Page 47 - Volume 8, Issue 4 - Winter 2012

Acoustical News
Elaine Moran
Acoustical Society of America Melville, New York 11747
microphone technology, and seminal work on electroactive materials.”
Gerhard Sessler has helped revolu- tionize the modern microphone mar- ket not once but twice during his career. Dr. Sessler and co-worker James West at Bell Labs invented the first polymer electret condenser micro- phone in 1962, which provided high performance at a smaller size and lower cost. The technology was commercial- ized in 1968 and soon became the world’s dominant microphone, replac- ing the carbon-button microphone that was used in telephones for 100 years and finding applications wherever microphones are being used.
Working with Dietmar Hohm at the Darmstadt University of Technology, Dr. Sessler designed the first microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) condenser microphone based on silicon micromachining in 1983 (the first all-silicon and first one-chip microphone). His lab developed refined micromachining techniques, enabling creation of miniaturized microphones with superior electroa- coustics. These microphones were introduced to the market in 2002 and are used mostly in mobile phones but
European Soundscape Award recipients, Brigitte Schulte-Fortkamp, second from left.
(2011-12) and chair of the ASA Technical Committee on Noise (2006-09).
Gerhard Sessler awarded the 2012 IEEE/RSE Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell Award
Gerhard M. Sessler has been awarded the 2012 IEEE/RSE Wolfson James Clerk Maxwell Award “For pioneering contributions to electroacoustic trans- ducers, the development of silicon
2012 European Soundscape Award
A consortium led by Prof. Dr. Brigitte Schulte-Fortkamp, Technische Universität Berlin, won the European Soundscape Award 2012 for the remodelling of Nauener Platz, a city park in Berlin. The prize, presented at a ceremony in London by the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Noise Abatement Society (NAS), is intended to raise awareness of the health impacts of noise and recognize initiatives that help create more tranquil environments.
The winning project had a highly participatory approach, involving resi- dents and people working in the area. Ideas for creating a new attractive park were collected through public discus- sions and workshops. The people behind the project also organized ’sound walks’ to be sure local people’s expertise was considered in the reconstruction of the park’s soundscape. One of their con- tributions was to identify the areas they felt were most noisy. Although traffic can still be heard in Nauener Platz, users feel that the park has a much more safe and pleasant atmosphere.
Brigitte Schulte-Fortkamp is a Fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and served as its Vice President
HRH Prince Phillip (l) presents award to Gerhard M. Sessler (r)
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