Sound occurs when something, anything, vibrates. For there to be sound, there must be vibration. The consequences, however, go beyond sound. They also have political and societal impact when experienced by humans and non-humans. This seminar will explore how sound shapes environments and investigate why listening is as important as looking when trying to understand how places are constructed. We will also investigate the ways soundscapes are changing due to human impacts and why focusing on the sonic world can reveal the uneven power relations which structure society, exploring the soundscapes of Alpbach. We will create our own sound project using sounds recorded during the week to examine the relationship between people, place and the sonic environment.