There is a panel discussion regarding the Acoustics in the Workplace in Singapore on 6th March 2017. Please register via this link.
Soundscapes in the Workplace
Soundscapes – Acoustics in the Workplace (Panel Discussion)
Investigation of Chinese word recognition scores of children in primary school classroom with different speech sound pressure levels
New article for an investigation of Chinese word recognition scores of children in primary school classroom has been published. Please visit the journal website in this link.
Abstract:
Chinese word recognition (CWR) test was conducted by grades 3 and 5 children under the different conditions of reverberation time (RT), background noise level (BNL) and speech sound pressure level (SSPL) in three primary-school classrooms. The CWR scores and signal to noise ratios (SNRs) have been obtained at listening positions. Results show that the CWR score for grades 3 and 5 children increases with increase of SSPL, decrease of RT or increase of age, but it decreases with increase of BNL under the same conditions. For a mixed noise of 56 dBA (speech-spectrum-like noise and ambient noise), the CWR scores in the classroom for grades 3 and 5 children reach a peak at SNR of 15–20 dBA under the same RT and age of children condition. For the natural ambient noise, the CWR score for grades 3 and 5 children gradually increases with increase of the SNR. The high SSPL could not guarantee good CWR for children in classroom, which also depends on RT and BNL in classroom. When the classroom has long RT or high BNL, the increase of SSPL would not be necessarily to achieve better CWR. The novelty of the present study is to further evaluate and confirm the results under environments of real classrooms (not simulated room in laboratory).
Classroom of a school in China
Advisor of University of Nottingham
Dr. Siu-Kit Lau is honored to have opportunity to serve as an advisor in the industry panel for the Department of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Nottingham in Ningbo.
The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was the first Sino-foreign university in China. Established in 2004, with the full approval of the Chinese Ministry of Education, they are run by The University of Nottingham with cooperation from Zhejiang Wanli Education Group, a key player in the education sector in China.
Invitation letter for advisor of University of Nottingham
Student Design Competition of a Rural School (Visiting Ningbo)
Sixteen design teams of students in University of Nottingham at Ningbo have been formed for the student design competition of a rural school. Recently, they have visited a Adream classroom in Ningbo. Details can be found in this link.
Classroom of a school in China
The 11th International Conference on Green and Energy-Efficient Building & New Technologies
The 11th International Conference on Green and Energy-Efficient Building & New Technologies and Products Expo has been held in Beijing on March 24 and 25. Dr. Siu-Kit Lau has been invited for a speech regarding the current research at classroom acoustics in China. Results have been compared with a recent study in UK. There are other professionals sharing their studies and experiences in green campus development.
Student Design Competition of a Rural School
University of Nottingham-Ningbo Campus (UNNC) hold a student design competition of a rural school with Adream. Dr. Lau is happy to participate in this event and offer the seminars for the students in acoustics and lighting designs. Faculties in UNNC have visited a school in Gansu. Details please visit this link.
University of Nottingham-Ningbo Campus
An investigation of acoustic treatment for children in a classroom of an elementary school
The South China Univeristy of Technology and Dr. Lau of Armstrong have compared the objective acoustic parameters and students’ subjective responses before and after an acoustic treatment in an elementary-school classroom. Acoustic treatment was done by installing sound absorption materials on the ceiling of the classroom for control of sound reverberation. The effects of reverberation time on children’s speech recognition have also been investigated. Results show that (1) the objective acoustic parameters in the classroom were obviously improved; (2) the subjective loudness of different types of noise sources, that students experienced in the classroom, were reduced; and (3) the speech intelligibility was significantly improved in the classroom after the acoustic treatment.
The article can be found from this link.
Meeting of Acoustical Society of China 2014
Meeting of Acoustical Society of China has been held in Nanjing on November 28th to 30th, 2014. Dr. Siu-Kit Lau has provided a presentations of classroom acoustics during the meeting.
Opening speech of the meeting of Acoustical Society of China 2015
学校建筑室内环境研究中心成立 改善学校声学环境
School Building Indoor Environment Research Center (学校建筑室内环境研究中心）
“School Building Indoor Environment Research Center” has been founded on May 26, 2014. The aim of this center is to offer advanced research to support the movement of green campus and improvement of indoor environmental quality of the learning facilities/classrooms. Acoustic committee has been established at the same date, which members include:
- Prof. Wu Shuoxian (South China University of Technology)
- Prof. Zhao Yuezhe (South China University of Technology)
- Prof. Peng Jianxin (South China University of Technology)
- Prof. Yan Xiang (Tsinghua University)
- Prof. Mao Dongxing (Tongji University)
- Prof. Xie Hui (Chongqing University)
- Lily Wang (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
- Dr. Ou Dayi (Huaqiao University)
- Dr. Siu-Kit (Eddie) Lau (Armstrong)
The ceremony and kick off meeting were held in Beijing on May 26, 2014.
Group photo with Professors
Photo of Dr. Siu-Kit (Eddie) Lau