ET O’Donell is completing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Sociology. They have a particular interest in death, race and gender:""

"I first studied sociology in senior college in Dickson (Canberra), and was immediately drawn to analyses of race, death and social life.

Studying sociology at ANU has allowed me to be flexible in my interests as well as be surrounded by academics and peers who share my areas of focus and are interested in developing them. I have been particularly drawn to critical theories of race and gender in sociology, having spent sixteen years living overseas.

I love how sociology allows me to analyse some of the most common activities we participate in – this can be a bit of a challenge when going to the movies, however! – and cast a more critical eye over my own assumptions. Due to the social nature of our lives, there is nothing that cannot be studied in sociology.

As I have continued my studies, I have decided to focus on death and rituals around this topic. Being at ANU has allowed me to explore this topic through a variety of sociological lenses with the support and guidance of the academics around me.

What I love most about studying at ANU is the conversations held in tutorials with my classmates and tutors. I look forward to continuing my studies in sociology, particularly by focusing on the sociology of death and death rituals."