The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) is an international scientific society that was established in 1929 with the mission of creating, distributing, and advancing the understanding of acoustics and its real-world applications. Every year the ASA announces its “Science Communication Awards in Acoustics” as a way to acknowledge outstanding presentations of acoustics-related topics to the general public. Between 1995 and 2016, this award was called the "Science Writing Award." However, in the 2010s, the ASA decided to change the name and structure of the award to reflect the inclusion of videos and other multimedia content in the submissions. This change recognizes that effective science communication can occur through various forms of media. Entries are evaluated based on their accessibility, relevance to acoustics, accuracy, and overall quality.
The selection committee for the ASA Science Communication Award reviews submissions from both ASA members and non-members. Entries can take the form of newspaper and magazine articles, videos, podcasts, books, and websites. Winners of the award receive a monetary prize and are also invited to the ASA meeting to receive their award in person.
UCL researchers of the IEDE Acoustics Group (Dr Andrew Mitchell, Dr Tin Oberman and Dr Francesco Aletta) won the 2023 award in the “Acoustic Expert Multimedia” category with their podcast “The Rest is Just Noise” (#justnoisepod). The Rest Is Just Noise is a monthly podcast exploring the relationship between sound and cities. In each episode the hosts (three soundscape researchers) are joined by an expert guest from fields such as acoustics, architecture, and environmental psychology, to discuss their latest work and introduce the audience to the science, beauty, and noise of urban sound.
The ASA panel noted:
The 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.
The #justnoisepod team will travel next year to attend the spring 2024 ASA meeting in Ottawa, Canada, where the award will be presented on 15 May 2024.
Francesco Aletta noted:
We are beyond thrilled to learn about the ASA Science Communication Award! This small podcast project started back in December 2020, at the peak of the pandemic, and was our way to stay connected to our community during difficult times.
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