Sounds of New York City (SONYC)

SONYC will run remotely for 2021. Summer 2021 Application now open! 

The Center for K12 STEM Education is pleased to announce the second year of our collaboration with the Sounds of New York City (SONYC) project and the Music, Audio, and Research Lab. A National Science Foundation funded research program, SONYC supports a team of 20 scientists working to engineer cyber-physical systems to help combat NYC’s noise pollution problem. This is tackled by bringing together specialists in acoustics, machine learning, distributed networking, citizen science, digital media, data analysis, and visualization.

Students will be interacting directly with members of the SONYC research engineering team and exploring the underlying science associated with sound. Over the course of 2 weeks, students will get to apply skills and knowledge on actual smart cities technologies.  As noise pollution is one of the topmost quality of life issues for urban residents in the United States--and carries public health consequences--students will be able to study the issues by sampling sounds, studying sound waves in an urban environment, building devices that make and monitor sound and evaluating how the pollution ultimately affects human well-being.

Students will experience cutting-edge research and be able to emulate and apply what they have learned through the use of sensors, microcontrollers, circuits, and other real-world tools of scientists and engineers.

• SONYC is free to attend

• Program runs full dates (approximately 9:00am to 2:00pm), five days a week 

• Please watch your email around the notification date (students and parents/guardians)–if you are accepted to the program a prompt reply will be required

Students who...

• Live in one of the five NYC boroughs

• Have demonstrated interest/are highly motivated in STEM as shown in their application and the required essay

• Are available for the entire program, and are committed to completing it

• Are entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in September 2021

If you do not have one or all of the materials mentioned below, please feel free to still apply!

• A laptop or desktop computer (unfortunately Chromebooks are not compatible)

• A reliable internet connection

• A quiet and/or distraction free area 

Program kit (this will be provided to you free of charge ONLY if you are accepted)

• Application Deadline: May 10, 2021

• Notification of Application: May 17, 2021

• Program Dates: July 26 - August 6, 2021

• Final Expo: Friday, August 6, 2021 (afternoon)