On the afternoon of October 29th, 2013  Sandra Sardjono , a PhD student at LeidenUniversity Institute for Area Studies gave a lecture titled, "Batik as Markers of Identity" at the CNSM Educational Center.

Her prior experience includes formerAssistant Curator of the Costume and Textiles Department at the Los AngelesCounty Museum of Art, California and Textile Conservator at the Cooper-HewittNational Design Museum in New York.

She specializes in the "materialculture of textiles and the art history of Southeast Asia, particularlyIndonesia." After attending CNSM's Maritime Silk Road Symposium, SandraSordjono extended her stay to present an engaging lecture about the symbolismand history of batik in Java and the effects of "Indo-European"culture on design and identity. (Sarah Chu)