[ISEA2024] Paper: Leah Barclay & Toby Gifford — Listening to Rivers: Engaging Communities in Freshwater Conservation Through Real-time Audio and Locative Media

Abstract

Keywords:
Sound art, locative media, freshwater ecoacoustics, conservation, hydrophones, real-time audio, augmented reality

River Listening is an interdisciplinary project established in 2014 that presents an innovative approach to freshwater conservation. This paper reflects on a decade of research with particular focus on the creative outcomes that have leveraged real-time audio and locative media for public engagement and ecological awareness. This interdisciplinary project works at the intersection of art and science and has deployed hydrophones in global river system making the artistic and scientific possibilities of listening to rivers accessible to global audiences through real-time audio streaming and interactive sound walks. River Listening embodies the concept of Everywhen by interweaving the past, present, and future narratives of freshwater ecosystems through sound. This approach not only amplifies the project’s scientific contributions but also extends its reach and impact on public engagement. The project stands as a testament to the transformative potential of art, science, and technology in facilitating an empathetic connection and care for rivers at a time when it is increasingly important to listen.

  • 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 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 and River Listening, which focus 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.
  • Dr. Toby Gifford is a designer, creative coder, and interdisciplinary media arts practitioner, with a particular interest in virtual/ augmented reality and immersive installation. He has worked across industry and academia at the intersection of art and technology, with extensive professional experience in software programming and systems design. His research spans a broad range of areas including: application of artificial intelligence to the creative industries; environmental sensing for ecosystem health monitoring; and modelling and data visualisation to aid design. Toby is a Lecturer in Design at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where he is also co-leading the Creative Ecologies Research Cluster.