معرفی
Shawn Greenlee is a Professor and Department Head for Digital + Media at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he also leads the Studio for Research in Sound & Technology (SRST). His academic and artistic career spans over two decades, with significant contributions to the fields of sound art, computer music, and spatial audio research.
Greenlee's educational background includes:
- BFA from Rhode Island School of Design
- MA from Brown University
- PhD in Computer Music and New Media from Brown University
Greenlee's research interests focus primarily on spatial audio, high density loudspeaker arrays, and erratic sound synthesis techniques. His work explores the intersection of technology and sound art, with particular attention to how sound behaves in physical space and how it can be manipulated through computational methods. He has developed custom software for rhythm composition based on geometric principles from Godfried T. Toussaint's work, demonstrating his interest in algorithmic approaches to music creation. His research also extends to soundscape ecology, as evidenced by his Polar Lab Residency project "Edges in the Alaskan Soundscape," where he conducted ambisonic field recordings in Alaska's Kenai Peninsula and Denali National Park.
Analysis of Greenlee's recent artistic output reveals a consistent exploration of spatial sound phenomena and computational approaches to sound creation. His works span from live electronic improvisation to carefully composed spatial sound installations. A notable trend is his focus on environmental sound documentation and transformation, particularly evident in projects like "Sifting" which emerged from his Alaskan field recordings. His technical expertise in ambisonic recording and high-density speaker arrays enables him to create immersive sound experiences that challenge conventional listening perspectives.
Greenlee's recognition includes:
- Polar Lab Residency supported by the Anchorage Museum (2018) for "Edges in the Alaskan Soundscape"
As Department Head for Digital + Media at RISD and leader of the Studio for Research in Sound & Technology, Greenlee guides multiple research initiatives and mentors students in sound art and technology. His upcoming presentations at ICMC 2025 in Boston demonstrate ongoing research collaborations, particularly in loudspeaker array design and spatial audio techniques. His work with students is evident in projects like the "Sound Design for Mobility" group, which produced binaural field recordings during the 2020 pandemic.
Greenlee directs the Studio for Research in Sound & Technology (SRST) at RISD, which serves as a hub for experimental work in spatial audio, sound installation, and computational sound design. The studio supports research in high-density loudspeaker arrays, ambisonic recording techniques, and novel approaches to sound synthesis. Recent projects from the studio include work presented at major conferences like ICMC and NIME, demonstrating its active research agenda and technical innovation in the field of computer music.
