Interdisciplinary research, creative practice, and community engagement at the intersection of sound and ecology.
Our Mission
The Acoustic Ecology Lab (AELab) at Arizona State University is a forum for interdisciplinary collaboration to examine sonic environments through intersections between the arts, sciences, humanities, and new technologies.
We believe that sound is a critical environmental signifier — that environmental changes are often heard before they can be seen. By developing the capacity to listen deeply and thoughtfully, communities gain a powerful tool for understanding and responding to ecological change.
Environmental listening advances literacy about bioregional knowledge. It connects people to place and provides early warnings about the health of ecosystems, from the desert washes of the American Southwest to forests and coastlines around the world.
What We Do
We develop field recording technologies and maintain interactive sound archives and maps that document the sonic character of ecosystems, landscapes, and communities across the American Southwest and beyond.
Using psychoacoustic metrics, machine learning, and sensor networks, AELab develops tools for monitoring acoustic ecology over time — detecting change in the living soundscape as an indicator of environmental health.
We produce concerts, audio-visual installations, and virtual reality experiences that bring the sounds of the natural world to new audiences — including mobility-impaired communities — fostering connection to place through immersive media.
AELab conducts workshops, soundwalks, and listening sessions across locations in the American Southwest, developing accessible resources and training community members to observe and document their sonic environments.
Collaboration Across ASU
AELab is rooted in Arts, Media and Engineering but extends its reach across Arizona State University's broad academic community.
Industry
AELab collaborates with leading organizations in spatial audio, acoustics, and environmental technology.
Pioneering work in three-dimensional acoustic modeling and spatial audio environments.
Visit acoustic3d.com ↗Developers of the Rapture3D Universal SDK — advanced spatial audio technology used in EcoRift and related projects.
Visit blueripplesound.com ↗Innovative platform supporting acoustic ecology research and community sound engagement.
Visit recho.org ↗News & Updates