title: Parameter mapping sonification of biological data: algorithms, listening, and science communication
Creators: name: Martin, Edward J.
Publisher: name: The University of Edinburgh
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Sonification
subject: Bioinformatics
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences
subject: Algorithms
subject: Science Communication

description: Algorithmic parameter mapping (PM) sonification is an innovative approach to scientific data representation using sound, with task-specific projects showing promise across a range of biological data for a range of purposes. This work develops a range of novel task-specific PM sonification approaches, and PM sonification-adjacent approaches, for the representation of difficult-to-see biological data for diverse science communication aims. In Chapter 2, a sonification concert is described, hosted in collaboration with other sonification researchers, showcasing new artworks created using PM sonification of biological sequence data (nucleotides and amino acids) as a method of public engagement with molecular evolution. In Chapter 3, an approach to inspire action on biodiversity loss is presented, featuring a novel PM sonification approach representing global biodiversity index data (Living Planet Index) by soundwave-level deletion of data to damage familiar audio files, including poetry, music, and birdsong. In Chapter 4, a novel PM sonification designed for installation in a zoo context is presented, designed to engage visitors with genomic research into the stewardship of endangered species, through the example of the Mauritian pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri). The method is based on genomic analysis data representing the risk of deleterious mutations in potential offspring, which is conveyed through the detuning via MIDI pitchbend functionality of the familiar melody Für Elise. In Chapter 5, an approach to digital biological education using sonaphors (from sonic and metaphor) is presented, emphasising the new approach of musing sound-based scientific metaphors for audio-only teaching, incorporating podcasting narrative techniques and PM sonification-adjacent sound design. Overall, the work uses a range of innovations in sonification methods to create sound outputs of a high quality. The design processes focus on the listening experience of end-users, centring the task-specific nature of PM sonification and emphasising intended use-cases and context at all stages in design. To emphasise the shareability and longevity of the work, which is adaptable for future applications with both biological and non-biological data sets, the works utilises open-source software, publicly available code sharing repositories, and a modular implementation approach facilitating post hoc sound design. The evaluation of these methods is end-user-focussed using social research methods to provide evidence of success through insight into the subjective experiences of listeners. These include positivist experiments to measure the success of users in task-completion, alongside asking experts and end-users to affirm or deny the success of the methods, and interpretivist investigations into listener experience through interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires, which are also compared to design intentions. The work follows a framework of heuristic inquiry centring self-reflection on lessons learned through the design and implementation of the various approaches for both sonification designers and science communication practitioners.