SOUND+PURPOSE: Inaugural conference of the SOUND+ Network for Transdisciplinary Research in Sound

Why are sounds made? What is their function, their intention, their necessity—or their excess? From evolutionary imperatives to creative expression, from communication to the sonification of data, sounds serve a multitude of purposes. But what are we ultimately trying to do with sound? And what should sound research itself aim to achieve?

SOUND+PURPOSE invites researchers of all disciplines to reflect on the fundamental "why" of their work on sound. Rather than focusing on the latest findings, this conference seeks broad, interdisciplinary discussions on the purpose of sound and sound research—whether in scientific inquiry, artistic practice, political activism, urban design, or technological innovation. By articulating the underlying motivations and objectives that drive our engagement with sound, we can uncover shared goals, unexpected synergies, and new collaborative possibilities.

As the inaugural gathering of the SOUND+ Network for Transdisciplinary Research in Sound, this conference is a space to forge connections across disciplines, methodologies, and perspectives. It is also a call to action. Addressing today’s most pressing challenges—from climate change to rising fascism, from urban health inequalities to the ethics of AI—requires recognising sound as both a critical dimension of these issues and a potential avenue for transformative solutions. If you are looking to build purposeful, interdisciplinary, collaborative research projects that harness and interrogate the power and purpose of sound in new ways, we welcome your participation.

Conference contributions can be flexible in format, reflecting different disciplinary traditions and presentation styles, but should focus on communicating the participant's purposes when it comes to sound. Traditional paper presentations of max. 15 minutes are welcome, but technical demonstrations, artistic performances, sound walks and other formats are encouraged too. Please submit an abstract of max. 250 words explaining your intended contribution and format. Participants should also submit a bio of max. 250 words including a statement of their overarching aims and research questions related to sound. All application material should be sent to director [at] lmc [dot] lu [dot] se by 9 June 2025. All accepted contributions will be notified by 27 June 2025, with a full programme published in August.

A limited amount of financial support for travel and accommodation expenses is available only for researchers without access to other sources of funding. Please indicate in your submission if you wish to apply for this.

Founding network members:
Phil Dodds, Lund University 
Christina Mediastika, Universitas Ciputra Surabaya
Holger Schulze, University of Copenhagen 
Jacek Smolicki, Uppsala University
James Mansell, Nottingham University
Katharina Riebel, Leiden University 
Marie Cronqvist, Linköping University
Paul Hegarty, Nottingham University
Robert Willim, Lund University
Sanne Krogh Groth, Lund University 
Sandra Kopljar, Lund University