Dr Blaze O’Connor (1974-2009) was the Academic Secretary for WAC-6 in Dublin in 2008. Her organisational skills, commitment and human touch were key to the success of WAC-6.
The Blaze O’Connor Memorial Award will be presented at every major WAC Congress to an individual at an early stage in their career, either on an academic track or following another career direction, who has made a sterling contribution to archaeology as envisaged by the World Archaeological Congress. The Award will be presented to the recipient by the President of WAC.
Three Blaze O’Connor Memorial Awards have been given to date: to Ines Domingo-Sanz at WAC-7 in Jordan, to Tae Mukai at WAC-8 in Kyoto, to Abidemi Babalola at WAC-9 in Prague.
The Blaze O’Connor Memorial Award Committee for WAC-9 Prague 2022 (Gabriel Cooney from University College Dublin, Inés Domingo-Sanz from ICREA-University of Barcelona, Ndukuyakhe Ndlovu from University of Pretoria) is inviting nominations for the award from members of WAC for presentation at WAC-10 in Darwin on June 2025. Nominations must be made on the official Nomination Form which should be sent to the chair of the Award Committee: Inés Domingo, ines.domingo@ub.edu no later than on 15st May 2025.
The recipient for the Blaze O’Connor Memorial Award will be chosen by Blaze O’Connor Memorial Award Committee for WAC-10 Darwin 2025 whose decision is final. The Committee will not enter into communication over its decision.
It will normally be expected that the recipient will be attending or wish to attend the WAC Congress. If necessary the WAC Council will seek to cover the costs of registration, travel, and accommodation for the recipient (to be discussed by WAC executive).
Yours Sincerely,
Inés Domingo-Sanz
Chair of the Blaze O’Connor Memorial Award Committee
Vice-President of WAC