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Kiri Mealings

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Research fellow, Macquarie University

My research investigates the acoustics (i.e. reverberation/echo, noise levels, and how loud the teacher’s voice is compared to the background noise levels) of open plan primary school classrooms. Open plan classrooms have recently become popular in the UK, Europe, New Zealand, and Australia. These classrooms can have up to 200 children in the one area without any walls between the classes, so they are subject to high levels of noise. I am interested in how the acoustics of these classrooms affect young children’s ability to hear their teacher/classmates and to learn, compared to children in quieter enclosed classrooms.

Experience

  • 2015–present
    Postdoctoral Research Scientist, National Acoustic Laboratories
  • 2012–2015
    PhD Candidate (Researching open plan classroom acoustics), Macquarie University

Education

  • 2016 
    Macquarie University, Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics)
  • 2012 
    Macquarie University, First Class Honours in Speech and Hearing Sciences
  • 2011 
    Macquarie University, Bachelor of Science (Mathematics)
  • 2008 
    Australian Music Examinations Board, Associate Diploma in Music, Australia (Flute)