Biosphere Open Microphones (BIOM) – Towards a network of remote listening points in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves

Abstract

BIOM is a collaborative project to develop a network of open microphones in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, making real time sounds from these environments available on the Locustream soundmap. It brings together independent work at the intersection of arts, ecology, science and technology to create new online resources for public engagement and research. Participants include Biosphere Soundscapes (Brisbane), Locus Sonus (Aix-Marseille), Cyberforest (Tokyo), Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (Stanford, CA), Sound + Environment (University of Hull) and Soundcamp (London).

This work can be considered as part of the wider development of ‘sensing practices’ associated with the ‘becoming environmental of computation’). It shares overlaps with a variety of approaches including citizen science, civic science, street science, participatory sensing, crowdsourcing, DIY media, and citizen sensing. Its distinctive features include a concern with sounds at the scale of the soundscape, and an interest in the way humans and non humans hear and listen to such sounds, in addition to their significance as generalised data sets (e.g. for biodiversity indexing). This gives a character to the work shared across different projects, at the same time as it aligns it with other initiatives where (trans)formative exchanges are possible among people, technologies and their surroundings.

In this paper, Soundcamp outline the BIOM project, describe work that informs it, and share ways to be involved.