IOA Students to Present to London Branch

On the 16th January 2019 three former London South Bank U'niversity IOA Diploma students, Class of 2018, will present their dissertations to London Branch, hosted by WSP in Chancery Lane. We look forward to presentations from Kim, Jon and Jason on Overheating, Impulsive sound sources and Auralisation.

Summing up Acoustics 2018

We thank you for all your support over 2018. The year started well with PhD candidate Nick Durup successfully defending his doctoral thesis. In January Eric Ballestero joined us as a PhD student funded by the Royal Opera House. Three papers were published on feathers, sound field amplification in classrooms and noise from hydrogen explosions, as well as ten conference papers delivered at London, Cardiff, Crete, Hiroshima, Chicago, Hamburg and Bristol. More students won awards including Jamie Spary and Carl Ruegger winning the Acoustical Society of America Newman medal, and Jamie Spary again winning the RBA  Acoustics Prize. Links were again strengthened with the Institute of Acoustics with Dr Dance taking over as Chair of the Musical Acoustics Group. In addition Diploma and MSc students presented at London Branch meetings. The UK Acoustics Network was progressed with three meetings held in LSBU. Two new visiting positions were formalised for Prof. Peter Mapp, and Dr Bob Peters. Finally, 30 students were enrolled on our postgraduate courses this autumn. We wish them luck with their respective courses. Best wishes for 2019 from the Acoustics Group when we plan to start our new Apprenticeship programme

Testing a New Recital Hall

On the 18th December 2018, PhD Candidate Doug Shearer and Masters student Paula Menin went to measure the room acoustics of a new recital hall. The Acoustics Group were asked to assess the acoustics. During a busy afternoon a complete set of measurements were undertaken in this beautiful hall.

PhD students at the First EAA Winter School

The European Acoustics Association held their first ever "Winter School on Computational Acoustics". University of Le Mans hosted the event over 5 days 10-14th December 2018. The Acoustics Group was well represented with two PhD candidates in attendance: Doug Shearer and Eric Ballestero. The meeting was supported by the Young Acousticians Network, the UK Acoustics Network, the French Acoustical Society (SFA), LUAM and CNRS. They learnt a lot of maths and coding, plus had wine with lunch!

Merry Christmas to our Students

The Acoustics students came together for the annual Christmas party to celebrate the end of a most successful year. We'd like to thank all the students for joining the courses. We hope you had fun, made new friends, randomly enjoyed Venice, and most importantly learnt something about sound and vibration!

IoEE Christmas Dinner 2018

On the 10th December 2018 the annual Institute of Environmental Engineering held their annual Christmas dinner. IoEE was the former name of the Building Service and Acoustics Group and was lost when the Polytechnic became a University in 1992. As ever they are still active organising the CIBSE Technical Symposium for 2019, the Building Services Engineering Research and Technology journal, and the updating of CIBSE Guide A and B. We wish them all well and continue to support their active retirement!

Presentation at Reproduced Sound on new VR Plugin

The Institute of Acoustics Reproduced Sound conference held their annual meetin in Bristol, UK between 24-26 November 2018. At the meeting |Daniel Castro presented a joint paper with PhD candidate Eric Ballestero entitled, “Walk through auralisation framework for virtual reality sceneries powered by game engine architectures”. This was later demonstrated to our Masters students inn class!

Two more abstracts for Inter-Noise 2019

Two more abstracts have been submitted to Inter-Noise 2019, to be held in Madrid 16-19 June. The first paper is on the Acoustics Group work on low frequency absorbers and is entitled, "Henry Wood Hall: The creation of a flexible acoustic using Airbeds". This will be presented by PhD candidate Doug Shearer. The second paper is by Eric Ballestero and Luis Gomez-Agustina and is entitled, "Aesthetics of Sound - In praise of singularity in acoustics". We hope to see you in sunny Madrid!

PhD student attends Symposium on Metamaterials

Thanks to an EU COST Action funding a Symposium on Metamaterials, DeNorms, was held between 7-9th November in Xativa, Spain. PhD candidate Eric Ballestero was amongst the 64 attendees who took part in an intensive programme. Eric discussed his research and the work of the Acoustics Group.

On the 14th November 2018 the students from West London University visited the Acoustics Lab. The broadcasters were entertained and informed by Dr Stephen Dance over 2 hours to illustrate acoustic principles. Thanks goes to Sue Bowerman for bring her students over to experience total silence!

New wireless sound level meter

For educational purposes a ASV iSV1101 wireless digital microphone kit has been purchased. This is the first Wifi enabled class 1 sound level meter. It will be used by young people as part of the UK Acoustics Network outreach programme in combination with an Apple smartphone.

New Educational Impulse Sound Sources

For educational purposes three new Larson Davis BAS006 Impulsive Noise Exciter has been purchased. They will be used as part of an education suite of equipment to demonstrate acoustics to young people to raise awareness of acoustics as part of the UK Acoustics Network programme,

London South Bank University wins Big at Advance HE Event

On the 7th November 2018 at the Advance HE awards London South Bank University won 3 National Teaching  Fellowships, the maximum possible, as well as a Collaborative Award for Teaching Education.  This year there were 54 winners from across the home nations. The winners were Gil Foster, Head of Performance and Drama, Professor Patrick Callaghan, Dean of Applied Science, and Dr Stephen Dance, Associate Professor of Acoustics. There were 15 team awards, London South Bank University won for embedding enterprise into student learning. Deputy Vice Chancellor Shan Wareing, a former NTF winner, warmly congratulated everyone on their achievement!

Stephen Dance awarded a National Teaching Fellowship

Dr Stephen Dance received the Advance HE National Teaching Fellowship at the Hub in Edinburgh on the 7th November 2018. His award was for applied teaching to enhance learning for students. It was a fantastic evening of fun and networking.

Advance HE Networking Event

On the 7th November 2018 Dr Stephen Dance was invited to the Advance HE, formerly the Higher Education Academy, Networking event for National Teaching Fellows.  The event was held in Waldolf Astoria In Edinburgh where the 54 winners gathered to discuss how Advance HE could act as an independent advocate for the Higher Education sector. Universities need one voice!

Paper published in JASA on Assisted Listening

The Acoustical Society of America (ASA) was pleased to inform us that our article, "Potential audibility of ultrasonic signal monitoring of Public Address and Life Safety Sound Systems," has been published online in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of Amer (Vol.144, No.4).

URL:  https://doi.org/10.1121/1.5063993

DOI: 10.1121/1.5063993

Well done Peter!

#Explore Acoustics Videos Uploaded

The Association of Noise Consultants is running a campaign to raise the profile of acoustics to potential students of the subject. The Acoustics Group of London South Bank University have been part of this campaign #exploreAcoustics. Videos have been shot of Dr Stephen Dance, and PhD candidates Rodrigo Sanchez-Perez, and Eric Ballestero. Thanks for your help and enjoy the show!

PhD thesis to be examined

Dr Dance has been invited to exam the doctoral thesis of Alan Taylor of Salford University. His PhD thesis is on the effects of centrifugal blower on organ pipe flutter. This musical acoustics thesis should be an interesting one to examine!

Article accepted in prestigious journal

An article on the potential consequences to personnel from ignition of small containers filled with hydrogen, has been accepted for publication in the prestigious International Journal of Hydrogen Energy  and is now free to download via  http://researchopen.lsbu.ac.uk/2518/ .

The research work has been the fruit of a successful collaboration between LSBU Fire and Explosion research group and Dr Luis Gomez-Agustina of the LBSU Acoustic group.

The investigation concluded that injuries arising from shock loading or burns to the skin are less likely than hearing damage. It is suggested that further work should focus on the noise exposure and hearing damage effects of small scale explosions. We hope you enjoy the read.

Acoustics Group at Institute of Acoustics Meeting, Edinburgh

A one day Institute of Acoustics meeting was held at Edinburgh University on the 24th October 2018. The meeting was on music instruments and performance spaces. The Acoustics Group from London South Bank University were out in force enjoying the unusual combination of science and music with many musical demonstrations. Dr Stephen Dance was then voted in to Chair the Musical Group for the next 3 years which he hope will be sponsored by the UK Acoustics Network, as was this event with a record 46 delegates in attendance.

Masters student presents and plays to IoA Musical Acoustics delegates

Masters student Dhruvit Zaveri presented his MSc thesis at the Institute of Acoustics Musical Acoustics meeting at St Cecilia's Hall, Edinburgh. Dhruvit then performed his own composition on the Yaybahar to the 46 delegates in attendance. They were intrigued by its sound and engrossed in the performance as well as the science!

PhD Candidate presents at IoA Musical Acoustics meeting

On 24th October 2018 PhD candidate Doug Shearer presented some of his research at this year's Institute of Acoustics Musical Acoustics Group meeting held at the University of Edinburgh. His presentation was entitled, "Henry Wood Hall - An improved acoustic using airbeds", to a packed audience. The idea of solving low frequency boom using airbeds generated much interest!

New recruits on the Institute of Acoustics Diploma

IOA DIPLOMA AT LSBU 2018-19. The 2018-19 academic year of the IOA Diploma at LSBU started on a sunny day on 27 Sept 2018. Sixteen keen new students have joined us for a year or learning and discovery of acoustics. Student backgrounds range from Music tech, Environmental Science,Theoretical  physics, Computer science to other branches of engineering. We wish them all the best in the year ahead and beyond

Eric presents a IOA Auditorium Acoustics, Hamburg

On the 5th October 2018 PhD Candidate Eric Ballestero presented at the Institute of Acoustics Biannual Auditorium Acoustics meeting. The conference was hosted by the new Elbphilharmonie Concert Hall in Hamburg. Eric presented his paper on Acoustic conditions in Orchestra Pits: Are Metadiffusers the answer? We hope he and Doug enjoyed Germany!

Dr Dance presents to the Rumford Club

On the 4th October 2018 Dr Stephen Dance of the Acoustics Group of London South Bank University gave an invited presentation to the Rumford Club at the National Library Club, Whitehall, as a last minute replacement for Lord Redesdale, the club Patron. Stephen presented on wind turbines in the urban environment and energy, answered mainly questions, comments and queries. 

New Masters Students for 2018/19

On the 27th September 2018 the raw recruits on to the Masters programme in Environmental and Architectural Acoustics started their studies at London South Bank University. We wish them all well in their endeavours and hope they learn something useful!

PhD Student Nick Durup Gaduates

On the 1st October 2018 Dr Nick Durup formally graduated from London South Bank University. He was supervised Professor Bridget Shield and Dr Stephen Dance. He was Bridget's last PhD student. We wish Nick well in his future career!

Abstract submitted to Inter-Noise 2019

An abstract has been submitted by Dr Stephen Dance of the Acoustics Group, London South Bank University for Inter-Noise 2019. The paper is entitled, "Sound absorption of non woven air laid feather mats", and is a collaboration with Imperial College, London. Next year Inter-Noise will be hosted by Madrid, June 16-19th. Hope to see you there!

Graduation 2019

On the 1st October 2018 at the Royal Festival Hall, Central London, 15 Masters students graduated! I wish them all well in their new careers! Cheers!

Dr Dance to present to the Rumford Club

Dr Stephen Dance is the invited speaker at the after dinner club, the Rumford Club, set up to discuss and debate the built environment. This year debate will be around urban wind turbines and their place in the energy mix. The dinner is held at the National Liberal Club in Whitehall, London on the 4th October 2018 at 7pm!

Uk/European Hearing Conservation Association Founders Meeting

On the 26th September 2018 the Founders' meeting of the UK/European Hearing Conversation Association was held at Starkey Hearing Technologies in Stockport, England. Dr Stephen Dance of the Acoustics Group, London South Bank University was invited by organiser Clare Forshaw. He gave a talk on musicians' hearing at the launch event! 

