Virtual Colloquium on Cemeteries 2026: Call for Papers

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the Virtual Colloquium on Cemeteries, which will take place entirely online on 20 November 2026.

About the Colloquium

On Friday, 20 November 2026, the Cemetery Research Group will host a virtual colloquium via Zoom.

The event will focus on places and practices relating to the disposal of the dead, including burial, cremation, and other methods.

Tickets for the colloquium will be available on the CRG website from 9 October 2026.

Call for Papers

The colloquium invites scholars working in the social sciences and humanities, as well as postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, to submit papers that combine theoretical insight with empirical research on the proposed theme.

Each presentation will be allocated a 30-minute slot, comprising approximately 20 minutes for the presentation followed by time for questions and discussion. The event is open to contributors from around the world, and panels will be scheduled to accommodate different time zones. All presentations must be delivered in English.

Abstracts may be submitted via this Google Form by 2 October 2026.

For any questions, please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

27th Cemeteries Colloquium: Programme

The Cemetery Research Group is pleased to share the programme for the 27th Cemeteries Colloquium, which will take place on 8th May 2026 in York, UK.

About the event

On 8th May 2026, the 27th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as an in-person meeting from 08:45 to 17:15 (GMT) in the Huntingdon Room at the University of York.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across the humanities and social sciences. The event has a strong emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Programme and tickets

The organisers are pleased to share the full programme for the event, which can be accessed HERE. In addition to the schedule, the programme includes key information about the colloquium as well as abstracts of the presentations.

Tickets for the event are already available on Eventbrite.
Accommodation is not included in the colloquium fee.

For any additional questions, please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

Note: In addition to the in-person meeting in May, the Cemetery Research Group will also host a second, fully online event in November 2026. Further details will be published in due course.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

27th Cemeteries Colloquium: Call for papers

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the 27th Cemeteries Colloquium, taking place on 8th May 2026 in York, UK.

About the event

On 8th May 2026, the 27th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting at the University of York, United Kingdom.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across all the humanities and social sciences. The event has an emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Call for papers

Each paper will be given a 30-minute timeslot. Those interested in presenting are invited to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words via the submission form on the Cemetery Research Group website, available HERE.

The deadline for abstract submission is 27th March 2026.

For any additional questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julierugg36@gmail.com.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

Virtual Colloquium on Cemeteries 2025: Program and Registration

Registration is now open for the Cemetery Research Group’s Virtual Colloquium on Cemeteries, taking place on 21 November 2025.

About the Colloquium

On Friday, 21 November 2025, a free of charge virtual colloquium organized by the Cemetery Research Group will take place via Zoom.

The event will focus on places and practices relating to the disposal of the dead, including burial, cremation, and other methods. This year’s keynote speaker is Ruth E. Toulson (Maryland Institute College of Art), who will deliver a presentation titled “The Last Cemetery: Shifting Deathscapes in Contemporary Singapore”.

Program and registration

Papers will be delivered in four sessions throughout the day. You can find the entire program HERE.

To attend, please use this Google Form to register for the sessions you wish to join. You will receive invitations to your selected sessions a few days before the conference.

Registration deadline: 14 November 2025

For any questions, please contact Dr. Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

Invitation to the Virtual Colloquium on cemeteries 2025

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the Virtual Colloquium on cemeteries, taking place entirely online on 21 November 2025.

About the Colloquium

On Friday, 21 November 2025, a virtual colloquium organized by the Cemetery Research Group will take place via Zoom.

The event will focus on places and practices relating to the disposal of the dead, including burial, cremation, and other methods. This year’s keynote speaker is Ruth E. Toulson (Maryland Institute College of Art), who will deliver a presentation titled “The Last Cemetery: Shifting Deathscapes in Contemporary Singapore”.

Tickets for the colloquium will be available on the CRG website starting 11 October 2025.

Call for Papers

The colloquium invites researchers from the social sciences and humanities, as well as postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers, to submit papers that combine theoretical insight with empirical research on the proposed theme.

Each presentation will have a thirty-minute slot, allowing roughly twenty minutes for the talk and time for questions. The event is open to contributors from around the world, with panels arranged to accommodate different time zones. All presentations must be in English.

Abstracts can be submitted via this Google Form by 1 October 2025.

For any questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

New book series

In related publishing news, Routledge has launched a new book series titled “Accommodating the Dead: Materialities, Rituals and Technologies”. The series explores the evolving and multi-faceted study of the dead body and the diverse ways humans engage with it, with an international and interdisciplinary scope.

26th Cemeteries Colloquium: Programme

The Cemetery Research Group is pleased to share the programme for the 26th Cemeteries Colloquium, which will take place on 23 May 2025 in York, UK.

About the event

On the 23rd of May 2025, the 26th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting from 08:45 to 17:15 (GMT) in the Church Lane Building on the University of York’s West campus.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across the humanities and social sciences. The event has a strong emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Programme and tickets

The organisers are pleased to share the full programme for the event, which can be accessed HERE. In addition to the schedule, the programme includes key information about the colloquium as well as abstracts of the presentations.

Tickets for the event are already available on Eventbrite (search for 26th Cemeteries Colloquium).
Accommodation is not included in the colloquium fee.

For any additional questions, please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

Note: In addition to the in-person meeting in May, the Cemetery Research Group will also host a second, fully online event in November. Further details will be published in due course.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

26th Cemeteries Colloquium: Call for papers

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the 26th Cemeteries Colloquium, taking place on the 23rd May 2025 in York, UK.

About the event

On the 23rd of May 2025, the 26th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting in York, United Kingdom.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across the humanities and social sciences. The event has a strong emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate is invited to submit their presentation abstract of no more than 250 words by using the submission portal at the Cemetery Research Group website.

The deadline for abstract submission is 2nd May 2025.

For any additional questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

Note: In addition to the in-person meeting in May, the Cemetery Research Group will also host a second, entirely online event in November. A separate call for papers for this event will be issued later this year.

Updates and publications

The Cemetery Research Group bibliography has been updated with new material from 2024, including additional references to older sources.

Routledge has also released the latest edition in the Routledge International Focus on Death and Funeral Practices series. Listen to Hannah Gould discuss Death and Funeral Practices in Japan on the New Books Network podcast.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

Invitation to the 3rd Virtual Colloquium on cemeteries

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the 3rd Virtual Colloquium on cemeteries, taking place on 15th November 2024 via Zoom.

About the event

On Friday, 15th November 2024, a virtual colloquium organized by the Cemetery Research Group will take place via the Zoom platform.

The main theme is cemeteries and death practices, focusing on how burial and commemoration customs intersect with social, cultural, and political changes across different countries and historical periods. Speakers from around the world will address a range of subjects, including the transformation of funeral practices, the architectural and legal aspects of cemeteries, and the evolving role of cemeteries in urban settings.

This year's keynote speaker is professor Andrew Kipnis, who has written extensively on funeral practices in China. His presentation, titled "Ghosts, Urbanization, and Strangers in China and Hong Kong", will offer insightful perspectives on these themes.

The full programme with the list of speakers and their topics is available HERE.

Registration details

Attendance at the virtual colloquium is free of charge, but registration is required to secure your spot and receive Zoom invitations to the sessions you wish to attend.

To register, please complete the form at this LINK. Deadline for registration is 8th November 2023.

For any additional questions, please contact Dr. Julie Rugg at julierugg36@gmail.com.

*Photo source: https://www.cemeteryresearch.org/events/

25th Cemeteries Colloquium: Call for papers

The Cemetery Research Group invites you to participate in the 25th Cemeteries Colloquium, taking place on the 24th May 2024 in York, UK.

About the event

On the 24th May 2024, the 25th Cemeteries Colloquium will take place as a live meeting in York, United Kingdom.

The Colloquium, organized by the Cemetery Research Group (CRG), has developed into an essential forum for the discussion of new and emerging cemetery scholarship and is multi-disciplinary, accepting papers from across all the humanities and social sciences. The event has an emphasis on discussion, and its international and interdisciplinary nature makes the meeting particularly thought-provoking.

Call for papers

Anyone who would like to participate is invited to submit their presentation abstract of no more than 250 words by using the submission portal at the Cemetery Research Group website.

Deadline for abstract submission is 11th April 2024.

For any additional questions please contact Dr Julie Rugg at julie.rugg@york.ac.uk.

*Photo source: www.cemeteryresearch.org

Virtual Colloquium on burial, cremation and alkaline hydrolysis

A free virtual colloquium, organised by the Cemetery Research Group, will take place on 17th November 2023 via zoom. Booking required.

About the event

On Friday, 17th November 2023, a virtual colloquium under the organisation of the Cemetery Research Group will take place via the zoom platform. 

Speakers from around the globe and from multiple disciplines will be discussing burial, cremation, and alkaline hydrolysis. The guest speaker will be Dr Brenda Mathijssen from the University of Groningen with her presentation "True nature burial: Unearthing the politics of defining an emerging death practice in The Netherlands".

The full programme with the list of speakers and their topics is available HERE.

Registration details

Attendance at this virtual colloquium is free of charge, but booking is required to secure your spot and receive Zoom invitations to the sessions you wish to attend.

To register, please complete the booking form HERE. Deadline for booking is 10th November 2023.

For any questions, please contact julierugg36@gmail.com.