WILDLABS
Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
About the Series
The ongoing loss of biodiversity underscores the urgent need for innovative and effective monitoring solutions, and bioacoustics offers a powerful toolkit. By studying animal sounds and environmental soundscapes, we can gain invaluable insights into ecosystems and inform conservation efforts. However, significant challenges remain in harnessing the full potential of bioacoustics.
We strongly believe that community-sourced decisions and coordinated efforts are the most effective means to address these challenges. As the first step in our new Bioacoustics Horizon Scan research, we are excited to kick off a fifth season of Virtual Meetups dedicated to the world of sound-based technologies.
This season, you can expect a line-up of thought leaders pushing the boundaries of innovation in bioacoustics, from soundscape monitoring using acoustic indices and ML embedding, to underwater distributed acoustic sensing using fiber optic cables, to globally-coordinated data networks and applications in conservation policy and practice. Laying the groundwork for the horizon scan, we aim to convene cross-sector perspectives to capture where we are today and discuss critical context for the exploration of new frontiers to come.
Don't miss your chance to influence the next wave of innovations in bioacoustics
Join our public virtual meetups each Thursday of September to take a pulse on where current efforts stand and what people are asking about these four key topic areas:
- Hardware Innovation
- Data Networks and Platforms
- Data Analysis and AI
- Policy Integration and Scientific Impact
As always, we hope that by joining these meetups you will not only learn and engage with the presentations and discussion, but also have a chance to connect with the community and directly input into defining priorities for the field. The series is designed to foster a collaborative environment where community input can lead to significant advancements in our understanding and preservation of biodiversity. Come along to have your say!
Meetup 1: Hardware Innovation
Date & Time
Thursday, September 5, 2024 2:00-3:30pm UTC
Recordings of the individual talks, and full meetup are available on the event page.
About the Session
Acoustic recording technologies are continually advancing to better meet scientific and conservation needs. In this first meetup, we’ll dive into the latest in bioacoustics hardware, exploring new devices and technologies that are making ecological monitoring more extensive and efficient than ever. Join us to discuss the next generation of acoustic recorders, standardized protocols for soil ecoacoustics, and innovative uses of existing fiber-optic networks for advanced acoustic sensing.
Read more and register on the event page.
Meetup 2: Data Networks and Platforms
Date & Time
Thursday, September 12, 2022 2:00-3:30pm UTC
About the Session
As recording technologies become more accessible, data infrastructure and coordination becomes ever more essential to ensure the coverage and long-term utility of data being collected. Join this meetup to explore initiatives focused on data pipelines in bioacoustics, from coordinated data collection networks on local to global scales to platforms ensuring that existing data are discoverable, accessible, and comparable.
Read more on the event page.
Meetup 3: Data Analysis and AI
Date & Time
Thursday, September 19, 2022 2:00-3:30pm UTC
About the Session
With growing datasets across the globe, turning those data into actionable insights is a significant challenge. In this meetup, we’ll dive into advanced data analyses in bioacoustics, highlighting how AI and machine learning are crucial for decoding complex soundscapes and enhancing species monitoring. Join us to explore how transfer learning can expand the usability of existing bioacoustics classifiers, why acoustic indices should be used with caution and to discuss groundbreaking developments in acoustic localization techniques.
Read more on the event page.
Meetup 4: Policy Integration and Scientific Impact
Date & Time
Thursday, September 26, 2024 2:00-3:30pm UTC
About the Session
With rapidly increasing capacity for novel insights through improved technologies, the essential next step is ensuring those insights are used to better our world. This meetup will focus on how bioacoustics research can be effectively integrated into conservation science, policy, and practice to tackle the biodiversity crisis and help achieve global conservation goals.
Read more on the event page.
Don't Miss Out on These Pioneering Discussions
Each session is tailored to not only present the latest research and developments but also to engage participants in discussions that are pivotal for the advancement of bioacoustics and its application in conservation. By participating, you'll gain insights into the most pressing issues and innovative solutions in the field today.
We also invite you to contribute topics for our Bioacoustics Horizon Scan.
Header image credit: Alexandre Alonso Fernández
Related content
Article
Listen to the Future: A Bioacoustics Horizon Scan
Vanesa Reyes
We are thrilled to introduce our new horizon scan, which will chart the future of bioacoustics. By collectively prioritizing emerging innovations that could transform the field, we aim to build consensus, facilitate...
5 August 2024
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