Traditionally astronomy education relies on visual representations of data which are not accessible to those who may need or prefer non-visual methods of communication. Sonification is the process of representing data with sound which has the potential to create immersive, accessible educational experiences. The Audio Universe team has been conducting research on the effectiveness of using different sound designs to represent astronomical data, such as stellar light curves. I will present results of how effective these different sound designs were for communicating key information and creating an enjoyable experience for family audiences. The outcomes of this research feed into the design of the Sonification Suite App which allows communicators to create their own sonification resources.

About Rose Shepherd

Rose Shepherd is a PhD student at Newcastle University in the UK. She previously completed her master's degree in physics with astronomy at the University of Nottingham. Her research focuses on how we can use sonification (the process of representing data with sound) effectively in astronomy, for education, research, and accessibility.