Volume 14, Number 4, December, 2006 - Noise News International

Member Society Profile
The Canadian
Acoustical Association
The Canadian Acoustical Association (CAA)
will celebrate a significant milestone in April
as it notes the 30th anniversary of its official
incorporation. The group was founded in 1962 as
the Canadian Committee on Acoustics. The name
was officially changed to the Canadian Acoustical
Association in 1974 with incorporation following
three years later. CAA became a Member Society of
International INCE in 1978.
A primary goal of CAA is to foster communication
among people working in all areas of acoustics
in Canada. The organization is also focused on
promoting the growth and practical application of
knowledge in acoustics and encouraging education,
research, protection of the environment, and
employment in acoustics. From its initial gathering
of 18, CAA has grown to a membership of several
hundred that serves as an umbrella organization
through which general issues in education,
employment and research can be addressed at the
national and multidisciplinary levels.
The primary publication of CAA is Canadian
Acoustics, a quarterly journal distributed at no charge
to members. The journal was launched in 1983; prior
to its publication, the group shared information in a
traditional newsletter format. In addition to refereed
articles in two languages (French and English),
the journal publishes news items on all aspects of
acoustics and vibrations as well as information on
research, reviews, and new products. The journal
is also a primary source for professionals seeking
employment in an acoustics field.
CAA fulfills its education mission in several ways.
Since 1990, the organization has hosted an annual
“Acoustics Week in Canada” conference. Generally
a two and one-half day event, the conference offers
papers, seminars, workshops, poster sessions and
an exhibit. Conference attendance ranges from 100-
150 participants. Summary papers are published
in a proceedings issue of the journal. Planning is
underway for the 2007 event, which will be held in
Montreal. Conference sessions will be organized
around the general theme of aeroacoustics, a fitting
topics for a region considered by many as the
“aerospace capital of the world.”
Students have always been a top CAA priority.
The organization actively encourages student
participation in its events, frequently sponsoring
student paper competitions and offering student
travel subsidies. Several prizes are awarded
annually to graduate students and post-doctoral
fellows. The group also recognizes the efforts of
undergraduates and high school students. CAA’s
significant slate of awards also includes special
prizes for researchers.
CAA is governed by an eight-member Board of
Directors. The organization has seven officers,
including a president (currently, Stan Dosso,
School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University
of Victoria), past president, executive secretary,
editor-in-chief, and two AWC conveners. General
membership inquiries are fielded by the executive
secretary (currently, David Quirt, secretary@caaaca.ca);
information on the journal is available
from the editor-in-chief (editor@caa-aca.ca). The
organization also has a website in French and
English: www.caa-aca.ca.
NNI
This is the 56th in a
series of articles on
the Member Societies
of International INCE.
2006 December www.inceusa.org • www.noisenewsinternational.net • www.i-ince.org
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