The Sounds Around Us in Cities and Buildings

“We live in a world of sounds. No matter where we go, from the streets of a crowded city to the lonely peak of a snowy mountain, we will always be accompanied by a background sound, more or less intense depending on how we feel at that given moment and what we are doing.”

Simone Torresin, together with Francesco Aletta (University College London), have combined their knowledge in the acoustics and soundscape fields and written a new scientific article - just published in the journal Frontiers for Young Minds - dedicated to, reviewed from, and designed for kids and teens.

In the article, written in a very accessible yet technically and scientifically sound language, the authors explain complex concepts such as 'sound', 'noise', and 'aural diversity', by providing everyday life examples and links to audio material. The article also explains who an 'acoustics scientist' is and what he or she does, and emphasises their role in reducing noise pollution and designing cities and buildings that sound good to our ears, to improve people's health and well-being.

Simone Torresin, co-author of the article and post-doctoral researcher at Eurac Research, focuses his research on the relation between sound and building occupants and indoor soundscape methodologies. This is what he told us about the aim of this editorial work: “Trying to convey complex concepts to children and young people was a challenging but exciting experience! We hope that this small contribution can make young audiences think about the importance of the sounds that surround us and intrigue the acoustic scientists of the future!"

The article is available in full at this link