Dr Daniel Robins

Profile

PhD: University of York
MSc: University of Greenwich
BSc: Canterbury Christ Church University

I joined the University of York in January 2017 to do my PhD in the Department of Sociology. My research was about what happens to the 'waste' materials of the dead body (medical implants, embalming fluids etc.) as they are disposed of through cremation and 'natural' burial. The findings ultimately worked to refigure corpse disposal as a process of production where new value(s) are attributed to the materials of the dead body. My doctoral research presented substantial contributions to the fields of Environmental Sociology, Science and Technology Studies, and Death Studies. These contributions were recognised in the research being awarded with the Andrew Webster PhD prize (2022).

During my PhD research at York, I was involved in the teaching of all years of university student. My impact in teaching has been reflected in a nomination for a Teacher of the Year Award (2018). Upon the completion of my research at the beginning of 2021, I was pleased to join the Department of Sociology as an Associate Lecturer.

Publications:

Journal Articles:

• Robins, D. Smith, R. (2021). Hidden Labour in Funeral Directing: Providing Care to ‘Difficult’ Dead Bodies, Mortality, 26, (1), 100-111.

Book Chapters: 

• Robins, D. (2022). (Dis)posing of ‘Toxic Necro-Waste’: Managing Unwanted Ghosts. In Fiddler, M. Linnemann, T. Kindynis, T. (Eds). Ghost Criminology. New York: New York University Press.

Teaching

MA Dissertations

Understanding Social Media

Social Media, Data, and Society