Cairns Convention Centre has been chosen to host the sixth World
Ecoacoustics Congress this August, due - in part - to its region’s natural
landscape.
The biannual event brings together researchers, scientists,
engineers and practitioners from around the world to explore advances and
innovation in ecoacoustics, the study of natural and human-made sound and how
it relates to ecosystems, biodiversity and environmental change.
Professor Paul Roe of James Cook University, which will
deliver the congress in partnership with the International Society of
Ecoacoustics, said Cairns was one of the world’s most acoustically and
ecologically diverse regions in the world, so was a ‘natural fit’.
“From rainforest soundscapes to reef environments, this is a
place where ecoacoustics can help us better understand ecosystem health,
biodiversity and the impacts of environmental change,” he said.
Professor Roe, a leading figure in the field and whose work
includes the Australian Acoustic Observatory, said although delegate numbers were
expected to be lower than planned due to the global uncertainty, the congress
would deliver ‘meaningful international collaboration, with a clear focus on
advancing the frontiers of ecoacoustics’
Tara Bennett general manager at Business Events Cairns &
Great Barrier Reef, said the congress was also an important win for the
region’s business events pipeline.
“The World Ecoacoustics Congress is exactly the kind of
international meeting that aligns with Cairns’ strengths in science,
sustainability and nature-based experiences.”
“The congress will deliver valuable economic and academic
impact, while also creating strong potential for visitors to extend their stay
and experience the venue, reef, rainforest and wider Tropical North Queensland
region,” added Janet Hamilton, general manager of the Cairns Convention Centre
where the congress will take place from 17-20 August 2026.
