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Post Summary
The renovation and public closure of Trinity College Dublin’s (TCD) Long Room of the Old Library present an unparalleled opportunity to conduct pioneering research “on”, “through”, and “for” this iconic space. This initiative will redefine how we preserve and enhance one of Europe’s premier cultural heritage landmarks. This project will delve into aspects of the Long Room that have been largely overlooked: its acoustic experiences and sonic architecture. This project will use state-ofthe- art robot-aided acoustic measurements and employ advanced computational and acoustic modelling techniques to create a versatile Acoustic Digital Twin, which will be combined with existing 3D image data. This approach allows for an unprecedented exploration of Long Room's physical properties, enabling new acoustic experiences for both physical and virtual visitors. Previous related research includes the “Jonathan Swift in VR/AR Long Room Project” in 2018. The From Silence to Story project will create immersive XR experiences that preserve and reimagine the library’s significance through site-specific media art and storytelling. This research will set a precedence for future heritage preservation efforts by developing a preservation-by-design strategy accompanied by experts at TCD’s digital library and the Digital Repository of Ireland. This project addresses the Trinity College’s research themes on “Identities in Transformation” and “Digital Humanities” by preserving and innovating the Long Room through state-of-the-art acoustic and digital technologies. By creating immersive and interactive experiences, we aim to foster meaningful connections between visitors and the cultural significance of the Long Room. Furthermore, this project aims to promote inclusiveness by enabling personalised experiences for vision-impaired and hearing-impaired visitors and for those with diverse linguistic backgrounds and neurodivergent needs. We aim to create a resilient digital preservation system for sustainable long-term inclusive access. The project comprises four work packages including the training of four PhD researchers in four different disciplines under one unifying project goal: To preserve, enhance, and reimagine the Long Room Library’s unique acoustic and cultural heritage by creating a pioneering Digital Acoustic Twin that integrates advanced acoustic measurements with immersive storytelling tools, fostering innovative interdisciplinary research and transformative cultural experiences.
Application Procedure
Applicants must submit:
1. PhD project proposal according to SLLCS TCD template, based on above description: https://www.tcd.ie/media/tcd/langs-lits-cultures/docs/SLLCS-PhD-Proposal-Form.doc
2. English-language competency (see accepted supporting documents here: https://www.tcd.ie/study/english-language-requirements/)
3. Academic transcript(s)
4. Academic writing sample in English (2,500 words – can be an extract of a longer work)
5. Curriculum Vitae
6. Names and email addresses of two referees (at least one should be an academic reference).
Please submit the above-mentioned application documents by
26 June 2026 12:00 (GMT) to: Name: Nicole Basaraba, Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities, Trinity College Dublin Email Address:
[email protected]