Durham Institute for Medical Humanities

ICYMI: 'Fed up with the rain? You might be meteorosensitive' Measurement Lab researcher Maximilian Hepach’s work featured in the article ‘Fed up with the rain? You might be meteorosensitive’ in The Times earlier this year.

Fed up with rain? ☔️ Maximilian Hepach, member of The Measurement Lab & co-lead of IMH Research Theme ‘Weather, Climate and Health’, studies how changes in weather affect physical & mental health.

His work was recently featured in @thetimes.com - catch up here!
medhumsplatform.org/icymi-fed-up...

Updating the Global Medical Humanities Map We're updating our interactive Global Medical Humanities map! Complete our survey to update your entry or add a new medical or health humanities research organisation by 31 March 2026.

🗺️ We're updating our interactive Global Medical Humanities Map, which plots the world’s medical & health humanities institutions, centres & networks.

To update your organisation's info or to add a new medical/health humanities unit, please complete this survey: medhumsplatform.org/updating-the...

Next week! Join us for the launch of The Routledge Handbook of Spirituality, Religion and the Medical Humanities on Friday 13 March, 6–7:30pm 📚️ The event will feature a hybrid panel discussion with the editors followed by an in-person drinks reception in Durham.

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-routle...

#ReaderBank is brought to you by an interdisciplinary team @durham.ac.uk , including @aldersonday.bsky.social @georgiapunton.bsky.social, Nick Barley, @literarti.bsky.social @maryrobbo.bsky.social and @aryaray.bsky.social. Generously supported by @wellcometrust.bsky.social.

Text saying 'VoiceMatch by ReaderBank' on a purple background with sound waves and a flower.

🌠 Voice Match

Ever read a book, vividly imagined a character, and then watched a film or TV adaptation only to feel that the character’s voice was just… wrong? This study explores how people experience the voices of fictional characters differently.

👉 readerbank.org/experience/v...

Text saying 'in it together' underneath a graphic of three people rowing a boat on a blue backgrounds.

🌠 In it Together

For some stories, we connect with characters in ways that can be hard to express: we might be friends for life, see the world through their eyes, or even imagine walking in their footsteps. Help shed light on how and why this process occurs.

👉 readerbank.org/experience/i...

Text saying 'In Two Minds by ReaderBank' above a happy face and a sad face on a peach background.

🌠 In Two Minds

This activity explores what happens when something makes us feel mixed, often contrasting emotions, and in what ways this affects our reading experience.

👉 readerbank.org/experience/i...

A graphic with a needle, thread and a button. The words 'Repair' is written across the centre and there are some flowers in the bottom left hand corner.

🌠Repair

Repair will ask you about your inner experiences, imagination, and daydreams. We want to understand how reading and the imagination can shape (and be shaped by) our mental health to improve understandings of how we can ‘repair’.

👉 readerbank.org/experience/r...

A graphic showing a person sitting reading and leaning against an oversized book. The words say 'The Imagination Quiz by ReaderBank'.

🌠 The Imagination Quiz

How do people imagine while they read? And does everyone imagine in the same way?

This short quiz will reveal which features of the imagination are the most prominent when you read.
👉 readerbank.org/experience/i...

A collaboration between IMH and @edbookfest.bsky.social , #ReaderBank is the world’s largest study of reading, imagination and mental health.

Explore this thread to find out how you can get involved!

🧵👇

An array of illustrated postcards on a table. The central one is purple and has the words 'ReaderBank'

What kind of reader are you? On #WorldBookDay, take a deep dive into the mysteries of the reading imagination with @thereaderbank.bsky.social

👉 readerbank.org

🧵

The Religious, Sexual, and Health History of Common Objects Dr Kristy Slominski discusses the intersection of the religious, sexual, and health history of basketball and Kellogg's cornflakes.

Next Friday 13 March, 2–3:30pm, join Dr Kristy Slominski as she discusses the intersection of the religious, sexual, and health history of two commonplace cultural phenomena: basketball and Kellogg’s cornflakes 🏀 🥣

Book your space for this event 👇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-religi...

World Literature and Epigenetics: Women Narrating Transgenerational Trauma An interdisciplinary conference discussing the intersections between epigenetics, trauma, and multilingual narratives.

Join us on Friday 27 March for an interdisciplinary one-day conference discussing the intersections between epigenetics, trauma, and multilingual narratives.

See the agenda and reserve your spot 👇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/world-lite...

The Reading Room at Wellcome Collection. A room with objects and artefacts in display cases, as well as bookshelves, desks and chairs. Image credit: The Reading Room, Benjamin Gilbert. Source: Wellcome Collection.

🏛️ 📚 Read this Open Letter! @harrietbarratt.bsky.social @drfijohnstone.bsky.social & @coreenanne.bsky.social respond to the recent Wellcome report on the use of archives, manuscripts and material cultures in health research.

medhumsplatform.org/open-letter-...

This event starts tomorrow!

Reserve your free spot: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/consciousn...

Measurement Heretics Workshop: Being, Meaning, and Measuring Well This 3-day workshop brings together international & interdisciplinary perspectives to guide the future of ethical, meaningful health data.

Join the Measurement Heretics Workshop – an exploration of impact beyond numbers.

