The Commercialisation of Death: contemporary perspectives on mortality, memory and money
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Centre for Death & Society
We examine the social and political dynamics of dying, death, bereavement, and other forms of loss - and what follows.
Our research themes
We're an international research centre made up of academics and practitioners with the shared goal of making a difference to the public and political understandings of the end of life and its effects.
Our research covers themes like:
- Inequality in dying and the aftermath of death
- Grief and bereavement
- Environmental grief, extinction and more than human loss
- Death in conflict and famine
- Technology, digital legacies and artificial intelligence
- Ageing and care at the end of life
- Funerals, burials, graves, and cemeteries and crematoria
News
Read our latest news.
The long death of Adolf Hitler: the negotiation of memory over time
This CDAS seminar marks the publication of Dr Caroline Sharples' new book: ‘The long death of Adolf Hitler: an investigative history’.
The Student Grief Network Interview
This interview with explores what it takes to make a difference to grief and bereavement support across a range of sectors.
The Empty Chair
We include an empty chair at our graduation ceremonies to help us remember those who are no longer with us.
Digital Remains: Grief and Mourning in a Digitally Entangled World
Ylva Hård af Segerstad Open seminar at CDAS
CDAS pays tribute to Clare Gittings
We remember the achievements of long-time CDAS friend Clare Gittings.
CDAS updates
Learn about our members, events, partners, and keep up to date with CDAS news.
Doing a PhD with the Centre for Death and Society
Find out more about studying for a PhD with us
About the Centre for Death & Society
The Centre for Death & Society provides a forum for our community of researchers and practitioners to share their expertise in death, dying and bereavement.
CDAS@20 Growing a community
CDAS Directors past and present discuss the origins of the centre, the last two decades of research and where the study of death and loss are going
CDAS Visiting Fellows and Visiting Professors
If you're a researcher examining topics related to death and dying, then you can create a formal link with the Centre for Death & Society
Members of the Centre for Death & Society
Our members are mainly located within the Department of Social & Policy Sciences, although we welcome members from across the University of Bath.
Organisations and resources with an interest in the study of death and dying
You can find details of useful resources and associated organisations who have a shared interest in death and dying with our Centre for Death & Society.
Event recordings
The Centre for Death and Society run a variety of events where experts from various fields explore topics around death, dying and bereavement.
CDAS Minerva Lecture
On 13th November 2024 we were delighted to host a University of Bath public Minerva Lecture on ‘Ecological loss and grieving the non-human’
Whose death counts? Social (in)justice and public health in death and dying
Hear from speakers from India, the UK and the US to learn about how death is accounted for, documented, politicised and contested.
CDAS 20th anniversary event: Marginalised Ways of Understanding Death
Marginalized Ways of Understanding Death: From Fiji to Africa to Turtle Island
A gradual separation from the world: Loneliness in later life
Dr Sam Carr presents some of the distinct features, challenges, and experiences of loneliness that older people shared in 'The Bath Loneliness Project.'
Becoming Bone Buddhas: Remaking Death in Contemporary Japan
In a contemporary Japan, inter-generational Buddhist systems of care for the dead have become increasingly unstable
Sociological Perspectives on Suicide
Joint event by the Centre for Death and Society and the International Sociological Association's Research Committee on the Sociology of Mental Health & Illness
Our research
Find out more about the research we undertake at the Centre for Death & Society.
New ESRC project on Living at Home
This project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
ECR project on 'The Everyday Politics of Famine'
A comparative ethnographic research project in Sudan, Somalia and South Sudan to explore why famine continues and the everyday realities of famine.
ESRC Voicing Loss Study
Voicing Loss: A research and policy project on the role of bereaved people in coroners’ investigations and inquests
Current Centre for Death & Society research projects
View the current research projects being undertaken by researchers within and associated with the Centre for Death & Society (CDAS).
Past Centre for Death & Society projects
View complete research projects undertaken by researchers within and associated with the Centre for Death & Society.
Centre for Death & Society publications
View a full listing of all publications related to the Centre for Death & Society.
CDAS videos
Find out more about how CDAS works through our videos
A vision for the Future
Learn about the future of CDAS
Celebrating CDAS@20 - Reflecting on 20 years of world-leading death studies research
Join us to celebrate and reflect on 20 years of CDAS
Interested in a PhD in death studies? Find your place in CDAS
Find out more about what it means doing a PhD With CDAS
Death walk around Bath
Join us on a death walk around the City of Bath
University of Bath launches macabre city walk exploring Bath's hidden histories
A new podcast tour from the Centre for Death and Society explores crime, illness, and Bath's hidden, macabre history.
CDAS death walk with Molly Conisbee a success
Molly Conisbee takes members on a tour of Bath which explores the city's crime, illness, and macabre history.
About us
The Centre for Death & Society is a leading research centre for research related to death, dying, and society. We are based in the Department of Social & Policy Sciences at Bath.
Contact us
Contact us to find out more about our research.