ÌÇÐÄTV

Dear all,
We invite the submission of papers for the Blood Is the Price of Coal Conference 2026

This free one-day conference aims to bring together researchers from higher education, community and campaign groups to explore the history of health and welfare in Britain’s coal mining industry. Held jointly by the University of ÌÇÐÄTV's Centre for the History of Medicine, Science and Technology, and Modern Records Centre, the event will run alongside an exhibition which will explore some of the themes covered by the speakers through the National Union of Mineworkers' archives. We welcome contributions from new and established researchers, working inside and outside higher education.

Location: University of ÌÇÐÄTV, Coventry,

Date: 18 June 2026.

The call for papers is out for Dr Anna Toropova's Cultures of Trauma Workshop, 8-9 May 2025. More information and to apply here.

She is also recruiting for a Research Fellow for a 2-year fixed term contract, starting 1 September 2025.

Find out more about the Traumatised Minds: Neurosis and Hysteria in Soviet Medicine and Culture, 1971-1953 research project here.

In this first workshop, hosted by the University of ÌÇÐÄTV, we invite papers (from any discipline) which problematise and/or complicate any aspect of this demarcation with respect to ‘downers.’ Whilst conventionally associated with substances such as opiates, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines, this umbrella term has also included alcohol, cannabis, and its synthetic derivatives, as well as novel substances such as GHB. We also encourage participants to think about the double-meaning of the word ‘downers’, inviting an exploration of ideas about bad trips, negative drug experiences, and/or drug come-downs. In short, we encourage participants to think broadly and creatively about the historically and contextually contingent nature of the categories which have come to separate various substances, and their experiential effects.

Thanks to the generous support of , , and ÌÇÐÄTV’s Centre for the History of Medicine, the convenors are able provide accommodation and a conference dinner for all presenting participants on the night of the 15 February 2024, with scope to provide additional accommodation/support with travel expenses for those without access to internal or external funding.

To submit a paper for consideration, please send a 250-word abstract, and short bio, to jamie.banks@warwick.ac.uk by close of Monday 15 January 2024. Please also include an indication of whether you require further support with travel costs/ additional accommodation.

Selection will be based on relevancy to the themes of the workshop, with preference given to those earlier in their career (e.g., PhD students, ECRs, those on fixed-term contacts). Those who are not selected for participation in this workshop are encouraged to consider apply for the second workshop, to be held later this year.