Lead Researcher = Dr Sarah Payne, Heriot-Watt University

Dr Sarah Payne is Associate Professor of Health in the Built Environment. Her research interests focus on multi-sensorial impacts of built environment designs on people, including the perception, evaluation, and assessment methods for urban soundscapes. Dr Payne is a Chartered Psychologist specialising in Environmental Psychology, and applying these guiding principles to engineering and planning problems that interface with human perception and responses.

Sarah over sees Project DeStress, conducting the research, managing the team, liaising with project partners, and engaging with the public about the project.

Post-Doctoral Research Assistant = Dr Neil Bruce, Heriot-Watt University

Dr Neil Bruce is a Research Associate and an audio engineer, composer, and sound designer, specialising in field recordings. His research interests focus on soundscapes, psychoacoustics and perception of, and attitudes towards sound. Neil has a PhD in Acoustics (thesis ‘The effects of expectation on the perception of urban soundscapes) and MSc in Signal Processing. Neil has extensive experience with ambisonic, binuaural, stereo recording techniques and has recorded soundscapes around the world for both research and arts projects. During his PhD, Neil developed a soundscape simulation tool.

Neil will be in charge of making and editing the audio recordings and visual images, to create the visual soundscape simulator for the project. He will also assist Sarah in many other aspects of the project.

Research Assistant = Debbie McCracken, Heriot-Watt University

Debbie McCracken is a full-time PhD student at Heriot-Watt University, researching associations between urban greenspace and the health and wellbeing of children. She holds a first class BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Human Health as well as an MSc in Urban and Regional Planning. Debbie is also the Social Media Editor for the academic journal Cities & Health and has a keen interest in how our environments affect our health and wellbeing.

Research Assistant = Jordan Greenhorn, Heriot-Watt University 

Jordan Greenhorn is a 5th Year MEng Architectural Engineering Student at Heriot-Watt University. Jordan has a keen research interest in acoustics and soundscapes having undertaken a soundscape laboratory project and his 4th year undergraduate dissertation in examining how acoustic comfort varies across different office environments. As well as this, Jordan has completed work placements both with BuroHappold and Atelier 10, with a keen interest in sustainable building services design.

PhD student and Project Partner = Ms Lisa Lavia, The Noise Abatement Society

Ms Lisa Lavia is the Managing Director of The Noise Abatement Society who raise awareness and educate about measured, considered, and responsible use of sound. Over a number of years, she has been involved with soundscape research and exploring different types of soundscape interventions in public spaces to improve people’s wellbeing. Lisa will assist in the dissemination of the mapping survey for identifying quiet and calm areas within Brighton. Within Project DeStress Lisa is on the advisory panel and will be involved with knowledge exchange processes for Work Package 1 and 4, which involve public engagement activities and knowledge exchange with design professionals and council officials.

Project Partner = Professor Marketta Kyttä, Aalto University, Finland 

Professor Marketta Kyttä is an expert in Public Participatory Geographic Information Systems and a Professor in Land Use Planning at Aalto University. Marketta will advise Sarah in the development of a mapping survey for the public to identify quiet and calm areas within UK cities. Within Project DeStress Marketta is on the advisory panel and will be involved with knowledge exchange processes for Work Package 1.

Project Partner = Mr Jack Harvie-Clark, Apex Acoustics

Mr Jack Harvie-Clark is the Director of Apex Acoustics which is a dedicated independent acoustics consultancy, offering design advice for both buildings and environmental acoustics. He is also the chair of the Association of Noise Consultants. Jack is on the advisory panel of Project DeStress and will assist in reviewing and user-testing the Visual Soundscape Simulator while it is being developed in Work Packages 2 and 3.

Project Partner = Mr Clive Bentley, Sharps Redmore

Mr Clive Bentley is an Associate Consultant at Sharps Redmore who are independent, acoustic, noise and vibration consultants. Recently he has been developing a tool for mapping tranquillity. Clive is on the advisory panel of Project DeStress and will assist in providing acoustic data for tranquil urban areas as well as reviewing and user-testing the Visual Soundscape Simulator while it is being developed in Work Packages 2 and 3.