‘Death and Dying’ conference to shine a light on difficult conversations for fourth year

Bishop Grosseteste University’s (BGU) annual ‘Academic and Creative Responses to Death and Dying’ conference is returning for a fourth year in 2020 aiming to provide an open and interactive forum to bring discussions on death and dying back into the mainstream.

The topics and conversations on ‘Death and Dying’ have almost disappeared from everyday life. They are hidden away in hospitals or hospices and often take place away or outside the inner family circle and yet, we have to learn to cope and live with loss.

It is this challenge that the ‘Death and Dying’ conference, organised by members of BGU’s academic and chaplaincy teams, with additional funding from the Church Universities Fund, is designed to overcome.

Taking place over two weekends in early 2020 the conference will deal with issues to do with bereavement and grief from an interdisciplinary angle. There will be papers, keynote speeches and creative responses – including dramatic performances, art and writing workshops – along with a concert to close out the event organised by musicians from BGU.

The conference is fast becoming a recognised tradition in the University calendar and Dr Sibylle Earle, Reader in English Literature at BGU, one of the main organisers discussed what links the event so closely to the work carried out at BGU:

“The issue of death and dying is one which very frequently arises in chaplaincy work in HEI, as well as schools and daily practice. Trainee teachers can prepare for it. BGU students. I think it would be good to point out that students can fulfil requirements for graduate attributes when they attend this event.

Whilst the event is framed against a Christian and specifically Anglican understanding of these issues it is not inclusively so and the speeches and discussions taking place will involve a wide range of viewpoints. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing where our attendees and delegates will take us this year”

The conference will be taking place over the 30^th of January to the 1^st of February with a second session over the 27^th to the 29^th of February. Full details of the programme of activities, bookings and dates can be found on the conference website.