Charlie Mydlarz is working on a fascinating PhD thesis at the University of Salford near Manchester, England. He’s studying how everyday sounds make us feel.
Did you know that our human desire to be around other people draws us to the sounds of “hustle and bustle?” Or that insistent and annoying noise can raise blood pressure and cause chronic anxiety? By measuring sound environments around the world, Charlie’s research can help urban planners make informed decisions, let home buyers find peaceful locations, and affect the thinking of other professional and social groups.
I asked Charlie if Sci4Cits could help target any regions in particular. “It would be brilliant to get some recordings from the the West Coast and southern regions of the U.S.,” he said. “And Africa and the Middle East are other blanks on the map I’d like to fill!” He also added this tip: “The hardest part is remembering where you were when you made the recording, so it’s usually worth writing down the rough location when you record the ‘scapes.”
Charlie and hundreds of other researchers whose citizen science projects are featured in the Sci4Cits Project Finder eagerly await your participation.
If you’re a veteran citizen scientist who has worked primarily in one field (birds, for example), challenge yourself this summer by trying another area of research (like Charlie’s sound project). Then, share your crossover experience on your member blog. Not only will your fellow citizen scientists enjoy reading about your adventures, but your feedback can help inform researchers and scholars as they create new opportunities for citizen scientists.
Cheers!