Acoustics Workshop 2024
PRIMER TO CONSERVATION BIOACOUSTICS : 14 - 21 July, 2024
Overview:
Being in a technology-driven society, the shift towards technology-based solutions is quickly increasing. The field of bioacoustics is one such which is gaining momentum in answering ecological questions and contributing towards conservation management. The biggest advantage of acoustic technology is it’s scalability in monitoring long-term biodiversity patterns in a changing environment and landscape, the ability to monitor cryptic and endangered species, and to facilitate the understanding of species-specific ecological and evolutionary patterns by closely investigating behaviour.
We at IISER Tirupati are hosting a basic Primer to Conservation Bioacoustics workshop. This week-long hands-on training opportunity will include learning the usage of appropriate tools to record animal sounds, conceptualize study designs to incorporate bioacoustics tools as well as engage in a dialogue with current bioacoustics researchers within and outside the country.
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Venue: Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati
(Permanent Campus, Yerpedu) Dates: 14th to 21st July, 2024 Fees: Students - Rs 15,000 Working professionals - Rs 20,000 |
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
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Eligibility: This workshop is aimed at students and professionals who are interested and have some exposure to bioacoustics.
- BSc/MSc/PhD
- Working Professionals: Independent researchers, Conservation practitioners, NGOs
Number of participants: 20-25
We seek participants strongly motivated to use acoustic tools and techniques to address conservation and research-based questions. We expect participants to have an idea/concept of a real-world problem they would use these techniques to address. However, prior exposure to acoustic equipment and/ or analysis is unnecessary.
We seek participants strongly motivated to use acoustic tools and techniques to address conservation and research-based questions. We expect participants to have an idea/concept of a real-world problem they would use these techniques to address. However, prior exposure to acoustic equipment and/ or analysis is unnecessary.
Overview of topics covered
- Basics of sound
- Recording techniques and hardware
- Introduction to acoustic behaviour and communication mechanisms
- Sound analysis (spectrograms, annotation, measurements) using Raven
- Designing acoustic studies
- Introduction to soundscapes and measuring soundscapes
- Overview of machine learning based detectors for acoustic analysis
- Hands-on exercises for data recording and analysis
Areas of focus:
1. Basic Theoretical Concepts of Sound
Participants will learn about sound propagation in different environments (air vs underwater). They will learn about accurate interpretation of noise levels in these environments, which is extremely important when assessing acoustic disturbances and their impact on various taxa. A basic understanding of these concepts is important for interpreting and analysing acoustic data in different environmental conditions.
Participants will also be introduced to soundscape ecology and measuring various components of soundscapes using the right metrics. They will explore the behavioural significance of acoustic signals and how these sounds can be used to inform conservation strategies.
2. Sound Recording Methods
We will introduce participants to various recording tools helpful in monitoring various taxa. They will gain a fundamental understanding of which type of hardware is best suited to answer research questions effectively and its limitations. They will learn to select the appropriate sampling rate, bit rate, and file types, apart from the appropriate microphones and recorders relevant to the taxa and research question being investigated. We will also include a detailed lecture on the importance of metadata and data management when collecting and handling acoustic data. These concepts are extremely critical given the large volume of acoustic data generated from new recording technology.
3. Analytical Techniques
Participants will learn the basics of using acoustic software (Raven and Kaleidoscope) to perform acoustic analysis. Participants will use the data they collect during the workshop field session to analyse in lab exercises. Participants will learn how to effectively visualise sound and measure acoustic features of signals (time-frequency measurements) from spectrograms. Participants will also be trained in visualising and extracting information from long-term recordings, which could span days to months of data. We will introduce participants to advanced techniques like automated acoustic detectors (BirdNET, Kaleidoscope detector). They will also learn how to optimize and evaluate detector performance. Practical hands-on exercises will be conducted for each of these analysis sessions.
4. Hands-on Training
A large part of the workshop will be aimed towards field-based recording sessions and hands-on training for data analysis. Participants will learn about acoustic study design and formulating effective conservation questions using bioacoustics tools. Participants will be expected to work in groups towards a small project through the workshop duration. Based on their chosen question, they will learn field techniques like equipment selection and recorder placement. They will learn how to transfer and organise acoustic data and then analyse them using techniques learnt during the workshop, extracting relevant information and visualising and interpreting the results.
