Lottie Doll Tour 2024

 

In 2023 we sent Lottie to several of our members and they took pictures and made videos of the doll doing work experience in their workplace. We collected the pictures from Lottie’s adventures, and through a series of compilation videos we showed that she was learning about the wide variety of careers in acoustics. The Lottie Tour continued in 2024, with even more companies participating and sharing their experiences. Numerous organisations posted updates on social media, showcasing what Lottie got up to at their workplace and out on site or at events. The companies that posted included AECOM, Anderson Acoustics, AtkinsRéalis, CDM Stravitec, Christie & Grey, Create Consulting Engineers, HA Acoustics, Hann Tucker, Hoare Lea, L-Acoustics, Napier University, New Acoustics, RBA Acoustics, Sandy Brown, Stantec, Sustainable Acoustics, Vanguardia, UKHSA and WSP.

 

In 2024, the IOA took the initiative further by creating four engaging stop-motion animations featuring Lottie. These animations, designed to spark interest in careers in acoustics, creatively illustrate aspects of the field, from environmental noise control to architectural acoustics.

 

1. Types of Noise: This video showed the dolls being affected by noise from transportation, workplaces and nightclubs. It received 10 reposts and more than 550 views on LinkedIn. It had five reposts and more than 700 views on X. Additionally, Instagram had 145 views, TikTok 229 views and Facebook 102 views. See the video here: https://tinyurl.com/Lottietypesofnoise

 

2. Tackling Harmful Noise: This video featured the dolls discussing noise and its health effects. It garnered over 400 views and four reposts on LinkedIn. It had over 400 views on X and four reposts. Additionally, Instagram had 69 views, TikTok 219 views and Facebook 56 views. See the video here: https://tinyurl.com/Lottieharmfulnoise

 

3. Standards in Controlling Noise: Focusing on different types of noise and what acousticians can do to help mitigate unwanted noise, this video was viewed almost 150 times and reposted once on LinkedIn, with almost 400 views and three reposts on X. Additionally, Instagram had 76 views, TikTok 216 views and Facebook 59 views. See the video here: https://tinyurl.com/Lottiecontrollingnois

 

4. Underwater Sound: This video highlighted how sound acts differently in water and its impact on wildlife, as well as applications of underwater acoustics. It was viewed more than 250 times and reposted five times on LinkedIn. It was viewed more than 500 times on X and reposted three times. Additionally, Instagram had 132 views, TikTok 223 views and Facebook 54 views. See the video here: https://tinyurl.com/Lottieunderwatersound

 

All four videos linked back to careers in acoustics, emphasising the exciting opportunities in this field. The videos will be reused for the 2025 campaign and will become part of the content for the new public section of the IOA website, which is likely to be launched in 2026. We are incredibly proud of how the industry has come together to promote this initiative and, along with the other work that the IOA is doing on STEM, we hope we are paving the way for the next generation of acousticians.

 

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week is a national campaign run by Engineering UK to increase the diversity and number of young people entering engineering careers. (https://www.tomorrowsengineers.org.uk/)