Research Update: Studying Underwater Bioacoustics in Hong Kong

I am excited to share that I have arrived in Hong Kong to begin my Laidlaw Scholars research project, Development of High-fidelity Underwater Recording Systems for Capturing Coral Soundscapes, under the supervision of Prof. Nicholas Fang and Dr. Erqian Dong.

Jul 11, 2025

Sky Taylor

Undergraduate Aerospace Engineer, University of Leeds

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Update:
Snapping shrimp generate intense acoustic signals through cavitation bubbles formed by rapid claw closure. These sounds influence underwater communication, potentially disrupting both sonar technologies and marine mammals' echolocation. My project involves hydrophone recordings in controlled laboratory settings and field observations in Hong Kong’s coastal waters to analyse these acoustic behaviours.

Next Steps:
In the coming week, I will be constructing traps to collect live specimens for recording in the Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) facility. Further updates will follow as the research progresses.

I welcome any questions or discussions and look forward to sharing more detailed findings in future posts.

Sky Taylor (She/Her)

Undergraduate Aerospace Engineer, University of Leeds

I’m a first-year Aerospace Engineering student at the University of Leeds and a proud 2025 Laidlaw Scholar. I’m actively involved with the Leeds University Rocketry Association (LURA), where I work as a Recovery Engineer and Operations Coordinator. Outside of academics, I’m passionate about adventure and personal growth - I’m currently training for my solo skydiving licence, I practice kickboxing, and I’m always up for a thrill. I’m a people person who loves connecting with others, learning new things, and making the most of every opportunity. My research project is 'Development of High-fidelity Underwater Recording system for Capturing Coral Soundscape'.