Celebrating fifty years of Sound and Vibration research

The Institute of Sound and Vibration Research,  founded in 1963 is now an internationally recognised centre of excellence for research and training in acoustics and vibration.

Industrial and vehicle noise control, fatigue of aircraft and spacecraft structures and hearing conservation constituted the main challenges in the early days.

Today research Groups in the ISVR investigate a much wider range of topics including aircraft, rail and automotive vibration and noise, underwater acoustics, human responses to sound and vibration, audiology, hearing and balance, cochlear mechanics and ultrasonics for biomedical applications. Over 30 academic staff teach undergraduate and masters students and support more than 90 PhD students. For over four decades research has been put into practice by ISVR Consulting in solving industrial and environmental noise problems. Since 1990 the Auditory Implant Service has treated over 1000 severely to profoundly deaf adults and children. The Institute has an international reputation for research, teaching and translating research into practice, and was awarded a 2006 Queen's Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary, past members of staff and students from across the world are returning to hear invited speakers giving leading presentations on topics having scientific, engineering and societal impact. The highlight will be the EJ Richards lecture (named after the Institute's founding director, Professor Elfyn Richards) which will be delivered by alumnus Rob Harris, Global Acoustics Leader at Arup, who will speak about Thirty Years of Auditorium Design.

ISVR Director Professor Jeremy Astley says: "Much has been achieved in the ISVR's first 50 years. We are proud of our achievements in this ever-changing field of engineering. Many of our students have gone on to senior roles in academia and industry. We look forward to new challenges in our next 50 years."