Expertise
MSCA Host at UniPa: Research linked to VOICING (STEAM). Focus on Sonic Heritage, Psychoacoustics, Heritage Acoustics & Virtual Archaeology.
Author
Angela Bellia
Full Professor
University of Palermo
Palermo, Italy
Prof. Dr. Angela Bellia, PI of VOICING (€2M). Expert in Sonic Heritage, Aural Architecture & STEAM. Former MSCA Fellow, evaluator & MCAA Italy Chapter founder.
My organisation
Founded in 1806, the University of Palermo (UniPa) is a prestigious multidisciplinary institution situated at the heart of the Mediterranean. As a cornerstone of higher education in Southern Europe, UniPa combines a profound historical legacy with a forward-thinking approach to scientific innovation and international collaboration. Research Leadership and Competitive Funding The University is at the forefront of the European Research Area (ERA), demonstrating a robust track record in securing competitive funding from Horizon Europe, NextGenerationEU, and the European Research Council (ERC). UniPa is particularly distinguished by its success within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), fostering a vibrant environment for researcher mobility and career development. A testament to its research excellence is the University’s leadership in the Italian Science Fund (FIS), notably hosting the VOICING Project (Advanced Grant). This initiative exemplifies UniPa’s commitment to high-impact, pioneering research that integrates the Humanities and Sciences through a sophisticated STEAM approach. International Strategic Alliances UniPa is a key member of the FORTHEM Alliance (Fostering Outreach within European Regions, Transnational Higher Education and Mobility), a network of nine European universities dedicated to creating a seamless environment for students and researchers. This membership facilitates: Transnational Collaboration: Enhancing joint research initiatives and shared laboratory infrastructures. Talent Attraction: Providing a welcoming and intellectually stimulating ecosystem for international PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows. Knowledge Transfer: Bridging the gap between academic research and societal challenges. Innovation in Heritage and Science The University excels in interdisciplinary research, with a particular focus on Heritage Science, Digital Transformation, and Sustainability. By leveraging advanced digital technologies and immersive environments, UniPa is redefining how cultural and scientific knowledge is produced and disseminated on a global scale.
About me
I am a Full Professor at the University of Palermo, where I serve as the Rector’s Delegate for MSCA, ERC, and FIS programmes. As a leading expert in Sonic Heritage and Digital Heritage applied to Sound Studies, my research bridges the gap between the Humanities and Science (STEAM). My work focuses specifically on aural architecture, heritage acoustics, and the digital reconstruction of ancient performative spaces.
Currently, I am the Principal Investigator of the VOICING Project, an Advanced Grant funded by the Italian Science Fund (FIS) and the Ministry of University and Research (MUR). In this role, I manage a budget exceeding €2 million, leading a multidisciplinary team of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
International Foundation & MSCA Legacy
My academic career is built on a robust international foundation. I have studied and worked in New York, Paris, and Zurich through prestigious mobility schemes, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Erasmus, and Marco Polo. Previously a researcher at the National Research Council (CNR - ISPC), I have led several high-impact projects funded by the European Commission and NextGenerationEU:
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TELESTES: Musics, cults and rites of a Greek city in the West (H2020-MSCA-IF).
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STESICHOROS: The Archaeology of Sound in a Greek City (FP7-PEOPLE-MSCA-IOF).
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AURAL: Exploring the Potential of Immersive Virtual Reality for Experiencing Archaeological Soundscapes (MSCA-NextGenerationEU).
Leadership & