Biography

John Hough holds a BSc in Information Technology from NUI Galway, an MA in Postproduction with Sound Design from the University of York, and a Higher Diploma in Interaction Design from DCU. He is currently a Senior Technical Officer in the Department of Music at University College Cork, where he supports digital learning, media production, and research initiatives. John previously worked in the IT industry as a software developer before moving into higher education.
John’s research interests focus on interaction design and the role of AI in education, particularly in relation to trust, user experience, and the adoption of generative AI tools for academic research and teaching. He also maintains an active interest in sound studies, especially the use of ambient sound design in film, which formed the focus of his earlier creative and academic work.

He is a Co-Investigator on the SHOCC project (Sonic Histories of Cork City), a public musicology and digital humanities initiative exploring place, memory, and sound through collaborative research and interactive mapping. He also played a key role in the ATU MakerSpace project, which supported both student innovation and STE(A)M outreach through the development of a network of creative fabrication labs. As part of this work, he developed training materials, service flows, and digital badging pathways to facilitate inclusive, hands-on learning experiences.

In parallel, John led the rollout of a network of self-service professional recording studios across ATU campuses, enabling lean, high-quality content creation by empowering academic staff to independently produce teaching materials.

From 2011–2017, John was a producer for Balcony TV Cork, and he remains a content producer for the IndieCork Film Festival. He has contributed to numerous short films and interdisciplinary arts projects, including:
  • Global Water Dances, Cork Midsummer Festival 2017 – Sound Designer
  • Homespace, Cork Midsummer Festival 2017 – Sound Designer
  • Crash Bang Wallop, Cork Film Festival 2016 – Sound Recordist
  • Museum of Doubts (2014), installation art – Sound Designer
John regularly presents at educational technology conferences and recently delivered a talk on student trust in generative AI chatbots for academic research.

Book Chapters

  Year Publication
(2016) 'Interview 5: Under the skin of film sound—an interview with johnnie burn'
Hough J. (2016) 'Interview 5: Under the skin of film sound—an interview with johnnie burn' In: The Palgrave Handbook of Sound Design and Music in Screen Media: Integrated Soundtracks. [DOI] [Details]

Film or Broadcasts

  Year Publication
(2020) Red Mary Red.
Brian Crotty (2020) Red Mary Red. Film or Broadcasts [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2018) The Butcher.
Noaimh Reilly & Vince Murray (2018) The Butcher. Film or Broadcasts [ Publisher's Version] [Details]
(2010) Seán Ó Sé: A Life in Song and Story.
Mathew Allen (2010) Seán Ó Sé: A Life in Song and Story. Film or Broadcasts [ Publisher's Version] [Details]

Web Page

  Year Publication
(2018) The Sonic Histories of Cork City (SHOCC) Project.
Dr Jillian Rogers, Elaine Harrington & John Hough (2018) The Sonic Histories of Cork City (SHOCC) Project. Web Page [ Publisher's Version] [Details]

Honours and Awards

  Year Title Awarding Body
2019 Finalist - Research Team Award for the SHOCC Project UCC
2019 Finalist - Best Research Project for the SHOCC Project Education Awards

Conference Contributions

  Year Publication
(2021) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Virtual Event hosted by IFLA ENSULIB and Preservation & Conservation Sections,
John Hough, Elaine Harrington (2021) The SHOCC Project Records Cork’s Soon-to-be-forgotten Anthropocene Sound. [Oral Presentation], International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Virtual Event hosted by IFLA ENSULIB and Preservation & Conservation Sections, Online , 06-MAY-21 - 06-MAY-21. [Details]
(2020) Distance Learning Innovations in UCC during the COVID pandemic,
John hough, John Godfrey (2020) Teaching music online using Microsoft Teams & Audiomovers. [Oral Presentation], Distance Learning Innovations in UCC during the COVID pandemic, UCC, Ireland , 24-NOV-20. [Details]
(2020) Digital Humanities Research Colloquium,
John Hough, Elaine Harrington (2020) The Sonic Histories of Cork City (SHOCC) Project: From Idea to 360° Video. [Invited Seminars/Guest Lectures], Digital Humanities Research Colloquium, UCC, Ireland . [Details]
(2020) Culture in Urban Space: Urban Form, Cultural Landscapes, Life in the City,
John Hough, Elaine Harrington (2020) Capturing A City’s Sonic Fingerprint: The Experiences of The Sonic Histories of Cork City Project. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Culture in Urban Space: Urban Form, Cultural Landscapes, Life in the City, Malmo , 03-FEB-20 - 07-MAY-21. [Details]
(2019) ASL Conference and Exhibition 2019: Library - Space, Place, or State of Mind?,
John Hough (2019) Academic and Special Libraries Section Conference. [Oral Presentation], ASL Conference and Exhibition 2019: Library - Space, Place, or State of Mind?, Dublin . [Details]
(2018) Sound Sound Day,
John Hough, Elaine Harrington & Dr Jillian Rogers (2018) Launch of Sonic Histories of Cork City [SHOCC] Project. [Invited Lectures (Conference)], Sound Sound Day, Cork . [Details]

Education

  Year Institution Qualification Subject
2021 Google Certificate IT Support Proffesional
2015 University of York Masters of Arts Postproduction with Sound Design
2011 University College cork Diploma Music
2007 University College Cork Certificate Applied Multimedia
2002 University of Limerick Masters of Science Masters of Science
2001 NUI, Galway Bachelor of Science Information Technology

Teaching Interests

I have contributed to undergraduate and postgraduate modules including:

MU1020 Western Music, Culture and Media
MU6031 Sound Studies & Musicology
MU6030 Research Skills
MU6046 Musicology: History and Trends 
MU2013 Creating Sound for the Screen

Topics I cover include:
Fieldwork
Audio and Video Editing
Podcasting
Sound Design