Acoustical Society of America Invites Media to Sydney Meeting, Dec. 4-8 #Acoustics23

Acoustical Society of America Invites Media to Sydney Meeting, Dec. 4-8 #Acoustics2023

In-person meeting and virtual press conferences to highlight international advancements in science of sound

Media Contact:
AIP Media
301-209-3090
media@aip.org

#Acoustics23SYDNEY, Nov. 17, 2023 – The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) and the Australian Acoustical Society are co-hosting Acoustics 2023 Sydney, Dec. 4-8 at the International Convention Centre Sydney, Australia. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference. In-person sessions will be open to media thorough the week and virtual press conferences featuring a selection of newsworthy sessions will be hosted online – schedule forthcoming.

The scientific conference brings together acousticians, researchers, musicians, and more experts from around the world. While in Sydney, they will describe their work on various topics including needle-free ultrasound-enhanced vaccine delivery, automated pop song mashups, impacts of acoustic design in prisons, and auditory sensory augmentation to support table tennis games for people with vision loss. Conference highlights can be found on social media by searching the #Acoustics23 hashtag.

Reporters are invited to attend in-person (registration details below). Media are also encouraged to participate in a series of virtual press conferences featuring a selection of newsworthy topics mid-week, schedule to be announced soon. Media may register to join the press conferences virtually. Times and topics will be announced in the coming weeks, and journalists may pre-register by emailing media@aip.org.

——————— SAMPLING OF INTERESTING SESSIONS ——————–

  • 4pMU10 – An automated pop song mashup system using drum swapping
  • 1aBA3 – Investigation of spatio-temporal inertial cavitation activity for optimization of needle-free ultrasound-enhanced vaccine delivery
  • 3pAAb1 – Harmony behind bars: Unravelling the impacts of acoustic design in prisons
  • 3aPP7 – Auditory sensory augmentation to support table tennis games for people with vision loss
  • 2pBAb11 – Wearable ultrasound system for assessing muscle function during physical activity
  • 3aMU8 – Why bundengan musicians always drench their instruments prior to playing
  • 5aSCa4 – Creaky voice prevalence across Sydney

More information on these and all other meeting sessions is available via ASA’s meeting page and in the technical program:

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–

The Acoustical Society of America is joining the Australian Acoustical Society to co-host Acoustics 2023 Sydney. This collaborative event will incorporate the Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and the Pacific Rim Underwater Acoustics Conference.

Main meeting website: https://acoustics23sydney.org/
Technical program: https://eppro01.ativ.me/src/EventPilot/php/express/web/planner.php?id=ASAFALL23

ASA PRESS ROOM
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS
ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are 300 to 500 word summaries of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION
ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org.  For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY
The Australian Acoustical Society (AAS) is the peak technical society for individuals working in acoustics in Australia. The AAS aims to promote and advance the science and practice of acoustics in all its branches to the wider community and provide support to acousticians. Its diverse membership is made up from academia, consultancies, industry, equipment manufacturers and retailers, and all levels of Government. The Society supports research and provides regular forums for those who practice or study acoustics across a wide range of fields The principal activities of the Society are technical meetings held by each State Division, annual conferences which are held by the State Divisions and the ASNZ in rotation, and publication of the journal; Acoustics Australia https://www.acoustics.org.au/.

Hard-of-Hearing Music Fans Prefer a Different Sound

Hard-of-Hearing Music Fans Prefer a Different Sound

Modern music can be inaccessible to those with hearing loss; sound mixing tweaks could make a difference.

Listeners with hearing loss can struggle to make out vocals and certain frequencies in modern music. Credit: Aravindan Joseph Benjamin

WASHINGTON, August 22, 2023 – Millions of people around the world experience some form of hearing loss, resulting in negative impacts to their health and quality of life. Treatments exist in the form of hearing aids and cochlear implants, but these assistive devices cannot replace the full functionality of human hearing and remain inaccessible for most people. Auditory experiences, such as speech and music…click to read more

From: The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Article: Exploring level- and spectrum-based music mixing transforms for hearing-impaired listeners
DOI: 10.1121/10.0020269

Acoustical Society of America Announces Winners of Science Communication Awards

Acoustical Society of America Announces Winners of Science Communication Awards

Acoustical Society of America (ASA) LogoMelville, June 28, 2023 – The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is pleased to announce the winners of the Science Communication Awards, recognizing excellence in the presentation of acoustics related topics to a popular audience.

