Antarctic soundscape research

For my PhD in Polar Studies, I am researching Antarctica's changing soundscapes and silencescapes, and how a sensory focus on auditory perception impacts the ways in which tourists relate to, and sonically make sense of, the polar landscapes they find themselves in. How is 'sighthearing' different from 'sightseeing' in Antarctica, and in what ways does it change our sense of place, and how we understand our own position and participation in it?

Between October 2023 - January 2024, I spent 3 months on expedition ships in Antarctica, running acoustics workshops for tourists. The emphasis was on close-listening to the wildlife, icebergs, and other landscape features we encountered, and reflecting on the experience afterwards. For this research, I work with a variety of (sonic) methods, including: field recording, podcasting, participant surveys, and sonic ethnography.

I returned from my fieldwork with a large library of audio recordings, including underwater material, and am currently in the data analysis stage. Planned outputs, beside a written PhD thesis, will include a podcast, music album produced with polar sound samples, and a sound installation. 

Besides my research activities, I work both in the Arctic and Antarctica as an expedition guide, zodiac driver, field scientist, and lecturer (historian). Regions where I have worked in these capacities include: Svalbard, Greenland, Falklands, South Georgia, Patagonia, and Antarctica.

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TRAINING OFFERS

I regularly give trainings about podcasting as a research method (employers include: University of Cambridge, National Centre for Research Methods, University of Plymouth, Aga Khan University). To inquire about my training offers, please get in touch via email.

Contact: [email protected]
​Affiliation: Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge
Funding: Gates Cambridge Foundation