The International Year of Sound (IYS 2020+) has been a very successful event organised by the ICA on a global scale in the Years 2020-2021. Despite the challenges of this period due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions that followed, the ICA member organisations and supporters found new and innovative ways to promote the motto of the IYS 2020+, highlighting the importance of sound in our world.

Edited by Marion Burgess and Michael Taroudakis, the Final Report of the International Year of Sound stands as an exhaustive record of international scientific collaboration, not only recounting the long journey towards its realisation and the collective commitment that drove its global success, but also documenting how the acoustics community adapted to unprecedented pandemic challenges to advance the public understanding of sound, noise control, and hearing conservation.

For further information and to download the relevant documents, please refer to the IYS 2020+ FINAL REPORT page.

To sustain the momentum generated by the International Year of Sound 2020–2021 (IYS 2020+), the International Commission for Acoustics established the ICA International Year of Sound Award for Outstanding Outreach Activity. This annual accolade honours exceptional public engagement and promotional initiatives carried out on behalf of ICA Member Societies or International Affiliates, reinforcing the vital role of sound and noise control in wider society.

The award is retrospective, acknowledging remarkable achievements in public outreach spearheaded by an individual, committee, or working group within a member organisation.

It seeks to inspire member societies to devise innovative public engagement strategies, foster inter-society collaboration, and raise awareness regarding hearing health, acoustics, and soundscapes.

The recipient Member Society or International Affiliate receives a financial grant, which may be allocated at its discretion to support, expand, or seed future public outreach endeavours.

For further information and to fill out the application form, please refer to the IYS 2020+ AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING OUTREACH ACTIVITY page.