IOA announces new Award for Promoting Acoustics to the Public
Whale and dolphin feeding, river flows, foetal care and space exploration may not automatically spring to mind as issues concerning acoustics. Heathrow’s Terminal Five, traffic calming systems, noise from pubs, clubs, music and transport might seem to be more obvious. But the subject of acoustics covers an amazing breadth of issues which is still relatively unrecognised by the general public.
With noise increasingly on the public agenda and to encourage activity to create a greater awareness of the importance of acoustics outside the acoustics fraternity, the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) is delighted to announce a new Award for Promoting Acoustics to the Public.
This new Award has been created to recognise a single piece of outstanding work over the previous year, or in respect of sustained long-term activity. The term ‘public’ is intended to be interpreted widely as people without acoustical expertise. The work should have benefited the public in the British Isles. Examples of work would include:
• Writing articles for the non-acoustical press
• Authoring web pages
• Demonstrations and lectures
• Work with schools to promote acoustics
• Media work on TV or radio
• Exhibitions.
Roy Bratby, Chief Executive of the Institute of Acoustics, says “Most of us can benefit from a greater awareness of acoustics amongst schoolchildren or students, the general public, public bodies, legislators and industry. Promoting acoustics can help encourage more people to study and follow careers in acoustics. It can also help prevent acoustics being treated as a “Cinderella” subject by industry and legislators.”
The closing date for nominations is 31 May 2005. Nominations may be made by third parties or by the individual concerned and should be addressed to the President of the Institute of Acoustics at 77A St. Peter’s Sreet, St. Albans, AL1 3BN. The individual nominated need not be a member of the Institute. Nominations forms can be downloaded from the IOA website at http://www.ioa.org.uk/medals.asp
Informal enquiries about the award can be made to the chair of the judging panel Prof. Trevor Cox (t.j.cox@salford.ac.uk) or contact Judy Edrich, Publicity & Information Manager at the Institute of Acoustics at judy.edrich@ioa.org.uk.