Linda O'Keeffe, who recently passed her PhD. in the Department of Sociology, has received an IRC New Foundations award for a study titled 'Examining soundscapes, music and technology as methods of social inclusion and creative participation for older people'.
The pilot study aims to challenge the assumption that older people lack the skills or confidence to engage with new technologies. This project will organise workshops to support the use of sound, music and performance technologies by older people using new technologies for recording and editing sound. The project will also organise an academic workshop of international experts in order to build a network of researchers who study older people, technology, urban soundscapes and performance.
The Irish Research Council ‘New Foundations’ scheme supports eligible researchers who intend to pursue research, networking and/or dissemination activities within and across the diversity of disciplines. This scheme provides support for research actions, the development of networks, conference development, conference participation or attendance, workshops and/or more general dissemination activities designed to better communicate the outcomes and values of academic research in Ireland and beyond.