Cat Irving, a Human Remains Conservator at Surgeon's Hall in Edinburgh, shares her journey from a childhood fascination with anatomy to her current role caring for anatomical collections. She discusses the evolution of ethical practices in handling human remains and the importance of mentorship in her field. The conversation touches on societal perceptions of death, the emotional stories behind surgical history, and the challenges of conserving unusual pathologies. Cat also reflects on personal well-being and the need for compassion in her work.
Cat Irving's childhood curiosity about anatomy led her to work as a Human Remains Conservator, showcasing the importance of individual experiences in career paths.
Her role at Surgeon's Hall involves preserving human remains with dignity, emphasizing respect and the historical significance of each specimen.
Irving highlights the evolution of societal perceptions about death, marking a shift towards ethical practices and greater empathy in the field.
Deep dives
Kat Irving's Background and Early Interests
Kat Irving shares her childhood experiences that shaped her interest in anatomy and the natural world. Growing up near the English-Scottish border, she was a curious child who enjoyed long walks with her dog, during which she often encountered and examined dead animals. Her early fascination with dissection began when she collected dead creatures, cut them open, and explored their insides, indicating a strong inclination toward understanding life's biology. Despite initially wanting to become a veterinarian, an allergy to cats redirected her path toward studying biological sciences and eventually into human remains conservation.
Academic Journey and Professional Path
Irving's academic journey was marked by a strong inclination toward biology, despite lacking opportunities for dissection during her school years. She found her calling during a forensic medicine class at university that included an autopsy viewing, which solidified her interest in working with human remains. After graduating with a degree in anatomical science, she worked as a mortuary technician responsible for autopsies and preparing bodies for examination. This hands-on experience led her to appreciate the importance of scientific inquiry into death and human remains, facilitating her transition into conservation.
Role as a Human Remains Conservator
As a Human Remains Conservator at Surgeon's Hall, Irving maintains historical anatomical collections, ensuring they are preserved with dignity and respect. Her day-to-day responsibilities include preserving wet and dry specimens, managing intricate collections that require constant monitoring and maintenance due to their organic nature. She emphasizes the importance of treating each specimen as a representation of a person's life and experiences, thus giving a voice to those often overlooked in history. Through her work, she aims to foster appreciation and understanding of anatomy and pathology, transforming how society views human remains.
Historical Context and Ethical Considerations
Irving discusses the historical context surrounding the procurement of human remains, outlining a timeline that includes grave robbing and anatomical acts that allowed for more ethical sourcing of bodies. The evolution of consent surrounding body donation forms an important aspect of modern practices in anatomy, contrasted with past exploitations where remains were taken without consent. Today, legislation like the Human Tissue Act ensures that remains are treated ethically, reflecting changing societal attitudes toward death and preservation. The integration of strict ethical guidelines significantly influences how museums and institutions handle human remains collections, shifting them from mere curiosities to subjects deserving of respect.
Shifts in Societal Attitudes Toward Death
Irving notes a significant change in societal attitudes toward death and human remains throughout her nearly two decades in the field. An increase in female representation in both the mortuary and death industries has created a more empathetic work atmosphere, enhancing public discussions around death. Interest in anatomical collections has shifted toward education and respect rather than sensationalism, indicating a broader societal engagement with the subject of mortality. Ultimately, she believes that while curiosity about death remains, there is now a greater imperative to treat human remains with the dignity they deserve, recognizing their historical and personal narratives.
Love science and conservation? Want to discover new ways to protect our species? Elle Kaye chats with guests who work within the science genre, but whose job titles may need a little unpacking. Strap in for entomology, taxidermy, diaphonization, pet remains, human pathology and all those that work with specimens.
TW: Death/Dying and Human Remains
In episode 030 Elle chats with Cat about her work caring for anatomical and pathological museum collections for nearly twenty years. She discusses the transition between working in Edinburgh City Mortuary and moving to England to further train in wet tissue collections to returning to Scotland to work with pathology specimens in Surgeons’ Hall in Edinburgh. We also discuss shifts in perceptions around death and dying, and what that has meant for Cat.
