2024-2025 IoA Diploma Graduates

We couldn’t be more proud of our two 2024-2025 IoA Diploma graduates Caroline McKinlay and Elliott Bains who graduated with merit this year! All that hard work has payed off and very admirable you achieved it whilst working full time.

Both will present their IoA Diploma projects at next February’s Institute of Acoustics London Branch meeting.

Caroline’s project focussed  on the 𝐚𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐬 – an often overlooked but vital part of the school environment. Specifically, she explored how reverberation time affects students’ comfort and overall experience in these spaces. Typically, discussions of school acoustics focus on classrooms due to their impact on student learning and comprehension. However, dining halls also play a crucial role in students’ social development and well-being. These spaces should support rest, connection, and recovery between lessons. Through her research, she hopes to highlight the importance of good acoustic design in helping achieve these goals. We were delighted to also learn that she was awarded the IoA Diploma Prize!

Elliott’s project was entitled ‘𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭’𝐬 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐍𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞’ His research concluded that the Scheme has delivered a clear and measurable reduction of aircraft noise into homes surrounding the airport. The combination of the Global Loudspeaker and Simultaneous Aircraft Methods provided robust data for assessing façade performance and confirmed that upgraded glazing and ventilation systems consistently enhanced sound insulation across the effected frequency range. The scheme has helped shift the internal noise levels of many properties closer in line with UK and WHO guidelines, although performance varied with building geometry and flanking paths. However, overall the scheme provides tangible health and well-being benefits to residents effected by high levels of aircraft noise.

Caroline has also been accepted to present her research at next May’s Design in Mental Health 2026 Conference, which will be a great opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise as acoustic consultants working on projects across the built environment with professionals from all walks of life.