6. #TechnologyOfDeath – Beyond Rest – Academics Probe Future Cemeteries Transcript
September 19, 2023
We’re talking about death technology and future cemeteries with Professor Michael Arnold from the University of Melbourne.
With many cemeteries reaching capacity, and some environmental issues emerging around current ways we deal with our loved ones, we look at different burial options and what the future of death may look like.
This is an interesting chat with a researcher behind alternative forms of body disposal.
In this episode we cover:
- Various studies completed around the country to improve cemetery processes
- Cooperative Research Centre project to bring new initiatives to market
- Hydrogen-powered cremators for emission free cremations
- Alkaline hydrolysis is naturally occurring in soils and can be an alternative to cremation
- Natural burials are very popular in certain parts of the UK and US
- Composting of the human body in pods is a new trend
- People making their own funeral arrangements tend to be more creative and less traditional
- These arrangements will usually align with personal values
- Industry is becoming more open-minded to meet the needs of clients
- There is a move towards individualisation in death
- The industry is becoming more digital
- The rise and fall of the funeral selfie
- Making choices for your own end of life arrangements
- Dwindling cemetery space in major cities around the world.
Resources and links mentioned in this episode:
- #Hashtag Death Instagram: @hashtag_death
- Ways to work with Ingrid: forevernow.com.au
- Ingrid Reiger’s Facebook: @forevernowcelebrant
- Ingrid Reiger’s Instagram: @ingrid_forevernowcelebrant
- Death Tech: Death Tech
- A few of the books and guides which Professor Arnold mentions are below:
- (PDF) Death and Digital Media (researchgate.net)
- You can also purchase a hard copy of the book here Death and Digital Media – 1st Edition – Michael Arnold – Martin Gibbs (routledge.com)
- The Encyclopedia of Cemetery Technology which he refers to in his interview:
An interactive or “live” website –
About · Encyclopedia of Cemetery Technology (omeka.net)
Austeng (austengcc.net.au) The Engineering firm who have designed the Cremator spoken about – the Leading Supplier of Engineering Services to the Cemetery and Crematoria Industries in Australia.
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