Notes from AHOY May 2025
We had our first workshop!! A big thank you to Natali Pearson for running a really useful workshop on "Crafting a great conference abstract". With a simple formula, she took all the mystery and nerves out of writing a powerful, direct and engaging abstract. Natali, can you come back next year too? If you missed this workshop, you can download Natali's slides.
Discussion
- A Dutch shipwreck has been found at Robe, South Australia. Koning Willem de Tweede was a merchant ship that had just brought hundreds of Chinese immigrants to SA before it became lost in 1857. It was found by the combined research efforts of SA's Department for Environment and Water, Flinders University, the Australian National Maritime Museum and Silentworld Foundation. Find out more here: Lost Dutch ship Koning Willem de Tweede found off SA's coast after 170 years - ABC News
- In discussing the risks and hazards of diving, one person mentioned something you may not expect - bacterial infection! While we're not sure how this case was obtained, it's a reminder to clean your wetsuits thoroughly after use. It's also important to keep yourself, your immune system and your stress levels healthy while diving so that your body can effectively fight off the odd issue before it becomes a major problem.
- A couple of students from the University of Sydney joined us and shared their research topics. We also had a quick lesson in acronyms: UUV = unmanned underwater vehicle, which includes both AUV = autonomous underwater vehicles and ROV = remotely operated vehicle.
- We discussed the use of AI for work. There are some ways AI can be credibly used, including for improving your own writing. However, ChatGPT is not advised. If you're interested, see if your organisation offers an AI platform or it was recommended to check out Claude or Microsoft Copilot.
AIMA Updates
- It's World Archaeology Week! Don't forget to register for the seminar on "Eighty Years On: World War II Maritime Heritage in Australasia"on Saturday May 24, 4:00 -5:45pm AEST. Natali Pearson is chairing and AIMA is co-presenting!
- For the AAA/AIMA Conference on 2-5 December in Fremantle, the Call for Abstracts will open Monday 26 May. Registration opens the same date.
- AIMA will be holding it's third Strategic Plan meeting on Monday 26 May at 6:30pm AEST. A link and further information will be sent to members soon!
- For the World Archaeological Congress in Darwin, 22-28 June 2025, AIMA is sponsoring and co-hosting a session called "Exploring the Depths: Maritime Archaeology Across the Globe". AIMA will also have an online booth so log in and say hi!
- As AIMA is an accredited NGO to the UNESCO 2001 Convention for the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, we are invited to attend a series of hybrid UNESCO events hosted in Paris in June 2025 including a meeting of the NGOs, the Scientific and Technical Advisory Body meeting and the Members of State Parties meeting. As part of this, we're producing a short video with the other NGOs and our segment is on some of the dangers of diving - sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, blue-ringed octopus, and bacteria!
- AIMA's AGM will be held separate to the Conference on Saturday 4 October. Details to be announced.
The next AHOY meeting will be on Monday 9th June, same time and place. See you there.