Each non-ASA member award includes a $2,500 cash prize and a $1,000 reimbursement to attend the awards ceremony at the 186th ASA Meeting taking place in Ottawa, Canada, 13-17 May 2024. Each ASA member award includes a $1,000 cash prize. The winners of the 2023 ASA Science Communication Awards are as follows:

Non-acoustic Expert Multimedia Winner
In the SciShow episode, “5 Places with Amazing Acoustics from Thousands of Years Ago,” show host Hank Green captivates the audience with insightful exploration of acoustics in historical settings. Viewers are transported to ancient venues renowned for their exceptional soundscapes and learn about what acoustic phenomena are taking place. Through engaging storytelling and accessible explanations, this SciShow episode brings the wonders of acoustics to life, inspiring viewers to appreciate the acoustic marvels of the past.

Honorable mentions in this category go to Bartosz Ciechenowski’s interactive science blog, Sound and the Short Wave podcast episode, Experience The Quietest Place On Earth, hosted by Margaret Cirino, Regina G. Barber, and Gabriel Spitzer.

Acoustic Expert Multimedia Winner
The Rest is Just Noise Podcast stands out as a remarkable audio journey into the realm of acoustics. With deep knowledge and captivating storytelling, co-hosts Dr. Andrew Mitchell, Dr. Francesco Aletta, and Dr. Tin Oberman explore various acoustical phenomena and their impact on our lives. Through interviews with experts and immersive soundscapes, this podcast educates and entertains listeners, creating a space where the beauty and significance of acoustics are celebrated.

Honorable mentions go to the Listen Lab video, What should Ant-Man’s voice sound like when he changes size?, created by Matthew Winn and the documentary, Fathom, directed by Drew Xanthopoulos and featuring Ellen Garland and Michelle Fournet.

Long Form Print Winner
David George Haskell’s Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolution’s Creativity, and The Crisis of Sensory Extinction emerges as a thought-provoking exploration of the intricate relationship between sound, nature, and human existence. Haskell masterfully weaves together scientific research, personal anecdotes, and philosophical reflections to highlight the urgency of preserving our sonic ecosystems. With eloquence and depth, this book challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with sound and the natural world.

Honorable mentions go to Karen Bakker’s The Sounds of Life: How Digital Technology Is Bringing Us Closer to the Worlds of Animals and Plants and Nina Kraus’ Of Sound Mind, How Our Brain Constructs a Meaningful Sonic World.

Short Form Print Winner
Ute Eberle’s captivating Knowable Magazine article, “Life in the Soil Was Thought to Be Silent. What If It Isn’t?,” shines a light on the often-overlooked acoustic richness beneath our feet. Eberle’s insightful exploration uncovers the hidden symphony of the soil, revealing the vital role sound plays in the ecosystem. Through her meticulous research and engaging prose, Eberle challenges preconceptions, opening a new realm of wonder and discovery.

Honorable mentions go to the Scientific American article, What Birds Really Listen for in Birdsong (It’s Not What You Think) by Adam Fishbein and Speaking in whistles by Bob Holmes, another Knowable Magazine article.

The 2023 award cycle reviewed content created between 2021 and 2022. A total of 73 nominations were received for the ASA Science Communication Awards, showcasing the breadth and depth of acoustics communication endeavors. The ASA extends its congratulations to the winners and honorable mentions for their exceptional contributions to acoustics communication. These projects have successfully bridged the gap between complex scientific concepts and the public, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation for the fascinating world of acoustics. The next award cycle will review content created between 2023 and 2024, with the call for nominations in the spring of 2025.

———————– MORE INFORMATION ———————–
ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its worldwide membership represents a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

High school students win special awards for acoustics science projects

High school students win special awards for acoustics science projects

The Acoustical Society of America presented four special awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2023

Melville, May 19, 2023 – The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) announced that four projects are the winners of the ASA Special Awards presented at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (Regeneron ISEF). The top three finalists have been awarded cash prizes for their research and all four project finalists are invited to attend an ASA Meeting.

Shodai Tanaka of Sapporo Kaisei Secondary School located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan was awarded the ASA First Award of $1,500 for the project titled “A Mathematical Study About the Sustaining Phenomenon of Overtone in Flageolet Harmonics on Bowed String Instruments,” In addition, their school will be awarded $200, and their mentor will be awarded $500.

Anton Bulancea of Alexandr Pushkin Lyceum located in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, was awarded the ASA Second Award of $1,000 for the project tilted “Developing a New Acoustic Levitation Platform Design for Non-Contact Handling in Electronics Assembly,” In addition, their school will be awarded $100, and their mentor will be awarded $250.

