Sometimes, when our ideas feel like they’re falling on deaf ears, all we have to do is set them to a different tune – literally. That’s what Heather O’Leary did when she went to publish a study regarding the impact of algae blooms and coral reef depletion on tourism. Co-authored by three other University of South Florida (USF) professors, the paper was brought to life with the help of USF director of bands, Matthew McCutchen, who, with students and faculty in the music department, helped map pitch, rhythm, and duration to the data, creating a unique composition to tell an otherwise complex story. The patterns they found in the pieces of music revealed the extent of the damage pollution has caused throughout Florida in a way that was far more accessible to the public than a listless spreadsheet, which could have huge implications for the wider democratization of science.
This composition by students, a work in two parts titled Sanctuary and Cardinal Flow, has sparked curiosity and inspiration across the USF campus. Several departments are now getting involved in an interdisciplinary group calling itself CRESCENDO (Communicating Research Expansively through Sonification and Community-Engaged Neuroaesthetic Data-literacy Opportunities). While this acronym might look long and scary, it just means the group wants to use this blueprint to share more findings, ideas, and other environment related projects through some form of augmented reality experience and help people better visualize and understand data.
A noble pursuit, and an urgent one, too, according to O’Leary, who says more and more of the ‘wicked problems’ like those that surfaced in their tourism report will be popping-up, which necessitate new mediums and vehicles for discussion. “My students were really excited to start thinking about how the other students, the music students, heard patterns that we did not see in some of the repetitions,” she said in an interview with NPR, adding, “you can start to sense with different parts of your mind and your body that there are patterns happening and that they’re important.”
Perhaps this is the true genius of USF’s newfound symbiosis: different perspectives from different brains helping us level the playing field. Spinoff projects from the algal orchestra are underway and with their viewpoints more insights might yet be found, helping us further temper our understanding of data science and algal impacts. More eyes and ears on the pressing issues is vital in transforming public perception and uniting the community towards a common goal.
See you on the trail,
Lisa
LMA Newsletter of 4-29-24
