Congrats to Nicole Porter for featuring in the latest Acoustics Bulletin (part of the Institute of Acoustics’ EDI series. Nicole supports the work of our Aviation Sector Team in the company undertaking valuable research on the impact from aircraft noise pollution on affected communities.
Nicole studied physics and modern acoustics at the University of Surrey in the 1980s, when there were few women on the course, and has worked in research and consultancy since – covering areas like aviation noise, environmental policy and community engagement.
A few points from the interview:
⮚Early in her career, she sometimes found people assumed a senior man in the room was the expert. At one international conference, a delegate asked her which attendee was her husband – not realising she was there presenting her own research;
⮚She talks about balancing career with periods of single parenting and other personal changes, and how that shaped her approach to work;
⮚On communication, she notes that whether she’s talking to industry experts or a school class, the goal is the same: avoid jargon and keep it relevant to the audience;
⮚She’s increasingly focused on the human side of acoustics – not just what people hear, but how they experience and respond to sound, and how that ties into fairness, trust and sustainable decision-making;
⮚Her advice to people starting out: don’t get so focused on the numbers that you lose sight of the people involved.
A great reminder that technical expertise and empathy go hand in hand – and that acoustics, still one of science’s “best-kept secrets,” has so much to offer the next generation.
