Presenter – (In-person)
Kate Meredith,
GLAS Education, Walworth, Wisconsin.
Abstract
The Sonification World Chat (SWC), launched in February 2020, addresses the growing need for collaboration and knowledge sharing among diverse sonification projects across disciplines, particularly in astronomy. Central to SWC’s mission is the inclusion of blind and low-vision (BLV) individuals, whose lived experiences are essential for developing effective sonification tools, interfaces, and algorithms. In recognition of its impactful work, the SWC received a two-year grant from the National Science Foundation in 2024 to foster new projects in the geosciences, specifically through the creation of Geo SonNet.
Geo SonNet leverages the SWC community to support the development of sonification projects that incorporate the perspectives of individuals who rely on sound to interpret their environment. This initiative aims to prevent paternalistic approaches often adopted by developers lacking extensive accessibility experience, ensuring that BLV insights shape meaningful and effective solutions.
SWC promotes a multidisciplinary community of experts spanning science, accessibility, user-centered design, acoustical engineering, music, education, and cultural studies of sound perception. This diversity enriches project development by addressing both technical and human-centered considerations.
This session will showcase the multidisciplinary nature of sonification, highlighting key projects and the objectives of Geo SonNet.