Hautes-Pyrénées: An English explorer’s fascinating study in the Haut-Adour

From London to Bagnères-de-Bigorre, what brought you to the Pyrenees?

mountains. With my wife, we came to Bagners in 2004 and our children were already born here. But I continue to work at the University of Leeds, and for this study, in relation to other universities in Finland and Sweden, from where I returned.

What is the purpose of your research in Campan Valley?

I try to better understand the soundscapes of the valley, in the city, in Bagneres-de-Pigor, and in more isolated places, forests, fields, etc. These are sounds related to human activities but also related to nature and geography. I work on two axes: on the one hand, the development of basic research methods, and on the other hand, how to go beyond the current thematic maps, to integrate sounds not only in the scene. There is often a gap between sound and visuals.

What is the purpose?

It is a basic interdisciplinary research. This is the future of research. We cannot limit ourselves to a discipline. In my studies, I integrate many aspects: geography, anthropology, biology, … There are already maps for landscapes, roads, pollution but nothing in soundscapes. Its purpose is to better integrate people’s sentiments in decision making.

Exactly, what does it consist of?

Currently, I contract with the respective municipalities and install sound recordings at different locations of my choosing with people. I have already placed thirteen in Pouzac, Campan, Lesponne, and will place others in Bagnères-de-Bigorre, probably near the media library. But don’t worry people, I don’t record their conversations!

Do you work alone or with others?

We work with around a hundred university researchers in Scotland, Sweden and Finland. Here, in the Hautes-Pyrénées, I work with the Pyrenees National Park, the Office National des Forêts, breeders, etc. The idea is to have a wide range of sounds. I realize that approaches are different, but sensitivities are shared.

And you appeal to the citizens too…

Yes. I go on field trips to meet people and ask them about their perception of sounds and their relationship with nature. I ask them for two minutes of silence and try to see if these two minutes are characteristic of the place. I already have 36 testimonials and what is emerging is that since the outbreak of covid, there has been a real awareness of our environment.

How long will this research take?

I started in 2015 and there was no deadline. I like to keep the recordings in place for at least a year to analyze each period of the year.