Reflections on the International Noise Awareness Day 2023 Activities

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of the experiences and outcomes derived from the activities organized for International Noise Awareness Day 2023 in Turkey with the theme "Keep your hearing, keep your health". Collaboratively organized by Turkish Acoustical Society, and Occupational Hygienists Society, the initiatives aimed to explore the role of sound in educational facilities, with a particular focus on the perspectives of students and teachers. These activities were a student drawing competition, an online International Symposium, a research project titled "Assessment of Acoustic Conditions in Schools and Health Effects on School," and an "Acoustics Workshop in Educational Buildings" conducted at the Izmir BLX Acoustics Laboratory. Drawing from our experiences and findings, we highlight the significance of actively involving researchers, acoustic consultants, occupational hygienists, teachers, students, and designers in such endeavours. Our findings indicate that inclusive approaches not only boost public engagement but also enhance awareness of behavioural, emotional, educational, administrative and design aspects related to sound. By promoting collaboration and participation in knowledge exchange, such activities significantly improve understanding of sound-related issues in schools.