How society interacts and receives information has grown immensely over the years, and science communication is no expectation. From newspapers, radio, TV, to internet and social media, everything is at your fingertips. However, these methods of communication still have limitations in reaching everyone. The researchers at Stanford University understand this gap in science communication and have identified a solution.
Illustration: GIZEM VURAL
Data sonification is the development of auditory representations to scientific data. The researchers at Stanford have determined that data sonification in science communication can overcome complexity barriers, attract non-experts, and outreach to the disabled.
We suggest that a change in modality, from graphical representations to auditory ones using a process called data sonification, can reduce these barriers by creating an alternate way to engage with complex scientific data.
Producing sonification for data is done directly by calculating the data into a wave signal using software and digital-to-analogue converter (DAC) or through creative interpretation and music theory. The listener can then infer the data based on the pitch, volume, location of the sound (i.e. if it is in the right or left ear), and the pattern of sounds.
Overcoming Complexity
A report has discovered that people avoid STEM-related material because it is “too hard” to understand. The Stanford researchers knew this and pointed to data sonification as a means to overcome this perception. By providing visual and auditory sources in scientific data, learning and engagement in individuals increases. Below is an example of combining visual and audio to text message data.
Public Engagement
Everyone loves listening to music, so why not incorporate it with scientific data to make it enjoyable? Not only does music enhance the listener’s experience with the data, but it also increases their ability to comprehend it. In addition, there are many online programs and applications that allow the public to turn their own data into music. This opens up opportunities for non-experts to collaborate with scientists in transforming numerical data into sound. Below is a sonification made by the Stanford researchers from data on the effects of climate change on the Alaskan yellow cedar tree.
http://stanford.edu/~sawe/alaskanyellowcedarsonification.wav
Outreach
In Canada, 1.5 million people are known to suffer from vision loss. With most scientific data represented graphically, it is difficult for the visually impaired to understand science and contribute to scientific discussions. For that reason, data sonification will make data accessible and understandable, which will benefit those who suffer from visual impairments and lower their risk of being fed wrong information. Below is a perfect example of data sonification tailored to those with vision problems.
Data sonification presents a promising solution in overcoming the barriers of science communication. To effectively implement it, however, science communicators must recognize the need for data sonification and understand its benefits. Overall, science has made big breaks in communicating with the world, and I am hopeful that the addition of data sonification will only bring more people to appreciate what science has to offer.
– Teaya Cabael