Michelle Hua of Cranbrook Kingswood School located in Troy, MI, USA, was awarded the ASA Third Award of $600 for the project tilted “3D Acoustic Simulation and Optimization Algorithms for Transcranial Focused Ultrasound Delivered With Robotic Systems,” In addition, their Mentor will be awarded $150.

The ASA Honorable Mention went to Anu Iyer of Little Rock Central High School located in Little Rock, AR, USA for the project titled “VAST (Voice and Spiral Tool): A Novel Multimodal Machine Learning Method To Detect Parkinson’s Disease and Assess Severity.”

To read the project abstracts, visit https://exploresound.org/isef-asa-winners/

Shodai, Anton, Michelle, and Anu were finalists in at Regeneron ISEF, the world’s largest international pre-college STEM research competition. Owned and produced by the Society for Science, Regeneron ISEF provides a platform for the best and brightest young scientists to showcase their science, technology, engineering or math research. This year, more than 1,600 finalists from 64 countries, regions and territories competed for more than $9 million in awards and scholarships.

The ASA has participated at ISEF since 1978 to promote acoustics and recognize the accomplishments of high-school students. ASA’s long-time participation in Regeneron ISEF recognizes the importance of promoting STEM education and generating interest in acoustics among all students. This year, the ASA judging team was led by Peter Assmann (University of Texas at Dallas) and included Christopher Ainley (Wrightson, Johnson, Haddon & Williams, Inc.), Satwik Dutta (University of Texas at Dallas), Nursadul Mamun (University of Texas at Dallas), and Abbey Thomas (University of Texas at Dallas). The Society looks forward to seeing future accomplishments from the many talented youth who participated in the Regeneron ISEF!

———————– MORE INFORMATION ———————–
ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its worldwide membership represents a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

Solar-Powered Balloons Detect Mysterious Sounds in the Stratosphere #ASA184

Solar-Powered Balloons Detect Mysterious Sounds in the Stratosphere #ASA184

Inexpensive and easy to build, data collecting balloons capture low-frequency sound in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Media Contact:
Ashley Piccone
AIP Media
301-209-3090
media@aip.org

CHICAGO, May 11, 2023 – Imagine if sending your science experiment 70,000 ft in the air just took painter’s plastic, tape, a dash of charcoal dust, and plenty of sunlight.

Inflating a solar hot air balloon with an infrasound microbarometer payload. Photo credits: Darielle Dexheimer, Sandia National Laboratories.

Daniel Bowman of Sandia National Laboratories will present his findings using solar-powered hot air balloons to eavesdrop on stratospheric sounds at the upcoming 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, running May 8-12 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Hotel. His presentation will take place Thursday, May 11, at 2:50 p.m. Eastern U.S. in the Purdue/Wisconsin room at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Hotel.

The stratosphere is a relatively calm layer of Earth’s atmosphere. Rarely disturbed by planes or turbulence, microphones in the stratosphere pick up a variety of sounds unheard anywhere else. This includes natural sounds from colliding ocean waves and thunder, human-created sounds like wind turbines or explosions, and even sounds with unknown origins.

To reach the stratosphere, Bowman and his collaborators build balloons that span 6 to 7 meters across. Despite their large size and data collection capability, the balloons are relatively simple.

“Our balloons are basically giant plastic bags with some charcoal dust on the inside to make them dark. We build them using painter’s plastic from the hardware store, shipping tape, and charcoal powder from pyrotechnic supply stores.  When the sun shines on the dark balloons, the air inside heats up and becomes buoyant. This passive solar power is enough to bring the balloons from the surface to over 20 km (66,000 ft) in the sky,” said Bowman. “Each balloon only needs about $50 worth of materials and can be built in a basketball court.”

The researchers collect data and detect low-frequency sound with microbarometers, which were originally designed to monitor volcanoes. After releasing the balloons, they track their routes using GPS – a necessary task since the balloons sometimes sail for hundreds of miles and land in hard-to-reach places. But, because the balloons are inexpensive and easy to construct and launch, they can release a lot of balloons and collect more data.

Along with the expected human and environmental sounds, Bowman and his team detected something they are not able to identify.

“[In the stratosphere,] there are mysterious infrasound signals that occur a few times per hour on some flights, but the source of these is completely unknown,” said Bowman.

Solar-powered balloons could also help explore other planets, such as observing Venus’ seismic and volcanic activity through its thick atmosphere.

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–
Main meeting website: https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/
Technical program: https://eppro02.ativ.me/web/planner.php?id=ASASPRING23&proof=true

ASA PRESS ROOM
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS
ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are 300 to 500 word summaries of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION
ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org.  For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.

Fire Hydrant Hydrophones Find Water Leaks #ASA184

Fire Hydrant Hydrophones Find Water Leaks #ASA184

Locating leaks in water distribution networks is made easier with hydrant-mounted hydrophones and advanced algorithms.

Media Contact:
Ashley Piccone
AIP Media
301-209-3090
media@aip.org

CHICAGO, May 11, 2023 – Access to clean drinking water is essential for healthy communities, but delivering that water is growing increasingly difficult for many utilities. Corroding pipes and land shifts in aging water distribution networks can create frequent leaks, wasting water before it ever gets to the tap. Utilities in the U.S. lose about 6 billion gallons of water a day — enough to fill 9,000 swimming pools — due to leaks, in addition to wasted energy and resources spent in collecting and treating that water.

An overview of the methodology utilized for leak identification consisting of collecting acoustic data, extracting relevant features, and employing advanced machine learning and probabilistic models for leak detection and localization. Credit: Pranav Agrawal

Pranav Agrawal and Sriram Narasimhan from the University of California, Los Angeles will discuss an innovative acoustic solution to identify and track leaks in water distribution networks in their talk, “Maximum likelihood estimation for leak localization in water distribution networks using in-pipe acoustic sensing.” The presentation will take place Thursday, May 11, at 12:25 p.m. Eastern U.S. in the Purdue/Wisconsin room, as part of the 184th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America running May 8-12 at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Hotel.

Detecting a leak in a single straight pipe is not a challenge, but large urban networks can be a grid of hundreds or thousands of pipes, and precisely locating a leak is no easy task. Acoustic monitoring is the go-to solution, as the sounds from leaks are unique and travel far in water, but even this method struggles in complex pipe networks.

“Localization of the leak is complex as it involves factors like hydrophone density, the frequency bandwidth of the leak sound, and material properties of the pipe,” said Agrawal. “It is impractical to have highly dense sensing that can localize leaks at any location in the network.”

To tackle the problem, the researchers developed algorithms that operate on acoustic signals collected via hydrophones mounted on the most accessible parts of the pipe network: fire hydrants.

“We have developed algorithms which operate on acoustic data collected from state-of-the-art monitoring devices mounted on fire hydrants and ‘listen’ to the sound produced by leaks inside the water column,” said Agrawal. “This device is now commercially available through Digital Water Solutions and has been deployed in various locations in Canada and the U.S., including in ongoing demonstration trials at the Naval Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center, Ventura County in California.”

Attaching their sensors to fire hydrants means the team can avoid costly excavation and reposition the devices as needed. Combined with novel probabilistic and machine-learning techniques to analyze the signals and pinpoint leaks, this technology could support water conservation efforts, especially in the Western U.S, where this is direly needed.

Reference in this release to the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering and Expeditionary Warfare Center (NAVFAC-EXWC) does not imply endorsement of an individual contractor or solution by NAVFAC-EXWC, the U.S. Navy, or the U.S. Department of Defense.

———————– MORE MEETING INFORMATION ———————–
Main meeting website: https://acousticalsociety.org/asa-meetings/
Technical program: https://eppro02.ativ.me/web/planner.php?id=ASASPRING23&proof=true

ASA PRESS ROOM
In the coming weeks, ASA’s Press Room will be updated with newsworthy stories and the press conference schedule at https://acoustics.org/asa-press-room/.

LAY LANGUAGE PAPERS
ASA will also share dozens of lay language papers about topics covered at the conference. Lay language papers are 300 to 500 word summaries of presentations written by scientists for a general audience. They will be accompanied by photos, audio, and video. Learn more at https://acoustics.org/lay-language-papers/.

PRESS REGISTRATION
ASA will grant free registration to credentialed and professional freelance journalists. If you are a reporter and would like to attend the meeting or virtual press conferences, contact AIP Media Services at media@aip.org.  For urgent requests, AIP staff can also help with setting up interviews and obtaining images, sound clips, or background information.

ABOUT THE ACOUSTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is the premier international scientific society in acoustics devoted to the science and technology of sound. Its 7,000 members worldwide represent a broad spectrum of the study of acoustics. ASA publications include The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America (the world’s leading journal on acoustics), JASA Express Letters, Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Acoustics Today magazine, books, and standards on acoustics. The society also holds two major scientific meetings each year. See https://acousticalsociety.org/.