# Salford Acoustics

Salford Acoustics offers acoustics and audio engineering courses undertakes public and industrial research in acoustics, carries out commercial testing and undertakes activities to engage the public in acoustic science and engineering. It is based in two locations: (i) 3 km west of Manchester city centre, UK, in the Newton Building on the Peel Park Campus of the University of Salford, and (ii) on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in Manchester at MediaCityUK.

## History and current structure

The first acoustic laboratories were established in Salford in 1965; in the early 1970s the Department of Applied Acoustics was formed. In 1996 the university merged with University College Salford and a Department of Acoustic and Audio Engineering was formed. A couple of years later, this joined with another department to form Acoustic and Electronic Engineering. Finally, the university twice reduced the number of schools in the organisation. Salford Acoustics first joined the School of Computing, Science and Engineering and later this was merged into the School of Science, Engineering and Environment. Research work comes under the auspices of the Acoustics Research Centre.

## Programmes

The Department of Applied Acoustics first taught an undergraduate degree in 1975, namely the BSc (Hons) in Electroacoustics. This was later renamed Beng (Hons) Acoustics. In 1993, Salford Acoustics set up the BEng (Hons) in Audio Technology. These two undergraduate degrees are now taught under a single banner, BEng Audio Acoustics, with two pathways to represent the different interests of the cohort. Salford acoustics has also taught masters in acoustic engineering and audio for many decades, currently offering an MSc in Audio Acoustics and an MSc in Environmental Acoustics. The Acoustics Research Centre offers masters and doctoral research degrees.

## Research
### Rating

In REF2021, the feedback from the Engineering Panel (UoA12) noted, ‘outstanding impact demonstrated … live sports audio’. The Acoustics Research Centre achieved the top research rating of 6* in RAE 2001 as part of the Research Institute for the Built and Human Environment's submission to Unit Of Assessment 30, Architecture and the Built Environment. In 2008, the RAE submission including the Acoustics Research Centre finished top of Research Fortnight’s ‘Research Power’ table for Architecture & the Built Environment. 90% of the research was graded at international standard and 25% at world-leading.

### Sub-disciplines

Research is carried out in the following sub-disciplines of acoustic engineering and science
* Archaeoacoustics
* Architectural and building acoustics
* Audio signal processing
* Auralization
* Electroacoustics
* Environmental noise
* Noise control
* Outdoor sound propagation
* Psychoacoustics
* Remote sensing using sound
* Sound reproduction
* Soundscapes
* Surround sound systems
* Vibration and dynamics

## Public engagement

Examples of public engagement work include:
* The search for the Worst Sound in the World. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council GrantRef:EP/D000068/1.
* Development of extensive curriculum materials on physics and acoustics for schools (EPSRC GrantRefs:GR/S23919/01, EP/D507030/1, P/D054729/1, EP/E033806/1, EP/G020116/1)
* The search for the Sonic Wonders of the World

## Laboratories

Most of Salford's Acoustics and Audio Laboratories are based on the Peel Park campus, but some are at MediaCityUK:
* Audio production suites
* Radio studios
* Recording studios
* Anechoic chamber
* 2x Semi-anechoic chambers
* Reverberation chamber
* Transmission suite
* Listening room

## Commercial work

Salford Acoustics is a calibration and test house for construction, government, military, audio R&D and the motor industry.

## Current staff
### Awards

| Person | Award | Year |
| Prof Jamie Angus | Audio Engineering Society Gold Medal | 2023 |
| Dr Joshua Meggitt | Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal | 2023 |
| Prof Jamie Angus | Audio Engineering Society Silver Medal | 2019 |
| Dr Jon Hargreaves | Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal | 2016 |
| Professor Yiu Wai Lam | Institute of Acoustics Rayleigh Medal | 2012 |
| Dr Olga Umnova | Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal | 2010 |
| Trevor Cox | Institute of Acoustics Promoting Acoustics to the Public | 2009 |
| Prof Jamie Angus | Institute of Acoustics Peter Barnett Award | 2004 |
| Trevor Cox | Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal | 2004 |
| Dr Francis Li | Institute of Acoustics Peter Barnett memorial student award | 2003 |

### Notable staff

* Trevor Cox, (Professor of Acoustic Engineering and Broadcaster)
* Olga Umnova

## Alumni and Former Staff

The following past members of Salford Acoustics have been President of the Institute of Acoustics:
| Person | Dates |
| Professor Peter Lord | 1978-80 |
| Professor Peter Wheeler | 1992-94 |
| Geoff Kerry | 2002-04 |
| Dr Tony Jones | 2004-06 |
| Professor Trevor Cox | 2010-12 |
| Jo Webb | 2016-18 |
| David Waddington | 2024-26 |