Music4Change International Research School

Please describe the event you attended.

Under the theme of Interdisciplinarity and Innovation in Music Research, the Music4Change International Research School 2025 took place from 23-26 September 2025 in Thessaloniki, Greece. This event, hosted by a rich collaboration between universities and NGOs, provided a space for researchers, PhD students, and practitioners from diverse international backgrounds to engage with how music and sound research is evolving.

Over the course of four days, we attended panels, presentations and workshops where we explored the ways in which interdisciplinarity and innovation are influencing current approaches to music and sound research, and how these approaches extend their impact across different disciplines including technology, health and education, and across institutions. We also attended music and sound performances that inspired our creativity and strengthened the sense of connection and community among the event’s participants while getting to know the local music culture.

In addition, an unforgettable feature of the school was its emphasis on active participation from PhD students who were invited to present their own research projects, receive constructive feedback from senior researchers, and collaborate with peers. 

What drew you to attend this event? 

The school’s emphasis on interdisciplinarity and innovation was very intriguing for our own research projects that integrate music. Furthermore, this event seemed to be a perfect opportunity to situate our work within a broader international and interdisciplinary conversation around the field of music. The school promised a rich dialogue that could not only inform our research practices but also lead to potential collaborations. Engaging with participants from such diverse backgrounds would expand the scope of what music research can encompass, which in turn would inform our own projects. Another significant factor was how we would have an access to mentorship opportunities. Moreover, the event’s emphasis on supportive environment provided a chance to present our ideas and findings in a fruitful atmosphere and receive input that could help refine our projects.

How was your experience attending the event? What were the highlights and key moments? 

Deniz: This event marked my first opportunity to give an external talk on my PhD project which was indeed very exciting! Presenting to an audience from disciplines different from my own required me to think carefully about how to frame my work. Even during the preparation stage, I considered how to make my ideas accessible across disciplines. This process highlighted the importance of finding a shared language in interdisciplinary settings, and I believe I succeeded in creating a common ground during my presentation! And of course, I am happy that I was able to answer all the questions that were asked to me! What I will remember the most is the genuine supportive environment as this also allowed us to build connections that may develop into collaborations or future research partnerships.

Anna: This was a very friendly and welcoming event, and it was so nice to attend with so many other researchers from Edinburgh. Joining the conference with many colleagues provided an outlet for not only further developing relationships within the group, but also for being connected to those at other universities through this network. I found the talks very engaging and thought-provoking, but what I will remember most are the great conversations I had over many delicious meals in the city centre. 

How was this event relevant to your research, interdisciplinarity and the ACRC Academy? 

Deniz: The event’s scope on interdisciplinarity within music was very relevant to my research which combines different fields, namely, music, technology, design, and ageing. The event underlined for me how essential interdisciplinarity and collaboration are in improving wellbeing through innovation. This connection to the ACRC Academy’s values made the experience feel especially valuable.

Anna: Similar to Deniz, the interdisciplinary focus resonated greatly with my work. Furthermore, discussions and topics at the event called for us to question the meaning of ‘interdisciplinarity’ and to acknowledge the conflicts that can sometimes occur at these intersections of philosophies and ‘ways of doing’. I found that the focus on social connection, which was strongly present on this event, aligned with the ACRC academy’s goals to be a group that is both academically and socially engaged with one another. 

Any lessons learnt / best practices that you’d like to share

Deniz: Inspired by one of the presentations, and with a slight adaptation of the presenter’s original phrasing, I would say: to design responsibly, we need to design responsively. And anyone can change the verb in this sentence to adapt it to their own work. What remains constant, however, are the values we uphold while conducting our work.

Anna: This event reminded me of the importance of being flexible and adaptable – skills which can be developed through an open-mindedness to improvisation. In many academic contexts, we are told to plan to the very last detail; however, I see being open to adapting creatively to change as a fundamental mindset for success.