News Releases

UWI Partners with UK Universities to Present the Audio Universe

For Release Upon Receipt - January 31, 2025

St. Augustine


 

 Joining Forces: the collaborative team, which included representatives from academia, educators, and members of the blind and low vision community, pose for a photograph alongside Dr. Chris Harrison of Newcastle University (front row, second from left), Prof. Shirin Haque (first from right) and Arron George (second from right).

ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. January 31, 2025: Astronomers from Newcastle University and the University of Portsmouth have joined forces with The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and a blind musician from Trinidad to create a groundbreaking educational show that brings the Solar System to life through sound. By blending the celestial with the vibrant rhythms and musical instruments of the Caribbean, this innovative production offers a fresh and inclusive way to explore the Universe. Designed to engage all learners, including those who are blind or have low vision, the show reimagines how we experience space and learn about the Universe.

 Premiering last night on YouTube and at an in-person event in Trinidad, the show is a Caribbean-inspired version of Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System and is available online for all to enjoy. This adaptation is a reimagining of the teams' original Tour of the Solar System show, and replaces the initial Western-European musical choices and instruments with those more in tune with Caribbean culture. Narrated by a local voice actor, it brings the cosmos closer to home, creating a more inclusive and relatable experience for Caribbean audiences.

 Dr. Chris Harrison of Newcastle University and Dr. James Trayford of the University of Portsmouth co-led the Audio Universe project, which aims to represent data through sound in a process known as sonification. “We’re researching the best methods to turn data into sound as an alternative to visual methods like charts and graphs,” said Dr. Harrison. “One application is creating immersive educational experiences that everyone can enjoy, and which is also accessible to those who cannot see or struggle with visual methods of communication".

 Based on his earlier work. the collaboration began when Professor Shirin Haque, an astronomer at The UWI, invited Dr. Harrison to Trinidad. “In the West Indies, we lack resources to support the education of children with disabilities,” Professor Haque explained. “Dr. Harrison’s earlier work inspired me to bring him here to meet with teachers, community leaders, and members of our research group to consult on producing accessible educational resources for our local region. I could not be more delighted that one outcome of this visit is this incredible new show!”

 During his time in Trinidad, Dr. Harrison met Arron George, a blind musician whose life story is as inspiring as the project itself. George, the first blind student in the Caribbean to pass CSEC physics and chemistry, overcame countless barriers in pursuing science. There were no facilities or tools designed for someone like him, and he often had to create his own way forward. George described his feelings upon hearing the original sounds. “When Chris first played the sounds to represent the stars appearing and planets orbiting, I felt awe, wonder, and a deep sense of hope. The sounds opened up the Universe to me in a way in a way I could never experience visually, revealing its wonders in a form I could truly appreciate,” he shared. “But I couldn’t help thinking—what if we made this Caribbean-style? Imagine replacing glockenspiels with steel pans, layering vibrant Caribbean rhythms, and infusing our culture into the experience. It would not only reflect the beauty of our region but also make the cosmos accessible and relatable to all who learn differently."

 This vision sparked and resulted in a unique collaboration as George worked closely with the team to create an authentic Caribbean soundtrack for the show, advising on rhythms and recording contributions to produce a new Caribbean-style soundtrack for Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System. Dr Trayford, who is the lead-developer of the software the team uses to produce all of the sound, indicated, "We've developed a computer code which can read in a dataset and turn it into sounds based on choices made by the user. This is similar to how we might try to visualise data, using graphs and charts to understand it better. To make the Caribbean show, it was a case of taking the same data as the original, but expressed using Caribbean rhythms, harmonies and instrumentation, including steel pans, guitars and maracas. Thanks to Arron’s guidance and recordings we could make this more authentically Caribbean.”  

 Admittedly, the process wasn’t without its challenges. Trayford continued, “Music is very cultural and will influence how we hear sonification. One of the biggest challenges we had to overcome was the greater emphasis on rhythms and percussion instruments in Caribbean music, compared to the emphasis on tuned instruments and harmonies in Western-European music. We had to think creatively about adapting our approaches, but ultimately gained new ideas we can take away from this cultural crossover.  It was wonderful learning from Arron, and benefitting from his perspective on sonification.”

 Although sonification is growing in popularity, This culturally infused approach to sonification is believed to be the first of its kind, highlighting the importance of integrating diverse musical traditions into science communication. The team hopes this work will inspire similar adaptations for other cultures, advancing inclusivity in educational and scientific outreach. Supported by grants from UK Research and Innovation and the Royal Astronomical Society, with additional funding from the Simons Foundation for workshops and travel, this project showcases the power of collaboration and cultural exchange in making the Universe accessible to all.

 The Audio Universe: Tour of the Solar System with a Caribbean beat is now available online, inviting everyone to experience the stars and planets as never before.

About The University of the West Indies

 The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier, higher education institution. One of only two regional universities in the world, it comprises five campuses across the English-speaking Caribbean and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE).

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu

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