Rycote has announced that it is set to partner with the University of Southampton on an initiative to support the next generation of audio talent.
The partnership is an extension of the vision of Rycote’s late founder John Gozzard, who left a substantial donation in his will to pave the way for opportunities in audio engineering, and the partnership aims to honour that by fostering a diverse community of new talents in sound engineering.
The collaboration has already seen the university renovate its anechoic chamber, providing students with state-of-the-art facilities for their studies and research. The chamber is a large room with acoustic wedges on all surfaces (walls, floor and ceiling) to absorb nearly all sound, creating an environment that is free from acoustic reflections which, along with the very low background noise level.
“Our collaboration with the University of Southampton aims to support students as well as opening the door to new game-changers in the industry. This partnership bridges the gap between academia and our industry, allowing us to see the real-world impact of academic research,” said Simon Beesley, sales and business development director at Rycote. “Our plans involve offering placements and internships to ISVR students, as well as sponsoring awards, facilities, and equipment. We’re also exploring a knowledge transfer partnership (KTP), where industry partners can sponsor research students on applied research projects. This mutual exchange is designed to foster a symbiotic relationship between the University and the industry. Our goal is to cultivate a new, diversified workforce brimming with the bright, innovative minds of future sound engineers.”
Dr Daniel Lurcock, principal consulting engineer at the University of Southampton, added. “At the University, we are firm believers in the value of partnerships with industry. Strong links with partners like Rycote improve access to our academic findings, and help our research to be focused and applied to real-world problems. Thanks to the recent renovation of the anechoic chamber, we can confidently continue with a variety of measurements to continue our research, teaching and consultancy in acoustics. There is currently an industry-wide scarcity of fresh talent in engineering, and as such we are investing our efforts in promoting acoustical engineering to young and emerging engineers. This partnership with Rycote symbolises our dedication to nurturing the future of our industry.”
