Association for the Study of Death and Society

Death Rituals Woven with Colonialism, Law & Media
23rd Feb 2026, 09:00 - 10:30 (GMT)

Explore Māori cremation, funeral law in Italy, and death in popular media. Discover how rituals, law, and culture shape who and what we mourn.

🔗 Book Your Free Ticket:
deathandsociety.org/etn/death-ri...

Reminder! ASDS Postdoctoral Support Group booking now for Wednesday 25th February - deathandsociety.org/postdoctoral...

To celebrate the publication of the Decolonising Death Studies Routledge edited collection, we invite you to join leading scholars for a 3-part webinar series exploring death, grief, and mourning through a decolonial lens.

🔗 Reserve your free tickets here:
deathandsociety.org/decolonising...

2025 Events Feedback Form 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

In collaboration with the Death and Culture Network at the University of York, ASDS runs a meet-up group for anyone researching Death and Culture. The 2026 network begins with our first meet-up on Wednesday 11 February at 2pm GMT.

Book Here: deathandsociety.org/.../death-an...

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

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

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

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...

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

📢 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're so pleased to have you on council too!

Reposting for @asdsdeath.bsky.social @graveyardarch.bsky.social who might be able to pitch in

The Association for the Study of Death and Society @asdsdeath.bsky.social usefully record their online talk series, so my talk on:
'Death situated in life: Personhood, pregnancy loss, and the politics of death'
is available here:
deathandsociety.org/online-event...

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

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

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

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

Finally home after a wonderful week at the #DDD17 conference in beautiful Utrecht. Huge thanks to the organisers @ddd17-2025.bsky.social, to @asdsdeath.bsky.social, @cendeathsociety.bsky.social for lunch, and to all the presenters who made for a fascinating week.

Text: Politics of Death, DDD17, 27-30 Aug 2025, Utrecht University. Pink background with yellow crosses.

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

Out with a bang, literally! Ours was the final presentation on the final conference day, and just as we finished, Utrecht’s church bells rang out
@asdsdeath.bsky.social
@victoria&stuart project

Group of 9 ASDS ambassadors in a line in a classroom

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...

The ASDS Mortality Article Award has been won by Katherina Meyr, Niklas Barth, Andreas Walker and Sophie Gigou for their article "Organised Rituals - Ritualised Reflections". Congratulations! @asdsdeath.bsky.social @ddd17-2025.bsky.social #DDD17

The ASDS Book Award has been won by Evie King for Ashes to Admin #DDD17 @asdsdeath.bsky.social @ddd17-2025.bsky.social

The ASDS Public Engagement Award has gone to the Victoria and Stuart Project @asdsdeath.bsky.social @ddd17-2025.bsky.social #DDD17 . Congratulations!

The ASDS Lifetime Achievement Award has been awarded to Professor Douglas Davies from Durham University. @asdsdeath.bsky.social @ddd17-2025.bsky.social #DDD17. Douglas joined us via video link. Congratulations!

ASDS logo and Mortality logo. Text: Katharina Mayr, Nikias Barth, Andreas Walker and Sophie Gigou, 2025 ASDS Mortality Article Award.

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. Text: The Victoria and Stuart Project, 2025 ASDS Public Engagement Award winner.

"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. Cover image for Ashes to Admin. Text: 2025 Book Award winner.

"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. Text: Professor Douglas Davies, 2025 ASDS Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Picture of Professor Davies.

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

Day 3 at DDD17!
Another day, another wonderful panel on 'Education and support in learning to cope with death.'

Among other fascinating presentations, Galina Arbeli and Anne Cohen Kirah present the results from their 'Designing for end of life' classes.

Dr. Katie Clary, a white woman with bobbed brown hair, is reading a talk while standing in front of a large tv. She is wearing a brown top with polka dots, black plants, brown flats, and a yellow lanyard. The screen reads 'Decolonizing Death for Indigenous Communities'.

I'm standing in front of a large tv screen, reading a talk. I am a white woman with mini bangs and a wavy french bob. I'm wearing a black and white zigzag shirt and dark blue grid pattered pants. The tv shows a photo of sheep in a graveyard, and reads 'Community Archaeology and Burial Landscapes in New Perlican, Newfoundland and Labrador'.

Here is @drmaryclary.bsky.social & me presenting our papers this afternoon! Thank you to everyone that came to the session! 🏺 #community #ddd17 @ddd17-2025.bsky.social

Great presentation on AI depictions on TikTok by @kotlet00.bsky.social at today's #ddd17 @asdsdeath.bsky.social @ddd17-2025.bsky.social - the whole panel of talks was fascinating!

Such great and diverse shortlists (from open nominations) for the public engagement and book awards made this a very hard choice. You can see the shortlists here. deathandsociety.org/asds-awards-...