When does Scientia Mortuorum take place in Bielefeld?

The lecture takes place on Friday, November 6, 2026. It starts at 8 PM, with doors opening at 7:30 PM.

Where is the event taking place?

The event location is Cantine at Bleichstraße 77a, 33607 Bielefeld.

What is the entry fee?

Tickets cost 22 euros in advance plus booking fees. The entry fee at the box office is 28 euros.

What topics are covered in the lecture?

Topics include body donations, historical surgical and physical experiments, the body farm, cryopreservation, and the cultural handling of human bodies.

Who presents the lecture?

The lecture is presented by the art historian and author Dr. Anja Kretschmer-Rodenbröker, who specializes in burial and cemetery culture.

Is there an After Lecture Party afterwards?

Yes. Attending the lecture grants free access to the After Lecture Party, which starts at 10 PM in Cantine.

Anja Kretschmer reads in Bielefeld 2026

Name: Scientia Mortuorum
Start: 2026-11-06T20:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-06T22:00:00+01:00
Location: Cantine

Scientia Mortuorum: The Science of the Dead in Bielefeld

What happens to the human body after death – and what insights does science owe to those deceased who have donated their bodies for research purposes? The lecture Scientia Mortuorum – The Science of the Dead on November 6, 2026, at Cantine Bielefeld will guide through a captivating yet disturbing cultural history of the corpse.

Between Body Donation and Scientific Curiosity

Dr. Anja Kretschmer-Rodenbröker illuminates the different approaches to the bodies of the deceased. Central to this are centuries-old practices in anatomical, surgical, and physical research. The event combines cultural-historical expertise with an unusual perspective on medical knowledge, societal taboos, and the limits of scientific curiosity.

Electricity, Body Farm, and Cryopreservation

The narrative dramaturgy of the lecture ranges from historical experiments to modern procedures. Topics include the connection between the study of electricity and the use of corpses, the so-called Body Farm, and today’s possibilities of cryopreservation. These themes open an intellectual space between the history of science, ethics, and thanatology.

Literary Experience with a Historical Figure

Dr. Anja Kretschmer-Rodenbröker has a doctorate in burial and cemetery culture and is known as an author of numerous publications. In her format Cemetery Whispers, she also appears in the role of the historical figure of the Black Widow from 1898. This staging lends a theatrical dimension to the reading and lecture atmosphere and connects historical sources with regional references to mourning culture.

An Evening Between Cultural History and Boundary Experiences

The linguistic artistry of the lecture meets a topic that touches upon scientific, cultural, and existential aspects alike. The audience experiences an encounter with the author beyond ordinary literary formats: informative, atmospheric, and shaped by the question of how societies deal with death, bodies, and memory.

Conclusion

Scientia Mortuorum promises an unusual evening for all who are interested in literature, cultural history, the history of science, and burial culture. The lecture will take place on Friday, November 6, 2026, at 8 PM in Cantine Bielefeld. Doors open at 7:30 PM; afterwards, the After Lecture Party can be attended starting at 10 PM. Those who want to experience the discourse on death not from a safe distance but as an intense literary experience will enjoy this evening best live.