History of Acoustics at RWTH Aachen University

The Institute of Technical Acoustics (ITA) was founded at RWTH Aachen University in 1963. Its first leaders were Wilhelm Janovsky, Heinrich Kuttruff, and Michael Vorländer. The current director is Janina Fels. In 2021, the institute was renamed the Institute for Hearing Technology and Acoustics (IHTA) due to its increased involvement in interdisciplinary networks at RWTH Aachen University and its increased focus on hearing research. Since 1963, the institute has educated generations of electrical engineering and information technology students, as well as physics and mechanical engineering students, in graduate courses. These increased activities are reflected in a broader range of teaching modules and laboratory equipment. Since 2012, the institute has been continuing with an additional emphasis on hearing technology while maintaining its broad coverage of technical acoustics and acoustic virtual reality.