The IOA has formed an amplitude modulation (AM) working group as a sub-group of the wind turbine noise working party.

Gavin Irvine, of Ion Acoustics, is the chairman. Other members will include acousticians working for developers, local authorities and objector groups.

The IOA has today published four supplementary guidance notes (SGNs) to its Good Practice Guide to the Application of ETSU-R-97 for the Assessment and Rating of Wind Turbine Noise. The notes cover: sound power level data, wind shear, post completion measurements and noise propagation over water for on-shore wind turbines.  The Institute plans to publish the final two notes (data collection and data processing and derivation of ETSU-R-97 background curves) shortly.

Professional practice guidance on planning and noise is being prepared for planners and developers in England by the IOA, the Association of Noise Consultants and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

The move is in response to recent changes in the planning system and requests from practitioners for additional technical guidance on the management of noise within the planning system.

William Egan, a leading figure in the acoustics equipment sector, is the new President of the Institute of Acoustics.

One of William’s first tasks will be to lead the Institute’s 40th anniversary celebrations which culminate in a special two-day conference at the NEC, Birmingham on 15-16 October.

Elections are to be held to fill the three vacancies on the IOA Council. Five candidates are standing - Chris Chittock, Keith Holland, Paul Lepper, Peter Rogers and Alistair Somerville. All corporate members are eligible to vote. Voting will take place from 10 to 30 June. The results will be announced at the Institute's AGM in London on 8 July. Voting will be carried out, for the first time,  electronically via the Institute website. Those members who do not have an email address will have a postal vote. Details have been sent to all those eligible to vote (by email or post).

The IOA has accredited a new MSc degree in applied acoustics at Southampton Solent University. 

Designed to provide the skills and knowledge to work in a range of acoustics fields - including consultancy, engineering, environmental health and the built environment - this practical master’s targets the specific skills needed by industry.

The IOA has launched a new award in memory of Peter Lord, a former Institute President and founder member who died in 2012. The award will be made annually for a building, project or product that showcases outstanding and innovative acoustic design. It will be presented to the team or individual responsible for the acoustic design, and will consist of a plaque to be displayed on the winning construction or project (where possible), together with a trophy and certificate for the winning team or individual.

The IOA has published a new guide to the services provided by its members as part of the celebrations to mark its 40th anniversary this year. Entitled The Sound of Science, the 24-page booklet describes the areas covered by the Institute's nine specialist groups: building acoustics, electro-acoustics, environmental noise, measurement and instrumentation, noise and vibration engineering, musical acoustics, physical acoustics, speech and hearing, and underwater acoustics.

IOA members are being urged to respond to the Department for Education's consultation document, Acoustic design of schools: performance standards 2014.