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In this public seminar for the University of Melbourne School of Computing & Information Systems, Dr Fraser Allison presented several studies from The Future Cemetery project. He introduced the major challenges that cemeteries face in the 21st century, described notable examples and a typology of digital cemetery technologies from around the world, and summarised what we have found about public attitudes …

How might disposal of the deceased be designed in the 21st century? Imagining beyond burial and cremation – in a world of rapid social, technological and environmental change – seven artists respond to this question, presenting moving and provocative new work. Catherine Bell https://suttongallery.com.au/artists/catherine-bell/Chantelle Mitchell and Jaxon Waterhouse https://ecologicalgyretheory.com/Eric Jong https://www.ericjong.com.au/Farnaz Dadfar https://farnazdadfar.com/Georgia Banks https://www.georgiabanks.info/Laura Woodward https://www.laurawoodward.com.au/ In collaboration with DeathTech Research Team, …

DeathTech team member Samuel Holleran spoke to Maeve McGregor about how a new cemetery at Harkness, Melbourne's largest new cemetery development in a century, could double as a recreational site: There’s a growing recognition that what cemeteries can deliver best are things that planners are often looking for elsewhere: walk-ability and urban green space. Read the full story here.

DeathTech Team member Dr Hannah Gould recently talked to ABC News Sunday Extra about the problem of capacity facing Australia's cemeteries today and in to the future, and how we might solve it by adopting the international practice of reusing graves. Read the full story here.

Samuel Holleran spoke to Conor Burke about how images of mass burial and cremation around the world became symbolic of the losses suffered during Covid-19: loss of life, loss of individuality and loss of ritual normally associated with a 'good death'. Broadcast on Sydney's Eastside Radio 89.7 FM on Sunday 30th May. Listen here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoD82DYZiMQ Professor Michael Arnold spoke with musician and artist Sui Zhen at The Wheeler Centre on 28th April. The event was part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. Event description: Given enough data, can AI recreate the essence of a human consciousness? In this conversation, avant-pop musician and artist Sui Zhen – creator of the Melbourne Knowledge Week performance Losing, Linda – joins Professor Michael …

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgoIlLTwPso In March 2021, Samuel Holleran participated in a panel discussion for MPavilion about cemeteries and the role of public art in memorial spaces. The event was co-organised with the Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust, and the recording is now available to watch on YouTube. Participants: Dr Amy Spiers, Claire Martin, Samuel Holleran, Hamish Coates and Katrina Simon Event description: Contemporary cemeteries are moving towards …

DeathTech research collaborator Dr Emily van der Nagel spoke to the Guardian recently about preparing a "digital will" and organising your digital legacy. From the article: Dr Emily van der Nagel from Monash University says that people should spend some time planning for how their online accounts and identities will be managed after they die. At a basic level, she says people should …

Dr Hannah Gould spoke to the Guardian about the crisis of space affecting Sydney's cemeteries. From the article: Gould compares the situation to climate change. “It’s a slow moving crisis, and it’s hard to communicate exactly why it’s a problem … until all of a sudden we’ve got a situation where it’s here.” Culturally, socially and physically “people are being pushed further and …

Professor Mike Arnold discusses his research on the intersections between death, technology and society, in this final episode of the SHAPS Forum ‘Disaster & Change’ podcast series, hosted by Dr Henry Reese. Listen on the player below or on your favourite podcast platform. A full transcript of the episode is available on the SHAPS Forum website.

Call for Papers: Special Issue for Anthropology Quarterly Anthropology has long framed death as a crisis, both within an individual’s life trajectory and for the existential continuity of the community. In the tradition of scholarship following Hertz (1960), mortuary and funerary rituals are framed as a site of collective action mounted in response to crisis. They are transformative and curative in their …

DeathTech’s open call to artists received 34 innovative and thoughtful proposals - thank you to all of those who so generously responded to the call. We are excited to announce the following artists have been commissioned from the shortlist, and the team is looking forward to working with all:  Georgia Banks https://www.georgiabanks.info/work Catherine Bell  https://suttongallery.com.au/artists/catherine-bell/ Farnaz Dadfar  https://farnazdadfar.com Eric Jong  http://www.ericjong.com.au/art Chantelle Mitchell and Jaxon Waterhouse  https://ecologicalgyretheory.com/About Laura …

Aisha from RRR Radio chats with Melbourne University anthropologist Dr Hannah Gould about the DeathTech research of bringing new life to cemeteries. They discuss augmented realities, QR codes on gravestones, and eco-friendly burials.  Listen to the full programme here

Dr Hannah Gould spoke to Studio 10 about new and emerging alternatives to burial and cremation. "Let's talk about death!" Digging Deep Into Death Technology - Hannah Gould - Studio 10Download The segment aired on Wednesday the 21st of October. Watch it on 10play.com.au or Facebook.