RSSA June 2025 Meeting and Scientific Presentation

DNA identification of the HMAS Sydney unknown sailor - an 80 year mystery solve

The Royal Society of South Australia is pleased to invite you to its June meeting and scientific presentation.

OUR GUEST SPEAKER

The guest speaker for our June Meeting and Scientific Presentation is Associate Professor Jeremy Austin. Using ancient DNA methods, Jeremy's research spans two different fields. He investigates the evolution of living and extinct animals to inform on conservation and wildlife management, as well as conducting forensic investigations into highly degraded human remains. His research in the latter area extends to working with his team to develop new genomics techniques. 

Assoc. Prof. Jeremy Austin will be presenting his talk, titled: DNA identification of the HMAS Sydney unknown sailor - an 80 year mystery solved

Abstract: Following a battle with the German raider HSK Kormoran in November 1941, the Australian warship HMAS Sydney (II) was sunk claiming the lives of all 645 crew on board. Only one sailor was recovered deceased in a life raft three months later and buried in an unmarked grave on Christmas Island in February 1942. In October 2006, an archaeological team recovered the ‘Unknown Sailor’s’ remains in order to forensically examine and identify them. This quest finally came to an end on the 80th anniversary of the sinking of HMAS Sydney. Assoc. Prof. Jeremy Austin will discuss his 14-year search and use of ancient DNA technologies, including the multidisciplinary and multiagency approach to identify the sailor in Australia's biggest maritime mystery, and then outline some of the new approaches for using genetic genealogy in forensic and historical research.

THE EVENT

The event will begin at 6:00 pm with nibbles, refreshments and opportunities for pre-meeting discussions and networking. A small donation to the RSSA is greatly appreciated to partake in this and support the continued provision of these pre-meeting treats.

This event will be held in-person in the Royal Society rooms, but we will simultaneously live-stream the meeting via Zoom for those not able to attend on the night.

To attend either in person, or online, you must register here. The zoom link will be sent to you on registration. Please feel free to share this event with your institution or networks.

If in-person tickets are sold out, please be aware that we are unable to admit more people than our room capacity. If online tickets are sold out, please contact admin@rssa.org.au and we can supply the zoom link to you.

For more information on the location of the RSSA rooms, please visit https://www.rssa.org.au/contact/