Communicate Your Science: Engaging Public Audiences with Acoustics

Nothing generates excitement like sound! From the iconic guitar riffs in Led Zeppelin’s famous song “Stairway to Heaven” to birds energetically singing (way too early in the morning) outside my bedroom window, nonscientists can relate to acoustics. Many of us entered the field because we love music, a passion evident at the jam sessions that accompany many meetings of the Acoustical Society of America (ASA). Science communication enables us to share that enthusiasm with nontechnical audiences.

The goal of this article is to introduce fundamental ideas in science communication and resources for further exploration. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (2017, pp. 1-2) define science communication as “the exchange of information or viewpoints to achieve a goal or objective such as fostering greater understanding of science and scientific methods or gaining greater insight into diverse public views and concerns about the science related to a contentious issue.” This article largely holds to this definition, with a focus on the exchange (communication is not one way) and the goals or objectives that can be as diverse as the communication medium and audiences.