29th May 2014

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, 232-242 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 5RJ

The intention of the day is to establish research trajectories in two main areas: a historico-cultural view of ‘Burns and the Medical Profession’; and an analysis of the contemporary significance of the relationship between mental disorder and creativity informed by ‘Burns and Manic Depression (Bipolar Disorder)’. There has never previously been a conference on ‘Burns and Medicine’. It is a very timely topic given recent advances in the fields of Medical Humanities and in Burns scholarship (the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at the University of Glasgow is home to the new Oxford University Press edition of the Works of Robert Burns, awarded £1.1 million by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in 2011).

The goal will be to stimulate debate and identify areas for future research.  The cost for the day is £20.

Further information can be found here.

08.30 - 09.00

Registration, Tea & Coffee

 

09.30 - 09.45

Welcome and Introduction

 

 

Chair: Professor Gerard Carruthers, University of Glasgow

 

09.45 - 10.30

Medical knowledge in Burns’ day, with reference to the poet’s work

Sir Ken Calman University of Glasgow

 

10.30 - 10.50

Refreshment break

 

10.50 - 11.35

Medical theories concerning Burns’ fatal illness

Professor David Purdie

University of Edinburgh

 

11.20 - 12.05

A medical humanities take on Burns and medicine

Professor Jane Macnaughton University of Durham

 

12.05 - 13.00

Lunch

 
 

13.00 - 13.45

Burns’ editors and commentators from the medical profession

Professor Gerard Carruthers

University of Glasgow

 

13.45 - 14.30

 Bipolar disorder, intelligence and creativity

Dr Daniel Smith

University of Glasgow

 

14.30 - 14.50

Refreshment break

 

14.50 - 15.30

Panel Discussion

 

 

 

 

15.30 - 15.45

Closing remarks

 

 

First published: 19 May 2014