5. Interactions and Networking
The workshop will host a series of guest lectures and interactions with acoustic research groups in India and abroad. Participants will get a chance to interact with researchers using and developing acoustic techniques to answer conservation questions. Participants can discuss ongoing and future research projects and seek insights into study design. These sessions can facilitate long-term dialogue with interested research groups. Participants can explore potential collaborations with experts in the field.
By interacting with a diverse group of researchers, participants will not just broaden their professional network but also gain exposure to different research perspectives, novel methodologies, and approaches to answer critical questions.
1. Basic Theoretical Concepts of Sound
Participants will learn about sound propagation in different environments (air vs underwater). They will learn about accurate interpretation of noise levels in these environments, which is extremely important when assessing acoustic disturbances and their impact on various taxa. A basic understanding of these concepts is important for interpreting and analysing acoustic data in different environmental conditions.
Participants will also be introduced to soundscape ecology and measuring various components of soundscapes using the right metrics. They will explore the behavioural significance of acoustic signals and how these sounds can be used to inform conservation strategies.
2. Sound Recording Methods
We will introduce participants to various recording tools helpful in monitoring various taxa. They will gain a fundamental understanding of which type of hardware is best suited to answer research questions effectively and its limitations. They will learn to select the appropriate sampling rate, bit rate, and file types, apart from the appropriate microphones and recorders relevant to the taxa and research question being investigated. We will also include a detailed lecture on the importance of metadata and data management when collecting and handling acoustic data. These concepts are extremely critical given the large volume of acoustic data generated from new recording technology.
3. Analytical Techniques
Participants will learn the basics of using acoustic software (Raven and Kaleidoscope) to perform acoustic analysis. Participants will use the data they collect during the workshop field session to analyse in lab exercises. Participants will learn how to effectively visualise sound and measure acoustic features of signals (time-frequency measurements) from spectrograms. Participants will also be trained in visualising and extracting information from long-term recordings, which could span days to months of data. We will introduce participants to advanced techniques like automated acoustic detectors (BirdNET, Kaleidoscope detector). They will also learn how to optimize and evaluate detector performance. Practical hands-on exercises will be conducted for each of these analysis sessions.
4. Hands-on Training
A large part of the workshop will be aimed towards field-based recording sessions and hands-on training for data analysis. Participants will learn about acoustic study design and formulating effective conservation questions using bioacoustics tools. Participants will be expected to work in groups towards a small project through the workshop duration. Based on their chosen question, they will learn field techniques like equipment selection and recorder placement. They will learn how to transfer and organise acoustic data and then analyse them using techniques learnt during the workshop, extracting relevant information and visualising and interpreting the results.
5. Interactions and Networking
The workshop will host a series of guest lectures and interactions with acoustic research groups in India and abroad. Participants will get a chance to interact with researchers using and developing acoustic techniques to answer conservation questions. Participants can discuss ongoing and future research projects and seek insights into study design. These sessions can facilitate long-term dialogue with interested research groups. Participants can explore potential collaborations with experts in the field.
By interacting with a diverse group of researchers, participants will not just broaden their professional network but also gain exposure to different research perspectives, novel methodologies, and approaches to answer critical questions.
Timetable overview:
Organising Team:
Isha Bopardikar PhD Candidate Density estimation and behaviour of marine mammals using bioacoustics |
Chiti Arvind PhD Candidate Song complexity, cultural dialects and detection of birds using bioacoustics |
V V Robin Associate Professor Ecology, behavioural ecology, biogeography and evolutionary ecology |
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Volunteers:
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Demonstrators:
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Guest lecturers:
- Divya Panicker - Independent Researcher
- Manjari Jain - Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali
- Rohit Chakravarthy - Nature Conservation Foundation
- Rohini Balakrishnan - Indian Institute of Science
- Laurel Symes - K Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
- Anand Krishnan - Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
- Bobbi Estabrook - K Lisa Yang Center for Conservation Bioacoustics
- Santhosh S L and Kishore Panaganti - The Habitats Trust
Short talks:
- Aarini Ghosh - Ashoka University
- Abhijith AV - Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research
- Seema Lokhandwala - Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
- Jailabdeen A - Bharathidasan University
- Maia Dsouza - Independent Researcher
- Rakesh Muni - Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Tirupati
- Marisol Valverde Montellano- Cornell University
- Rohith Srinivasan - Ahmedabad University
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Funding partner:
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Resource and software support:
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Software support:
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