Sept. 7, 2023

Media availability with Gov. Hobbs and University of Arizona President Robbins on New Frontiers of Sound Science and Technology Center

• What: Gov. Katie Hobbs and University of Arizona President Robert C. Robbins will discuss the university's New Frontiers of Sound, a National Science Foundation Science and Technology Center funded by a five-year, $30 million grant from the NSF. They will be joined by center leadership.
• When: Thursday, Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m. (PT)
• Where: On Zoom. Media who wish to ask questions via Zoom must RSVP to Nick Prevenas at nprevenas@arizona.edu by Thursday, Sept. 7, 8 a.m. (PT) to receive the link.
• Online public broadcast: The event will be streamed live on the UArizona YouTube page.
• Electronic press kit: https://arizona.box.com/v/New-Frontiers-of-Sound

TUCSON, Ariz. – Topological acoustics is a new way of looking at sound that allows researchers to see and manipulate attributes of sound that aren't visible in traditional acoustics. This precise level of control could vastly improve computing, telecommunications and sensing. Applications could include quantum-like computing speeds, reduced power usage of smartphones, and the ability to sense changes in aging infrastructure or the natural environment due to climate change.

The NSF has granted the University of Arizona $30 million over five years to establish a new NSF Science and Technology Center. The New Frontiers of Sound STC, which comes with an additional $30 million option over the following five years, will bring together researchers working in topological acoustics. The center will also provide training and education across multiple disciplines and backgrounds, building a common language around this field of science that represents the diverse needs of the world.

Gov. Katie Hobbs and UArizona President Robert C. Robbins will join leaders from the New Frontiers of Sound STC to talk about the new center during a Sept. 7 media availability. Additional speakers include:

• Pierre Deymier, center director, project principal investigator and professor of materials science and engineering
• Sara Chavarria, co-principal investigator, assistant dean of research development in the UArizona College of Education and assistant director of the UArizona STEM Learning Center
• David W. Hahn, the Craig M. Berge Dean of the UArizona College of Engineering

Media who wish to ask questions via Zoom must RSVP with name, outlet and email address to Nick Prevenas at nprevenas@arizona.edu by 8 a.m. (PT) on Thursday, Sept. 7, to receive a Zoom invitation.

The event also will be streamed live on the University of Arizona YouTube page.

"Topological acoustics exploits attributes of sound waves that have remained hidden so far," said Deymier, who has been with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering for more than 38 years and is also a member of the university's BIO5 Institute and a professor in the Applied Mathematics Graduate Interdisciplinary Program. "It harnesses the full power of acoustic waves. That suddenly enables extraordinary properties of sound – such as sound waves that mimic quantum waves or that can hit a hard surface without generating an echo – that can affect a huge number of technologies."

Topological acoustics is essentially supercharging the field of acoustics and allowing researchers to see information they couldn't see before – like putting on a new pair of glasses. Or, better yet, a new pair of hearing aids.

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