Program Overview

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Marine Acoustics, Sonar Systems, and Signal Processing Short Course

The Marine Acoustics, Sonar Systems, and Signal Processing Short Course is a comprehensive program designed to provide scientists and engineers with a fundamental understanding of acoustic underwater sensing. This interdisciplinary field requires input from environmental and target acoustics, sonar system design, and signal processing.

Course Overview

The course will give participants the necessary background for reviewing current technical literature or for taking more focused courses. It covers a broad array of basic and applied research topics, including the fundamentals of acoustics, sonar concepts, introduction to propagation, scattering, reverberation, and ambient noise.

Dates and Location

• Dates: June 8 – 12, 2026
• Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Program Details

The course format consists of two days of basic introductory lectures focused on fundamentals and two days allowing for students to choose between two concurrent sessions on more specialized topics in acoustics, sonar, and signal processing. The last day consists of tank demonstrations highlighting the week's lecture material. Participants receive notes in electronic form for all sessions.

Course Costs

• Course fee: $2,375 per person
• Included in the course fee:
  • Daily lunch
  • Welcome reception and dinner
  • Farewell dinner
  • Course materials provided in electronic format
• Not included:
  • Participant's travel
  • Accommodations
  • Meals other than stated above

Graduate Student Discount

A discount of 50% off the registration fee is offered to five graduate students on a first-come, first-serve basis. To be eligible, students must provide proof of enrollment in an accredited graduate program.

Course Agenda

The course agenda includes the following topics and sessions:

• Monday, June 8, 2026: Fundamentals of Acoustics, Sonar Concepts Overview
• Tuesday, June 9, 2026: Introduction to Propagation, Overview of Scattering, Reverberation, and Ambient Noise
• Wednesday, June 10, 2026: Concurrent sessions on Advanced Detection Concepts, Marine Acoustic Remote Sensing, Marine Bioacoustics, and Imaging Sonar
• Thursday, June 11, 2026: Concurrent sessions on Adaptive Signal Processing and Underwater Acoustic Communications, Array Concepts, Acoustic Scattering, and Transduction Materials and Devices
• Friday, June 12, 2026: Demonstrations in Acoustics and Signal Processing

Instructors

The course instructors are experts in their fields, with backgrounds in academia and industry. They include:

• Doug Abraham
• Thomas Blanford
• Daniel Brown
• Anthony Lyons
• Jennifer Miksis-Olds
• Derek Olson
• James Preisig
• Chad Smith
• Lora Van Uffelen

Accommodations

Accommodations are available at Mills Hall on the UNH Durham Campus. Single occupancy rooms are $63 per person per night. Other options are available within walking distance of the campus or in nearby cities.

Transportation and Parking

The nearest airports are Boston-Logan International Airport, Manchester Airport, and Portland Jetport. Parking permits are required for vehicles on campus and can be purchased at the time of registration.

Payment and Cancellations Policy

Payment can be made by VISA, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. Cancellations must be submitted in writing and refunds, less a cancellation fee of $50, will be given if received 15 days prior to the event. There will be no refunds for cancellations received less than 15 days prior to the scheduled event.

Continuing Education Credits

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are based on a standard of 1 unit per 10 hours of classroom instruction. Participants will receive up to 36 hours for attending the entire course and will be awarded a certificate for the CEUs earned.