International Year of Sound 2020+: Final Report Published

Sound touches every aspect of our lives. This was the guiding idea behind the International Year of Sound 2020+ – a global initiative of the International Commission for Acoustics (ICA) aimed at raising awareness of the importance of sound for people, the environment and society.

Sound shapes almost every aspect of our lives: it enables speech and communication, is an expression of culture and music, and plays an important role in health and well-being. At the same time, noise and unwanted sounds can pose risks to human health. Acoustics also offers a wide range of applications in medicine, environmental sciences and natural sciences – from ultrasound diagnostics to monitoring ecosystems through their soundscapes.

Together with international acoustical societies and other partners, the ICA brought science, education and the wider public together. More than 150 events took place in 31 countries across all continents. These ranged from scientific conferences and online seminars to noise awareness activities and a wide variety of educational initiatives.

A particular focus was placed on introducing young people to acoustics. Through an international student competition, more than 15,000 students from 16 countries explored sound and acoustics creatively.

The HEAD-Genuit-Stiftung supported educational activities within the initiative, including the student competition, helping to make acoustics accessible and engaging for young people.

The newly published final report documents the initiative’s wide range of activities and achievements. It also highlights how the educational and informational resources developed as part of the initiative continue to have an impact beyond its original timeframe.

The final report is available online: https://www.icacommission.org/what-we-do/international-year-of-sound-2020/international-year-of-sound-final-report/