The Institute of Acoustics (IOA) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established in 1964 as a spinoff of the CAS Institute of Electronics in response to the nation’s strategic need for acoustic research.
IOA is a comprehensive research organization specializing in the study of basic and applied acoustics, information processing technologies and fields related to the nation’s needs. IOA’s research focuses on underwater acoustics and underwater acoustical detection, environmental acoustics and noise control technologies, ultrasonics and acoustical microelectromechanical system technologies, communication acoustics and language and speech information processing, integration of acoustics and digital systems, and network new media technologies.
IOA aims to do research at the frontiers of acoustics and information processing technologies. Its goal is to make important contributions to our nation in the fields of security, energy, life and health, information networks and ocean management through scientific innovation and systems integration.
The institute consists of nine laboratories/research centers in Beijing, including the State Key Laboratory of Acoustics and the National Network New Media Engineering Research Center, as well as four CAS key laboratories on noise and vibration research, the underwater acoustic environment, speech acoustics and content understanding, and information technology for AUVs, and three research centers on underwater acoustic engineering, ocean acoustics, ultrasonics technologies, respectively. In addition, the institute has three field stations located in Hainan, Shanghai and Qingdao, respectively.
By the end of 2018, IOA had a staff of 852, including about 794 scientific and technical personnel, among which are four CAS academicians. The institute also trains graduate students in the fields of acoustics and information processing technologies. At present, the institute has an enrollment of 262 master’s students and 273 doctoral students. It also has 24 postdoctoral fellows.
IOA has made significant progress in research innovation. IOA independently developed the acoustical system for the China's first manned submersible Jiaolong, and then "Development & Application of Jiaolong Submersible" won the First Prize of 2017 State Science and Technology Progress Award. Besides, IOA also designed the acoustic system for China’s new manned submersible Shenhai Yongshi achieving high-speed and reliable communication, which was officially delivered on December 1, 2017.
In 2018, IOA researchers had published 435 papers, with 69 included in SCI journals and 130 in EI. At the same time, 236 patents were granted to IOA researchers.
The institute places great emphasis on international cooperation and academic exchange and has carried out successful collaboration with many well-known universities and institutions in the USA, France, the UK, Germany, Australia and other countries. In 2018, about 146 IOA staff travelled abroad for academic exchange. In the same year, 14 foreign experts and scholars visited the institute. IOA has also organized many high profile international conferences and seminars that have brought together researchers from the worldwide scientific community for academic exchange and cooperation.
The 2021 International Congress on Ultrasonics will be held in Beijing co-hosted by IOA and the Acoustical Society of China.
In response to the Belt and Road Initiative, IOA have launched eight international cooperation projects with Russia, Portugal, Norway and other countries, to explore acoustical environment features in the Artic, the Atlantic and other areas. Meanwhile, IOA researchers have found an old wrecked ship in Sri Lanka via acoustical instruments, accomplishing the first scientific investigation in the Indian Ocean by China.
In addition, IOA is the sponsor to Acoustical Society of China (ASC) and seven academic journals, including Acta Acustica (Chinese and English version), Applied Acoustics, Journal of Network New Media, Technical Acoustics, Microcomputer Application, Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology and Chinese Journal of Interventional Imaging and Therapy. The National Acoustic Standardization Technology Committee, the Environmental Physics Branch of Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences and some other academic organizations also affiliate to IOA.