Ecoacoustics Master Class

Join ecoacoustics experts Dr Leah Barclay and Dr Toby Gifford from the University of the Sunshine Coast on an advanced Marine Ecoacoustics Masterclass where you will learn the theory and practice of ecoacoustics technology, and put it to use onboard Sunreef Mooloolaba’s fast boat Wild One! 

The day will begin at 9am in the classroom at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), where you will be guided by Leah and Toby through the fundamentals of ecoacoustics technology, including exploring an array of hydrophones that are used around the planet to monitor underwater soundscapes and understand marine health through sound. Participants will learn about recording technologies through a hands on workshop and will learn how to identify what they are hearing underwater and acquire new skills that can be used for many applications! 

After a lunch break, students will make their way to Sunreef Mooloolaba, where the adventure continues into the afternoon onboard our fast boat Wild One. We will travel through the beautiful waters of the Sunshine Coast out to Mudjimba Island to apply the skills and knowledge learnt in the morning to record and listen to live underwater soundscapes. 

The workshop will start at 9am at UniSC, participants will meet outside the UniSC Maker Space in the K1 Building on campus (turning right when entering campus, and parking at the first car park on the left).

The facilitator

Dr Leah Barclay is a sound artist, designer, and researcher who works at the intersection of art, science, and technology. Leah’s research and creative work investigates new methods in ecoacoustics, exploring the soundscapes of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to inform conservation, scientific research, and public engagement. She is a specialist in underwater recording and has over 15 years of experience recording marine ecosystems across the planet. 

She has been the recipient of numerous awards, and her work has been commissioned, performed, and exhibited to wide acclaim internationally by organisations including the Smithsonian Museum, UNESCO, Ear to the Earth, Streaming Museum, Al Gore’s Climate Reality, and the IUCN. Leah leads several research projects including Biosphere Soundscapes with UNESCO, which focuses on advancing the field of ecoacoustics. The design of these interdisciplinary projects is responsive to collaborating communities and involves the development of new technologies, including remote sensing devices for the rainforest canopy and hydrophone recording arrays in aquatic ecosystems. Leah is the Discipline Lead of Design at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where she is also co-leading the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster.