Jonathan Eiseman is a Masters student and graduate teaching assistant in the department of biological sciences at Western Michigan University. He studies patterns of human-dominated landscapes through sound. In 2015, Eiseman was invited to join the Sound Ecology lab to record and catalog an extensive acoustic dataset which captured 24/7 soundscapes at nature preserves located in southwest Michigan. He is analyzing this dataset to understand the ecological role of sound and communicate best practices for land managers to incorporate into their conservation strategies. Eiseman hopes that by studying the complexity of sounds in a landscape we can aid the recovery of threatened species and preserve natural habitats.
Recently, Eiseman accepted the role of Board Member of the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology, which is a non-profit organization focused on raising awareness about and advocating for the conservation of cultural and natural sounds throughout the midwestern US. He is excited for the opportunity to serve the Graduate College at Western Michigan University.