Daniel
Robins on Necro-Waste
I am just approaching the
end of my first year as a Sociology PhD student here at York. I have two
fantastic supervisors: Ruth Penfold-Mounce and David Beer, whom I have been
working closely with to develop my project on necro-waste. I did not start with
the concept; it just found me about two months in. It affirmed to me that a PhD
is always in progress, always amenable to change.
My research focuses on
this idea of necro-waste, which is essentially the analogy of corpse parts as
waste. By drawing on theories of value, I am exploring the value attached to
and generated out of necro-waste as it passes through the UK Death Industry.
It’s highlighted at three stages. The
first of these is the gatekeeping stage. This is where the necro-waste is
prepared for disposal by the funeral director. Two methods of disposal are then
explored; disposal through cremation and disposal through natural burial. This
is because these produce two different types of waste; dry waste and wet waste.
Each of these offers the opportunity for the necro-waste to be commemorated. As
such, the third stage focuses on the artists that reuse cremated remains in
these commemorative rituals. This stage also explores what becomes of the
natural burial ground.
In the background, I have
also been writing through some ideas. I recently published a piece for Discover Society, where I
conceptualise Ian Brady’s remains as akin to radioactive waste, otherwise known
as ‘toxic necro-waste’. The SATSU department here at York also provides PhD
students with a lot of opportunities. I was able to extend these thoughts and
write them on the SATSU Threshold blog. Each of these
encouraged me to write an article on the Social Epistemology Review and Reply
Collective, where I discuss toxic necro-waste further. I understand it
as a concept that can be used to further extend the study of necro-waste.
Writing these has helped
me as a PhD student in a couple of ways. First, as the PhD is always in
progress, it’s helped me to develop some of the ideas in my thesis. Second,
it’s provided content, along with my research, to discuss at conferences
through both talks and networking with fellow death researchers. Last, it's
helped build my confidence as an academic and develop my writing.
I am trying to treat my
PhD as an apprenticeship and am actively seeking as many opportunities as I
can. I am on the board of studies, and am working with other Sociology PhD
students to develop this year’s York Sociology Postgraduate Conference on
‘embodiment’. I also teach two seminar classes on the first year undergraduate
module ‘Introducing Social Psychology’, which I really enjoy. So, it’s been a
busy, but excellent year.
