Leah Barclay is a sound artist, designer and researcher who works at the intersection of art, science and technology. Leah's research and creative work over the last decade has investigated innovative approaches to recording and disseminating the soundscapes of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems to inform conservation, scientific research and public engagement. Her work explores ways we can use creativity, new technologies and emerging science to reconnect communities to the environment and inspire climate action.
Leah has been the recipient of numerous awards and her work has been commissioned, performed and exhibited to wide acclaim internationally by organisations including the Smithsonian Museum, UNESCO, Ear to the Earth, Streaming Museum, Al Gore’s Climate Reality and the IUCN. Leah’s augmented reality sound installations have been presented across the world from Times Square in New York City to the Eiffel Tower in Paris for COP21.
Leah leads several research projects including Biosphere Soundscapes and River Listening that focus on advancing the field of ecoacoustics. The design of these interdisciplinary projects are responsive to the needs of collaborating communities and involve the development of new technologies including remote sensing devices for the rainforest canopy and hydrophone recording arrays in aquatic ecosystems.
Professional memberships
- Australian Forum for Acoustic Ecology
- World Forum for Acoustic Ecology
- Climate Reality Leadership Corps
- Australian Music Centre
- Australian Wildlife Sound Recording Group
- International Society for Ecoacoustics
- Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA)
Awards and Fellowships
- 2019 Art Music Awards, APRA AMCOS Australia, Queensland Award for Excellence in Experimental Music for ‘Listening Underwater’
- Griffith University Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2015 – 2017)
- Synapse Residency, Australian Network for Art and Technology (2014)
Professional Social Media
Research grants
Project name | Investigators | Funding body | Year |
---|---|---|---|
River Listening from Source to Sea: Towards a Live Sound Map of Australian Freshwater Ecosystems | Leah Barclay Simon Linke |
Australia Council for the Arts: Emerging and Experiment Arts Projects |
2019 |
Freshwater Ecoacoustics: Live Streaming Audio Underwater | Leah Barclay | Griffith University New Research Grant |
2019 |
Listening to Country: Exploring the value of acoustic ecology with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in prison |
Sarah Woodland Leah Barclay Vicki Saunders Bianca Beetson |
The Lowitja Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research (Project Grant) | 2017 - 2019 |
Biosphere Soundscapes International Workshop | Leah Barclay Vanessa Tomlinson |
Griffith University International Workshops Award |
2018 |
Acoustic Ecology in American National Parks | Leah Barclay | Ian Potter Cultural Trust | 2015 |
Acoustic monitoring of Mary River Turtle Hatching Success |
Simon Linke Leah Barclay Toby Gifford |
Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund | 2014 |
River Listening |
Leah Barclay |
Synapse: Australian Network for Art and Technology and Australia Council for the Arts | 2014 |
Research areas
- spatial audio
- ecoacoustics
- acoustic ecology
- sound design
- conservation technology
- AR/MR/VR
- underwater acoustics
Teaching areas
- Design
Leah Barclay's specialist areas of knowledge include sound design and spatial audio, electroacoustic music composition, music technology and electronic media art, acoustic ecology and ecoacoustics, interaction design and software development, design thinking and interdisciplinary research methods.