Inaugural Lecture - 'We all know how this ends: how death can help us make the most of life'

Professor Kate Woodthorpe, co-director of the Centre for Death & Society, explores how we can face our shared mortality in a positive way.

29 Sep 2026, 6.00pm to 7.00pm BST (GMT +01:00)
Room 3.5, The Chancellors' Building, University of Bath
This event is free

Professor Kate Woodthorpe has spent over two decades researching death and dying, leading major projects and publishing widely on topics such as:

funeral poverty and cemetery change
mortuary practices
funeral education
end of-life families

In her inaugural lecture, she draws on this work and her own experiences to show how facing our shared mortality can help us be present and live life more fully.

This event will be followed by a drinks reception

Speaker profiles

Kate Woodthorpe is Professor of Sociology with over 20 years’ experience of conducting research and publishing on death and dying.

Currently co-director of the world-leading Centre for Death & Society, she has advised multiple government departments and agencies including the Department for Work and Pensions, Scottish Government, and Competition and Markets Authority.

Booking details