Proving science doesn’t just happen in laboratories, the One Hundred Ways to Listen project at the World Science Festival challenged Brisbane to rethink science.

Jessica McGrath reports.

TRANSCRIPT

These are not your usual scientists hard at work but they are curious and experiment with sound.

Students from the Griffith Conservatorium are encouraged to translate what they see into sound and push the boundaries of popular music even further.

Dr John Ferguson, Head of Music Technology, Griffith University: “Music technology does not belong in a recording studios, it belongs on stage, dj booths and experimental sound art spaces.”

At the World Science Festival in Brisbane the public experience a new age of science in this interactive playground of sonic experiments.

Tom Walker, Griffith Music Student: “I like to think of myself as a bit of a music scientist but, I mean, science in itself was never my thing growing up, I think I found my channel through this way.”

Bubbling beakers and bunsen burners are traded for drum machines, sound generators and music software.

These music scientists are breaking the trend in old science practices by creating the art in science.

Dr Leah Barclay, Griffith Conservatorium: “The way we think about music and the way musician sound artists listen, can really influence and inspire how scientists are responding to climate change.”

Nature’s recordings are arranged into musical experiences to inspire people to engage with, and understand different environments.

With the musically trained ears of our artists, and the minds of our scientists working together breakthroughs are beginning to echo through.

Jessica McGrath, QUT News.