Documentary with Newhouse professor’s audio work is nominated for Academy Award

Documentary with Newhouse professor’s audio work is nominated for Academy AwardFebruary 18, 2009SU News ServicesSUnews@syr.edu

Douglas Quin, associate professor of television, radio and film in Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, was mixer and principal sound designer for the Werner Herzog film “Encounters at the End of the World,” nominated for best documentary feature in the 81st Academy Awards. The Oscars will be awarded Sunday, Feb. 22.

Filmed in Antarctica, “Encounters” uses natural soundscapes previously collected by Quin on that southern continent. Sound recordings can be found at http://www.antarctica2000.net, his blog of research, recordings, photos and writings from work in Antarctica. Quin travels widely, documenting natural soundscapes.

In addition to teaching and sound design, Quin is a naturalist, public radio commentator and music composer. He also owns DQMedia, which consults on and creates sound media projects for such varied uses as museum exhibits and computer games. Quin’s writings have appeared in numerous publications, including Polar Biology, Musicworks, Soundscape: The Journal of Acoustic Ecology and The Journal of the Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in the United States.

He serves on the board of directors of the World Sound Foundation and is recipient of several awards and grants, including support from Ars Acustica International, Meet the Composer, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Science Foundation.

Quin holds a bachelor’s degree in art from Oberlin College, a master’s degree in sculpture and media arts from Tufts University and a Ph.D. in acoustic ecology from the Union Institute and University.