Earth Signals is a new science communication project from the UW-Madison Oceans and Climate Group. In collaboration with faculty and students in the Mead Witter School of Music, we will explore oceanographic and climate science concepts using music and sonification.
Earth Signals: El Niño — a science-inspired musical experience — takes place on April 21, 2025, at 7:30 pm CT in Collins Recital Hall, Hamel Music Center. This event is a transdisciplinary project led by Elizabeth Maroon, Professor of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, whose NSF CAREER Award, “Signals from the Deep” supports cross-campus education and public outreach. In collaboration with Johannes Wallmann, Professor of Music, and students from the Mead Witter School of Music, Earth Signals brings ocean and climate science to life through music.
For this inaugural concert, the UW Bridge Ensemble, an eight-person group blending jazz and classical music, will perform a new composition by Ben Ferris, PhD candidate in the Mead Witter School of Music, inspired by El Niño forecasts. El Niño data will also be converted directly from numbers into sound, a process known as sonification, which will be presented by Hunter Glassford, a senior majoring in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Alongside the performances, attendees will learn about the science behind El Niño and gain perspective on how this climate pattern can affect weather worldwide. Free and open to the public.