Abstract submitted to Reproduced Sound 2018

Twos abstracts were submitted by PhD candidate Eric Ballestero and by Peter Mapp of the Acoustics Group, London South Bank University for the Institute of Acoustics Annual Reproduced Sound conference Putting Sound in it's Place. This electro-acoustic 3 day conference will be held in Bristol 27-29 November 2018 at the Bristol Hotel. Eric wrote a joint paper with Daniel Castro on the new Virtual Reality plugin for auralisation. Peter working with the University of Derby worked on intelligibility and audience density.

New Virtual Reality plugin for sound developed

On the 8th September 2018 a demonstrate video of a newly developed Acoustics Virtual Reality plugin was uploaded by Daniel Castro of Wood & Grieves Engineers of Australia and PhD candidate Eric Ballestero from the Acoustics Group, London South Bank @university. The auralised voice in various rooms clearly demonstrate the marketing potential of the Virtual Reality plugin!

Student Paper published in Acoustics Bulletin

In the new issue of the Institute of Acoustics Acoustics Bulletin Sept/October 2018 former IOA Diploma and Masters student Paul Forster has written a paper based on his MSc thesis. The paper is entitled, "Investigating Novel Solution for Natural Ventilation- Passive Ventilation and Metamaterials".  It's on pages 50-58. It's a very new idea!

New London South Bank University Research Brochure

London South Bank University has published their research brochure for 2018 focusing on industry lead applied research collaborations Fourteen case studies are included one of which is on the work of the Acoustics Group with various World leading organisations involved in classic music. Dr Stephen Dance is working with: the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Opera House, Henry Wood Hall, BBC Singers, and London Philharmonic Orchestra and is hoping to publish the work later this year..

Paper on the Acoustics of Feathers Published

Heliyon, Elsevier on-line journal, recently published our paper on, "Novel sound absorption materials from air laid non woven feather fibres". The paper was written as a joint effort  with Imperial College, London and Dr Stephen Dance of the Acoustics Group of London South Bank University.

Dr Aygun presents at Material Acoustics Workshop

On the 20th September 2018 Dr Ayhun gave a talk on porous materials and their acoustical properties at the UKAN sponsored Acoustic Materials and Metamaterials Workshop. The meeting was organised by the Institute of Acoustics Physical Acoustics Group and held in Birmingham.

The 4000th Royal Academy of Music Student Tested

For the 12th year Dr Stephen Dance of London South Bank University has tested the hearing of the of students from the Royal Academy of Music. He predicted that the 4000th student will have their hearing tested this year. In addition, we also tested our first blind student and his beautiful dog!

Music and Hearing Seminar given to the Royal Academy of Music

On the 6/7th September 2018 Dr Stephen Dance was invited for the 12th year to present his research on Musician's Hearing and the Sound of Performance. This year he gave a series of 4 lectures to the Royal Academy of Music students in the brand new award winning Angela Burgess Recital Hall. Here's the lucky 13!

MSc student performs at the Royal Academy of Music

On the 7th September MSc student Dhruvit Zaveri performed his own composition at the Royal Academy of Music. He used an original instrument based on the Yaybarha which he designed and built himself as part of this dissertation. He got a rousing round of applause from a most appreciative audience.

London South Bank University wins Higher Education Academy Award

On the 30th August 2018 it was announced that the London South Bank University Enterprise team has won the Higher Education Academy's Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence for 2018. This is also integral to the Acoustics Group having completed multiple collaborative scholarships, a recent Knowledge Exchange Voucher, the EU A2i project, internships and industrial research with ICAX. We hope to continue this highly successful collaboration!

Dr Dance wins National Teaching Fellowship

Dr Stephen Dance has been awarded the prestigious Higher Education AcademyNational Teaching Fellowship for 2018, one of fifty-four recipients across the UK. The award was for his long term commitment to all aspects of acoustics education. He is particularly pleased to be awarded this highly competitive prize in recognition of Steve’s dedication to UK acoustic education. It should also be mentioned that London South Bank University was the only University to be awarded all three applicants!

