Conversations Across the Creek is an initiative by the Humanities Research Centre (HRC) and the Research School of Chemistry (RSC) to provide a space for continuing dialogue among scientists, social scientists, and humanities scholars. Meetings are held monthly, with the aim of stimulating and unearthing research and teaching collaborations across the university.

Join us as three diverse scholars 'cross' Sullivan's Creek, presenting on their latest research. The topic of this event is Lactation After Infant Loss in Contemporary Motherhood and Health Service Delivery.

While breastfeeding and human milk banking is attracting a lot of research and public health attention, a mother’s lactation when no living infant is present in her life is often overlooked. This 'Conversation Across the Creek' details the Australian Research Council (ARC) funded research project which investigates how lactation and breastmilk donation after infant death may modulate bereaved mothers' grief experiences. It draws together the fields of reproductive tissue economies and the sociological analysis of motherhood, with a study of the contemporary practices of lactation healthcare delivery in maternity, bereavement and milk banking services in Australia.

Speakers include:

Professor Catherine Waldby
Research School of Social Sciences
https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/catherine-waldby

Professor Zsuzsoka Kecskes
ANU Medical School
http://medicalschool.anu.edu.au/people/zsuzsoka-kecskes

Dr Katherine Carroll
School of Sociology, College of Arts and Social Sciences
https://researchportalplus.anu.edu.au/en/persons/katherine-carroll

Please register - light lunch provided.