By Vicky Wills
Associate Acoustic Consultant, Atkins
I am an acoustic consultant and I think sound is really interesting, even after twenty years in the industry. What I think is really brilliant about sound is that it is responsible for some of the most magical and memorable moments of our lives such as listening to our favourite song being played live, dancing at a wedding, the ambience of a sporting event or watching a film at the cinema. But it can also have a negative response. Sound when unwanted, and we call it noise, can disturb sleep, affect concentration, be annoying and can even lead to health issues and hearing loss.
None of what I have just said is a surprise to anyone, but still people are often surprised to hear that there are jobs in acoustics, sound, noise and vibration. Acousticians are often responsible for improving sound, whether this is making sure that announcements at railway stations can be heard, improving the acoustics of large events, theatres and cinemas or reducing noise from roads in people’s homes, gardens and community spaces.
The Institute of Acoustics has been running an annual Secondary Schools Competition since 2021, to provide an opportunity for young people to discover more about acoustics and the fantastic career opportunities available to them. A video of the winning entry from 2021 is here (Secondary Schools’ Soundscape Competition 2021 Winning Entry - YouTube).
Previous competitions have included an exploration of soundscapes and sound measurement, and the judges have been very impressed by the level of work that has been achieved by the students.
This year’s competition is now open and is all about the connection between acoustics and ecology and involves using an app to find out which birds are in an area. How does sound affect birds? Do the same birds live in quiet green areas that live next to busy roads? What are the limitations of the technology? How do birds respond to sound at different times of the day?
It is brilliant to be able to combine acoustics and ecology in this way as, just like us, animals can’t close their ears, and sound in their environment plays in part in how they find their family and where they choose to live.
This competition can entered by small groups of up to 3 students aged between 11 and 16 years of age, from the same school. The deadline is the 31st July and the prize is £25 for the students and £500 for the school, along with an engraved crystal trophy to collect at the John Connell Awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament in October.
To find out more about the competition, please look on the IOA website https://www.ioa.org.uk/sites/default/files/the_connection_between_acoustics_ecology_schools_competition_2023.pdf
Please share with the schools and young people in your life.
