Information Practices and the Production of Scientific Knowledge through Sound

Abstract

Environmental sound recording is increasingly vital to the production of scientific and ecological information and knowledge. While research applications have grown tremendously, there is a lack of empirical research around the practices and experiences of those responsible for creating and managing these recordings. This poster reports on initial findings of a qualitative research project that interviewed 30 academic and professional researchers from across Canada and the United States, exploring information activities and meaningful elements and actors involved in their interactions with environmental sound recording. From preliminary findings, two themes are discussed: sound and listening skills involved in the creation and analysis of environmental sound recordings are complex, multisensory information practices, and changing environments and technological affordances enable and constrain the seeking and sharing of information and resulting knowledge production.