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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

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First published: 19 May 2014