Presenting at Inter-Noise 2018, Chicago

On 29th August 2018 Dr Stephen Dance presented at Inter-Noise 2018 held in Chicago. The paper was entitled "Noise and Vibration from Urban Wind Turbines". Although given at 8am, 50 delegates were intrigued by the results of Dr Ben Dymock's PhD thesis! 

Pitching Inter-Noise 2022 at Inter-Noise 2018

At Inter-Noise 2018 in Chicago Dr Stephen Dance from London South Bank University and Professor Barry Gibb from Liverpool University were invited by the International Institute of Noise Control Engineers to pitch on behalf of the Institute of Acoustics for Inter-Noise 2022. We proposed to host the event in Glasgow and were short listed! The full pitch will be in Madrid, Inter-Noise 2019. Dr Dance was also a judge for the best student paper, so it was a busy week!

And the RBA Acoustic Prize goes to...

MSc student Jamie Spary won this year's RBA Acoustics Prize. The prize is awarded to the best acoustics project at London South Bank University. Jamie's thesis was on, "Acoustic Absorption at Discrete Angles Measured using a PU Sensor". Well done Jamie!

SUITABILITY OF SOUND SOURCES IN ACOUSTIC TESTING SURVEY

A research project into optimised sound source devices for acoustic measurements currently being undertaken by Dr Luis Gomez Agustina and IOA Diploma student John Barnard. 
If you have experience in taking room acoustic measurements, you are invited to participate in a short six question survey (see link below) to collect perceived technical and practical suitability of different sound sources. 

 https://lsbu.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/study-on-the-perceived-practical-and-technical-suitability-2

The survey closes on 31st August. Thanks for participating.

BBC London News Item on Battersea Heliport Report

Three London Borough's have released the Heliport Report written by the Acoustics Group of London South Bank University. The findings have been taken up by the BBC as a news item today. The findings suggest that he Heliport is a danger to health with medium risk of long term health effects (hyper tension, higher cortisol levels, and the possible of cardiac arrest) for local residents. The recommended maximum noise levels were exceeded 36 times a day, in line with each and every helicopter movement, indicating that helicopters were to blame. The simplest solution would to curtain the number of flights to the 1500 exceedances allowed per year for commercial flights.

Summer School Presentation in Wales

On the 6th August 2018 Dr Stephen Dance, Director of the Acoustics Group, was invited to Gregynog Hall for the 1st UK Acoustics Network Summer School. Steve gave a presentation to the 30 delegates on Public Engagement for Lay People... twice! He didn't get a chance to practice archery or go on a trail walk in the beautiful grounds, but he's not bitter!

UK Acoustics Network Summer School

Between 6-9th August 2018 the EPSRC funded UK Acoustics Network held their summer school for early career researchers at the beautiful Gregynog Hall, Wales. From the Acoustics Group PhD candidate Doug Shearer attended the academic, career and social events learning about presentation skills, scientific writing, public engagement, career progression, and collaboration.  I think a good time was had by all!

Interview on London's Urbines

Dr Stephen Dance was recently interviewed by 2EA. The interview was focused on City based Wind Turbines, renamed Urbines. Steve has worked on them for 10 years with the Heygate Gate, Islington, Strata Tower and in the future the World Trade Center in Bahrain!

EPSRC UKAN Audio Day

The EPSRC funded UK Acoustics Network held their Audio Day at Surrey University on the 6th July 2018. The Special Interest Group for Comms and Rooms co-hosted the event where the latest spatial audio was demonstrated followed by a discussion lead by Abigail Bristow with Jon Francombe from the BBC and Sacha Krstulovic form Audio Analytic. The Acoustics Group was represented by PhD candidates Doug Shearer and Rodrigo Sanchez-Perez, along with more than 100 other researchers!

New Visiting Fellowship for Bob Peters

Dr Bob Peters has been appointed as a Visiting Fellow of London South Bank University. Dr Peters has been lecturing acoustics for more than 20 years for LSBU. After retiring he has taken on a position at the Institute of Acoustics as Chair of the Education Committee. This will be of great assistance as Apprenticeship become more common as a means of up-skilling in associated acoustic industries.  Help to have Bob back on board!