Grief in Academia: Making Hidden Losses Visible

An Interdisciplinary Perspective to Care in Academia

Presented by Dr. Maria Esther Fernández Mostaza Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

This talk examines the often-overlooked presence of grief within academic environments. Drawing on insights from the CARE – Care in Academia project, it explores how universities, shaped by expectations of productivity, availability, and uninterrupted performance, frequently lack the structures and language needed to acknowledge human vulnerability. The presentation focuses on forms of disenfranchised grief that affect both students and staff, which typically remain outside institutional recognition. By connecting these experiences to broader patterns of care-blindness, the talk highlights how unaddressed grief can influence wellbeing, participation, and equity within academic life. The session invites attendees to reflect collectively on how academic institutions might better integrate care and compassion: what would it take to create environments where these hidden experiences can be named and supported?

Participation is free, but registration is required via the link below: