The following students were recognized by NCAC with Student Travel Awards at Noise-Con 2024 June 10-12 in New Orleans, LA.

• Ziqi Chen, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, is working with Prof. Ning Xiang on applying the estimation of the tube dissipation estimation. Due to multiple dissipative effects in impedance tubes, transfer function/matrix methods may suffer from errors caused by the additional dissipation in tubes. Some efforts were put into developing a more general solution to the tube dissipation during the acoustic measurements. This work will be a great improvement for the impedance tube measurement and help the community understand the importance of tube dissipation in the impedance tube measurement.
• Janith Godakawela, Michigan Technical University, is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering-Engineering Mechanics at Michigan Technological University. Janith’s research is primarily centered around investigating and modeling the behavior of engineering acoustical materials, with a specific emphasis on additively manufactured Triply Periodic Minimal Surface (TPMS) based structures. Through this research, Janith aims to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in acoustical engineering, with a specific emphasis on the design, fabrication, and characterization of novel materials capable of manipulating sound waves and explore their potential applications in diverse fields. Janith writes, “I am deeply motivated by the prospect of leveraging my expertise to contribute to societal well-being, particularly in areas such as noise reduction, environmental sustainability, and enhanced acoustic comfort.
• Song Guochenhao, Purdue University, is a graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. After graduating from SJTU, Song joined the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories at Purdue University. Since then, Song has worked on a variety of projects, including: Experimentally studying and modeling granular materials to develop and optimize hybrid acoustic treatments with granular materials that can be used in the back cavity of MEMS speakers, buildings, and automobiles; developing a sound quality model to predict the annoyance due to office tonal noises; relating the acoustic signatures of an HP printer to faulty components and developing a tool to simulate printer noise under normal/abnormal conditions; measuring the wavenumber of the air in a standing wave tube, to provide suggestions for further revision of the ASTM E1050 and E2611 standards; and testing transparent, flexible, wearable piezoelectric films’ spatial responses with different geometries and loading conditions.
• Srinu Ippili, University of Kentucky, is currently a PhD candidate majoring in Mechanical Engineering (specializing in Vibro-acoustics and Artificial Intelligence) under the supervision of Dr. David Herrin. Srinu’s doctoral research is tailored to obtain a subject matter expertise in acoustics, specifically focusing on “Industrial Noise” emitting from machinery and its control using cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence techniques. Sogand Okhovatian, University of Toronto, Canada, is a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the University of Toronto, specializing in manufacturing and energy systems, pursuing minors in advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and sustainable energy.
  These students were accepted to present their acoustics research during the conference, demonstrated an interest in pursuing a career in acoustical consulting, and were recommended by a faculty member for this award.

The purpose of NCAC Student Travel Award program is to provide financial travel assistance to college and graduate students interested in becoming acoustical consultants so that they may attend professional conferences relevant to our field, to participate by preparing and presenting a technical paper. These honors have been made possible through financial support from NCAC Platinum and Gold sponsors.