This 3 day workshop next week (11–13 March) brings together international & interdisciplinary perspectives to guide the future of ethical, meaningful health data 📊

Book now:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/measuremen...

No Room of her Own: Care and Love in the Midst of an Onto/Ecological Crisis An Affective Experience Lab seminar where Professor Nicolas Pierre Boileau discusses Rachel Cusk’s Second Place (2021).

There are still tickets available for our event on Friday 6 March - an Affective Experience Lab seminar where Professor Nicolas Pierre Boileau discusses Rachel Cusk’s book 'Second Place' 📖

More details and book here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/no-room-of...

This Friday online and in person in Durham!

IMH newsletter: February 2026 News & updates from the Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University.

Our latest e-newsletter has hit inboxes! 📨 Featuring some key publications from our researchers, some fantastic upcoming events and the latest news, you don't want to miss it!

You can read the newsletter here 👇
mailchi.mp/durham.ac.uk...

The Routledge Handbook of Spirituality, Religion, & The Medical Humanities Join the Institute for Medical Humanities for this hybrid book launch, featuring a panel interview, followed by an opportunity to network.

One of the many things that drew me to work at @durham.ac.uk was the quality of genuine interdisciplinarity that marks the institutional culture, particularly in the area of Medical Humanities. Join us for the launch of this book, edited by Adam Powell.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-routle...

Measurement Heretics Workshop: Being, Meaning, and Measuring Well This 3-day workshop brings together international & interdisciplinary perspectives to guide the future of ethical, meaningful health data.

Excited to host the Measurement Heretics Workshop: Being Meaning and Measuring Well on March 11-13, at the Institute for Medical Humanities, Durham University. The keynote will be hybrid so register for this free event!
@durhamimh.bsky.social
#histsci #histmed #hps #philsci #medhums #histtech #sts

Brilliant turnout for my workshop on “The Senses and Medical Humanities” yesterday with @durhamimh.bsky.social.

I’ll be hosting an online workshop in May and a further in-person showcase on 10 July at Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. Message me for further info!

Maternal Machines and other fantasies of care Lab Coat Lunches 2026 – visual and material practices within and beyond the medical humanities (online)

Next month on Wednesday 25 March we have our second Lab Coat Lunch event! 🥼 We'll be welcoming Paulina Yurman to talk about her design research approaches & will present the visual & material methods at the heart of her Wellcome Trust-funded project.

More here 👇
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maternal-m...

Consciousness: New Books and Theories A 2-day event discussing both the challenges and the rewards of interdisciplinary approaches to consciousness.

Don't miss 'Consciousness: New Books and Theories'!

Featuring interviews & talks over two days with Emily Troscianko, Susan Blackmore, Thomas Metzinger and Marco Bernini.

5 March | 12–13:30 GMT
6 March | 14:30–17:00 GMT

Durham University | Hybrid

Book now!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/consciousn...

Co-Production and Physical Activity This one-day event will offer a day focused on co-production research that centres on movement, physical activity and medical humanities.

Interested in co-production research in physical activity & medical humanities? 🏃 On 24 March we're hosting an event focused on research that centres on movement, physical activity & medical humanities.

Some sessions will be available online. Secure your spot! 👇️
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/co-product...

'Art and the Critical Medical Humanities': An interview with the editors We catch up with the editors of 'Art and the Critical Medical Humanities', a new volume bringing together artists and scholars who challenge earlier instrumental views of art.

Art and the Critical Medical Humanities - New book on how art can contribute to understanding health and illness - co-edited by Dr Fiona Johnstone from Institute for Medical Humanities @durhamimh.bsky.social @durham.ac.uk

medhumsplatform.org/art-and-crit...

Claire Jeantils appointed as third CHARM Chair We are pleased to announce that Dr Claire Jeantils has been appointed as the third CHARM Chair (2026).

We’re pleased to share the news that Dr Claire Jeantils has been appointed as the third CHARM Chair (2026) — a fantastic recognition of her work in translational medical humanities and narrative medicine.
🔗 Read more: medhumsplatform.org/claire-jeant...
Congratulations, Claire!
#MedicalHumanities

Art and the Critical Medical Humanities new book - Durham University

Co-edited by our very own @drfijohnstone.bsky.social This landmark multi-format volume contains 29 contributions from more than 40 artists, art historians, and scholars in a range of countries, and spans artworks from the sixteenth century to the present day 🖼️ www.durham.ac.uk/research/ins...

'Art and the Critical Medical Humanities': An interview with the editors We catch up with the editors of 'Art and the Critical Medical Humanities', a new volume bringing together artists and scholars who challenge earlier instrumental views of art.

🌟 We spoke with the three co-editors @drfijohnstone.bsky.social, Allison Morehead & Imogen Wiltshire to ask what excites them about 'Art and the Critical Medical Humanities', what they’ve learned, and the new conversations & directions in scholarship they hope it will provoke.

Read the interview:

YouTube video by DurhamUniversity Exploring “Art and the Critical Medical Humanities” with Fiona Johnstone

@drfijohnstone.bsky.social: “This book is the first major publication to explicitly treat art as a method of critical thinking that produces new knowledge about health and medicine.” #transformativehumanities @durham.ac.uk
youtu.be/G_shsLdPPGo