Sound Ecologies

Application deadline: February 28, 2026

TBA21–Academy, in collaboration with the Ars Biologica project, the MEDiverSEAty research network, and artist/researcher Robertina Šebjanič, invite applications for Sound Ecologies, an acoustic inquiry exploring the relationship between biodiversity, investigative listening and ecoacoustics. Sound Ecologies is an online activation series within the framework of OCEAN / UNI Spring semester 2026 Plural Seas, Porous Futures.

Biodiversity is increasingly understood as a multi-layered, relational, and processual phenomenon—a 'living archive' of histories and relations shaped by governance structures, knowledge systems, and modes of sensing. This shift invites us to a move beyond mere measurement toward a situated narration of environments, foregrounding decolonial listening and myth-making as vital investigative tools.

Sound Ecologies emerges from this context as a collective learning environment grounded in listening. Bringing together researchers, artists, and practitioners from diverse fields, the activations invite participants to engage environments through shared inquiry and situated practice. Listening is approached as both a method and an ethical stance, opening space for attentiveness, subtle interaction, and the exploration of relational, more-than-human futures shaped by multispecies co-existence.

The activations are led artistically by Robertina Šebjanič and feature special guest contributions from Earshot, Vladan Joler, and Paula Andrea Zapata-Ramírez.

WHO CAN APPLY?

We are seeking approx. 15 interdisciplinary practitioners who are actively working at the intersection of acoustic practices, critical environmental research, and creative investigation. 

We are looking for practitioners with previous experience in relevant fields:  

• Environmental investigation or critical ecological studies.
• Field recording (hydrophone, air) or acoustic sensing technology.
• Sound art, ecoacoustics, or bioacoustics research.

We encourage applications from practitioners who can contribute expertise from (or across) the following three clusters: 

• The Acoustic & Artistic Investigator (Sound artists & composers, acoustic ecologists, media researchers focused on sonification, field recording, and experimental audio production)
   
• The Scientific & Environmental Specialist (Ecoacousticians, ecologists, and environmental scientists focused on acoustic indices, biodiversity monitoring, and quantifying environmental harm through sound)
   
• The Critical & Investigative Researcher (Anthropologists, environmental humanities scholars, investigative journalists, and critical designers focused on critical theory, decolonial listening, counter-forensics, and situated practice)
   

WHAT WILL WE DO?

We will engage in collaborative research and critical inquiry. Our sessions will be structured around a joint investigative assignment set by the leading artistic voice. A key component involves peer-to-peer skill exchange, where participants share their specialized methods and research outputs. This collective process will be informed and enriched by the presentation of critical use cases and methodological insights from invited guests whose work is rooted in audio investigation and investigative aesthetics, directly influencing our research trajectory and collaborative findings.

SEE PROGRAM DETAILS AND FULL OPEN CALL HERE.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Dates: April 15 – May 20, 2026

Duration: 7 weeks (5 online sessions)

Time commitment: 2 hours per session (approx. 10 hours total session time, 10-20 hours of independent work)

Cost: Free of charge

Stipend: One participant’s project selected for further development in 2027 will receive a stipend of €2,000.

Application Deadline: February 28, 2026

Sessions: April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6, and May 20, 2026. All sessions are held on Wednesdays from 6–8 pm CEST. 

Selected participants are expected to attend all 5 sessions, with the final session dedicated to presentations and pitching of ideas. Sessions are held online via Zoom, and through a dedicated online space on the ocean comm/uni/ty.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be submitted via this Google Form by February 28, 2026, requiring:

• A brief overview of your trajectory and relevant links.
• A short reflection on the skills you bring and those you wish to develop.
• Your motivation for joining this specific activation series.

SELECTION PROCEDURE

• January 15,  2026 – Registration opens
• February 28, 2026 – Deadline – registration closed
• March 6, 2026 – Application reviews ends
• March 9-13, 2026 – Interviews with pre-selected applicants
• March 16, 2026 – Notification of acceptance