A guest post by Chiara Visentin, a researcher at the University of Ferrara, Italy Background While noise sources like traffic or ventilation systems can contribute to classroom acoustics, in primary schools the dominant and most persistent sound is the students’ own activity and communication. Talking, moving, shifting chairs and desks all contribute to a highly dynamic […]
Education
Replicating Performance Venues in Virtual Reality for Performance Preparation
Guest post by Carly J. Wingfield from The School of Music, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA. Introduction Singers often adjust their vocal production based on the acoustics and visual aspects of a performance venue, which can differ greatly from the typical rehearsal space. This mismatch can lead to changes in technique and increased anxiety due […]
ENSA Architecture School in Lyon undergoes a co-design acoustic renovation with the architecture students
A sound environment co-design project renovation gives the students an applied and deep learning experience. The Architecture school was built in the 1980s, ENSA Lyon is architecturally distinctive but acoustically challenged. A prototype renovation was initiated in a 143 m² vaulted classroom to address excessive reverberation and poor speech intelligibility—critical issues in educational environments. Acoustic […]
The problems of open learning environments are not high sound levels but other disturbances caused by school activities
Study by Turku University of Applied Sciences Study overview A new study published in Building and Environment and recently presented at Forum Acousticum Euronoise 2025 in Malaga found that teaching staff were dissatisfied with open and flexible learning spaces, even though the sound levels during activities were slightly lower in open than in traditional enclosed […]
The influence of indoor temperature and noise on autistic individuals
Study overview This study explores how indoor temperature and noise affect people with autism, aiming to create more inclusive and comfortable environments. While most indoor comfort research focuses on the general population, this study highlights that autistic individuals often experience their surroundings differently due to sensory sensitivities. These differences can make standard comfort assessments, like […]
Forum Acousticum/Euronoise 2025: Let’s talk acoustics, research & real-world impact
From 23–26 June 2025, the acoustics world will gather under the Andalusian sun for Forum Acousticum / Euronoise 2025, hosted in the vibrant coastal city of Málaga, Spain. This joint congress is one of the year’s most significant events for anyone passionate about sound—its science, its design, and its profound impact on people.We’re thrilled to […]
Assessing the indoor soundscape approach among university students’ home study places
After being inspired by Amneh’s research about students experience of their study soundscapes we caught up for an interview with her and found out more about Amneh and what her broader interests are around her research. Amneh has just recently completed her PhD with TU Delft. Do all university students prefer quiet and private study […]
The Impact of Noise on the Learning of Children and Adolescents
Recent research published by Universitat Rovira i Virgili [1] presents a meta-analysis reviewing the impact of noise on the academic and cognitive performance of non-university students. This meta-analysis compiles the most important and significant findings from numerous research studies conducted worldwide and confirms what much of the educational community and many parents had suspected: noise […]
New study to investigate students’ attitudes towards sound environments at their school
Researchers in sound environment design at KTH, will conduct a pilot study on students’ attitudes towards sound environments at Gantofta School Martin Ljungdahl, postdoctoral researcher and researcher in sound environment design at KTH, Institute of Technology in Stockholm, will conduct a pilot study on sound environments at Gantofta School in Helsingborg. To find out how […]
How Sound Shapes Our Schools: Teachers’ Perceptions of School Soundscapes
Guest post by Hatice Kurukose Cal, Phd candidate, Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, UCL, UK Teachers play a key role in shaping the soundscape of a school, but how do they perceive the acoustics around them, and how does it impact their work? Our research delves into UK teachers’ perceptions of school soundscapes, exploring how […]
