Soundscapes in the time of COVID-19: Observations around the globe

Following COVID-19 lockdowns around the globe, there have been numerous observations made on the impact of reduced human activity in acoustic environments:

• In the May 2020 issue of The Monthly (AUS), Nicola Redhouse's article, 'Quiet Life', discussed the work of various acoustic ecologists during the pandemic.
• The interactive New York Times article, 'The Coronavirus Quieted City Noise. Listen to What’s Left' by Bui and Badger compares urban soundscapes pre- and post-lockdown.
• Tom Banse's article, 'The Pandemic Gives PNW Whales A Break From The Din Of Underwater Noise' for OPB investigates the impact of reduced ocean traffic during lockdown.
• Douglas Quan's 'Listen up: In these disquieting COVID-19 times, hushed cities are making a loud impression on our ears' for The Star (CAN), discusses pandemic soundscapes with input from acoustic ecology pioneers Barry Truax and Hildegard Westerkamp, amongst others.
• Ian Sample's 'Wave of silence' spread around world during coronavirus pandemic' in The Guardian considers the seismological impacts of decreased traffic and machinery use.

Many podcasts, recordings and multimedia projects have also been released, including:

• Interiorities: Sonic Experiment and Documents from Lockdown, by Kate Carr
• Soundscapes Under Fear of COVID-19, a series of recordings made by Koji Nagahata in Japan's Tohoku region during the lockdown
• 'The Last Sound' on NPR's Invisibilia, hosted by Hanna Rosin and Alex Spiegil
• 'Human Life Is Literally Quieter Due To Coronavirus Lockdown', a short feature by NPR
• Cities and Memories' #stayhomesounds project, inviting people from around the globe to submit sound recordings from where they live during COVID-19.
• Window-Swap features 10-minute audiovisual snapshots from people's homes in isolation.
• Contributions of sounds in isolation on Radio Aporee

If you are aware of any further projects or pieces investigating our acoustic environments in the time of COVID-19, please email WFAE Secretary Jesse Budel at secretary@wfae.net to add to this resource.