Celebrate National Archaeology Week with an exclusive online seminar presented by the Australasian Institute for Maritime Archaeology (AIMA), the Discipline of Archaeology at the University of Sydney, and the Sydney Southeast Asia Centre. This year, we're commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II with a special focus on wartime ships and submarines.

Discover the fascinating world of sunken military craft and learn about the latest groundbreaking discoveries in this ever-evolving field. Our webinar will feature expert presentations on maritime wartime heritage by AIMA members and friends across Australia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

10 minute lightning talks followed by audience Q&A

Chair: Dr Natali Pearson

Dr Natali Pearson is a DECRA Fellow (2025-2027) and a Senior Lecturer in Heritage Studies in the Discipline of Archaeology at the University of Sydney. Her current research focuses on WWII shipwrecks in Southeast Asia.

Dr John McCarthy, Remembering I-124: A Japanese Submarine Wreck in the Northern Territory

Dr John McCarthy is a DECRA Fellow and Lecturer in maritime archaeology at Flinders University. His research focuses on digital innovation in archaeological methodology, submerged archaeological landscapes, and in European merchant vessels of the Early Modern period.

Hiroshi Ishi, StoryMaps of Tonoas, Chuuk Lagoon: A website to share history and heritage

Hiroshi Ishii is a Maritime Archaeologist and Program-Specific Researcher for the Maritime Asia Heritage Survey at the Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University. His research focuses on Japanese WWII sites in the Asia-Pacific region. Hiroshi’s masters research a force-landed “Zero fighter” and the capture of its pilot during the Bombing of Darwin in February 1942.

Nia Naelul Hasanah Ridwan, Forgotten Battlefields Beneath the Waves: WWII Maritime Heritage in Indonesia

Nia Ridwan is a maritime archaeologist with 20 years of experience at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Indonesia, and currently a PhD Candidate in Maritime Archaeology at Flinders University. Her research focuses on Underwater Cultural Heritage in Indonesia including WWII shipwrecks. She is passionate about assessing shipwreck site vulnerability, promoting community engagement in heritage preservation, and fostering sustainable shipwreck tourism.

Stirling Smith, “Just give me a minute, I need to take it all in”: The role of historic objects and places in the commemoration of WWII

Stirling Smith is a maritime archaeologist, heritage practitioner and the Curator of Navy at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM). In 2021 he established Operation Digger, a community-based program that actively involves veterans in the recording of archaeological and heritage sites throughout NSW.

Patrick Morrison, Finding and understanding WWII maritime heritage in Western Australia

Patrick is a Maritime Archaeologist and Assistant Curator at the Western Australian Museum and University of Western Australia. He has recently found several shipwrecks including a Dutch WWII submarine, and has been conducting long-term monitoring of wrecks in Perth’s metropolitan waters using 3D photogrammetry.