrustee

My inaugural lecture is coming up - June 3rd! Talking about my research and lessons about the end of life and loss. Free to attend (in person in Milton Keynes or online), plus opportunity to hear my wonderful colleague @remembermyhat.bsky.social too! Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reimaginin...

Did you know the Open University (OU) does virtual open days? They give you a chance to explore what studying at the OU is like. You can register to join one here - openuniversity.swoogo.com/book-a-virtu...

Whoop Whoop! @remembermyhat.bsky.social and I are giving our inaugural lectures on June 3rd. More details in her post below, including how to register to attend.

What is it like to research death and loss? Listen to several Open Thanatology members share their experiences and insights. www.open.edu/openlearn/he... #ThanatologyThursday

I often listen to music when writing, including music with lyrics. I listen across a few genres. Any recommendations for some new (or new-to-me)/emerging singer-songwriters I could get into?

I'm off to Highgate Cemetery tomorrow. My first time! Which feels far too late for a 'death scholar' so close to London. Any tips?

What books about death or grief would you recommend to a friend? #WorldBookDay

New edited available for pre-order! Doing Death Research: Interviews and Career Reflections with Death Studies Scholars www.routledge.com/Doing-Death-...

Cool studentship available - check out below

Been away from my work desk/inbox/usual grind for several weeks, and this line from Hamilton is on repeat in my head....So What Did I Miss?

Last month, @ericaborgstrom.bsky.social, @saramackian.bsky.social and I recorded a podcast on what it's like to study death. We're all from very different disciplines but we found a lot of common ground. You can listen to it here www.open.edu/openlearn/he...

Looking to apply for a postdoctoral fellowship? Want to work with others interested in death, dying, loss or bereavement? Get in touch! The Centre for Open Thanatology is growing its postdoc membership. Let us know what funding & topic you are interested in. Email: [email protected]

One of my roles at The Open University (OU) involves working on co-productions with the BBC. I love it! vimeo.com/1163280559?f...

I just backed The Midnight Moth, an illustrated picture book by DEAD GOOD on @kickstarter.com www.kickstarter.com/projects/dea...

Submission to open panels—Extended deadline for 4S Toronto 2026! Call closes Feb 9th 2026. You can submit here: www.xcdsystem.com/4sonline/abs...

As part of making changes to the nursing teaching, The Open University is inviting people with experience of using the UK health system to share their views over the next few months. More info and who to contact: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

As an immigrant in the UK and as someone with family in Minnesota, people's recent conversations with me about what's happening try to imply it could not happen in the UK, and that they feel helpless about it. Instead of disbelief, what are you trying or willing to do to ensure it doesn't happen?

Examples of this can be seen in the singing resistance groups, the art (and businesses enabling people to produce resistance artworks), community mutal aid (donate if you can!), the social networks people are building and intensifying, people-led education (about rights, solidarity, care).

Available for pre-order now from Routledge - Palliative Care and Hospice: Interdisciplinary Perspectives over the Decades. Edited by myself, Bethan Michael-Fox & Arnar Arnason. www.routledge.com/Palliative-C...

Applications are now invited for a new RHS programme for 2026, co-hosted with @ihr.bsky.social and @chalkefestival.bsky.social 'Pitch my Project' is for early career historians to present their research at the Chalke History Festival in June bit.ly/44kfUMM. Closing date: 6 February. #Skystorians

"I'm not in Minnesota -- what can I do to help?" A list of ideas!

Upcoming seminar from Gemma Briggs on Feb 11 7-8pm(UK) online - Why do we tolerate road deaths? Implications for policy and practice. It's the first The Open Psychology Research Centre Public Lecture. Link for info & register: events.teams.microsoft.com/event/279390...

Some of my work this week has reminded me of the initial analysis of data on higher education staff's experiences of bereavement, including unclear policies, workload and support at work. Link to report here: oro.open.ac.uk/88719/

I recently got a mug from Academic Mug that says 'I should have said no'. Currently my favourite ❤️ I'd recommend the site if you're looking for an academia-related gift ahead of the holidays www.academicmug.com

Did you know that @openuniversity.bsky.social currently works in over 150 prisons and supports around 2000 students a year in prison, secure units and under licence in the community? Higher education changes lives. See more of the work The Open University are doing⬇️ www.open.ac.uk/blogs/news/b...

Our book Critical Approaches to death,dying and bereavement is part of the Routledge Black Friday Sale! @ericaborgstrom.bsky.social 📚💙 www.routledge.com/Critical-App...

In Dumfries today, ready for our event discussing death and dying - looking forward to meeting others there later! Thanks to the OU in Scotland and the University of West Scotland for hosting it.

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

A new Open University PhD studentship, inspired by the palliative and end of life care JLA Priorities and associated To Know Dying report, is available. Interested? Contact Katie Davis - [email protected] More details below👇

📢 Reminder: Still time to register! Join us for our webinar: Schools: Supporting Bereaved Students 🗓 Date: Friday 21st of November 🕒 Time: 12:30pm-2pm 👉 Register: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/supporting-bereaved-children-an-open-evening-for-parents-carers-tickets-1794621403929?aff=bluesky #BCAW2025

Ah yes, thank you, pain, for being so intense today that I couldn't finish sentences mid-speech in meetings. Including when responding to direct, simple questions. Grateful for the patience of colleagues in those moments.

Gutted to be missing so many amazing papers and panels at #AAA2025, especially with the theme this year on ghosts and haunting. I've enjoyed reading through the programme abstracts today and reaching out to people about their work.

Interested in doing a funded PhD at the Open University? We have an opportunity to explore what dying well means to people living with dementia. Please see the link below for more information and don't hesitate to get in touch to discuss further! wels.open.ac.uk/sites/wels.o...

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...

The volunteers were at Parliament today to hear the government announce that our beautiful memorial is to be made permanent. It was an emotional day, as we have fought so long and hard to ensure that our beloved dead are not forgotten. We are grateful and happy. ❤️

I should not be surprised that after a busy week I'm having a flare-up of pain, but still annoyed it has happened. Thankful today's work meetings are all online so I can sit more comfortably and not have to navigate commuting with pain.

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)...

Considering using the book 'Critical Approaches to Death, Dying & Bereavement' in your course/teaching? You may be eligible for an inspection copy - www.routledge.com/textbooks/ev...

New book coming from the Death and Culture series soon! I'd also recommend it to those who work with museums and/or private collections/archives.

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...

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

Lovely review of the book @ericaborgstrom.bsky.social and I wrote 💙📚 www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

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'

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...

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

Thrilled to say I'm a judge for the first ever Inspiring History Teaching Awards, in association with Historic Royal Palaces. Do you know a great history teacher in the UK who deserves to go down in history? Nominate them here bit.ly/42yhGZP

One of the things I really love about my job is getting to see people's work develop and be shared 😍 The considered thinking, creative ideas, and navigating ways to understand the world.