STAFF

The non-profit organization Fragments of Extinction includes interdisciplinary expertise from science, art, sound engineering, exhibition design and communication. Based on the ideas and methods developed in the long-term research project started in 1998, and building on research and insights from bioacoustics, acoustic ecology, electroacoustic technology innovation, soundscape analysis and eco-acoustic composition, the 12-people staff collaborate to promote educational oriented, science-based art exhibitions on the intangible heritage of ecosystems.

David Monacchi
Founding Director

David Monacchi (1970) is an eco-acoustics researcher, composer and interdisciplinary artist. He has been developing the project Fragments of Extinction since 1998, conducting field research in the world’s remaining areas of undisturbed primary equatorial forest. The recipient of multiple awards throughout Europe and North America, Monacchi is pioneering a new compositional and science dissemination approach based on 3D soundscape recordings of ecosystems to raise awareness on the biodiversity crisis through science-based sound art. His Eco-acoustic Theatre invention (a full-periphonic space dedicated to soundscape listening) has received the international patent in 2014 and is now being built in museums and public spaces as SONOSFERA®. He has worked extensively in cross-disciplinary contexts (contemporary music, cinema, video-art, site-specific public art, bioacoustics, natural history and science museums), and is founding member of artistic and scientific networks as the International Society of Ecoacoustics. A research fellow at Simon Fraser University – Vancouver in 1998 and a Fulbright scholar at University of California, Berkeley in 2007, Monacchi has taught at the University of Macerata since 2000, and is now professor of Electroacoustics at the Conservatorio “G. Rossini” of Pesaro (IT). A TEDx speaker in 2017, Artistic Research fellow at IRCAM-Paris in 2018, Monacchi is author of the multiawarded documentary film “Dusk Chorus – based on Fragments of Extinction”. Collaborations with ICCROM and IUCN to promote advocacy in primary forest soundscape conservation, culminated in a recent invited talk for the plenary session of the 2018 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, UN COP-14. Bio

Alex D’Emilia – Official Cinematographer

CURRENT INSTITUTIONAL COLLABORATIONS

Technology innovation:

Conservatory “G.Rossini” of Pesaro (IT) – LEMS-SPACE

University of Southampton (UK) – Institute of Sound and Vibration Research ISVR (BBC Audio Research Partner)

University of Music and Performing Arts of Graz (AU) – Institute of Electronic Music and Acoustics IEM

MH Acoustics LLC (US)

Stanford University (US) – Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics CCRMA

University of California, Berkeley (US) – Center for New Music and Audio Technologies CNMAT

Eco-acoustics Research:

International Society of Ecoacoustics (Paris – world) – Founding Member

University of Urbino (IT) – Department of Basic Sciences and Foundations

Universiti Brunei Darussalam (BR) – Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research

Art and science networks (Fragments is a member of):

ECSITE – The European network of science centers and museums / Associate Member

WFAE – World Forum for Acoustic Ecology (World) – Member

Acoustic Ecology Institute (USA)

GSSN – Global Sustainable Soundscape Network (USA) – Founding Member

LEONARDO – The International Society for the Arts Sciences and Technology (USA-World) – Associate Member

Non-profit and Inter-governmental Organizations:

Greenpeace

Electronic Music Foundation (USA)

ICCROM – SOIMA (Sound and Image Collections Conservation) program