The Noise Network Plus Education, Outreach and Skills Working Group seeks to improve engineering education and training by embedding both systems thinking and a consideration of sound and noise across all engineering disciplines. Working closely with universities, professional institutions, and complementary initiatives, the group aims to ensure that some consideration of noise is mandatory in engineering education and practice. The chair is Simone Graetzer MIOA.

Our activities extend beyond engineering and formal training to encompass skills development, early-career support, and collaboration with doctoral training initiatives in all disciplines where sound is relevant. We will provide opportunities for members to gain expertise in communication, public engagement, data analysis, entrepreneurship, and leadership, as well as access to internships, policy placements, and cross-sector training.

Public engagement will be a key strand of our work. Alongside traditional outreach activities, we will pursue imaginative routes to engagement such as competitions, artist-in-residence projects, and community-based activities. In doing so, we aim to connect diverse audiences with the challenges and opportunities of noise and sound research.

Noise offers a powerful and relatable way to inspire interest in engineering. By partnering with schools, youth organisations, and STEM initiatives, such as that of the Institute of Acoustics, we will develop noise-themed educational materials and activities to engage the next generation. All efforts will be underpinned by a commitment to ethics, responsibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion.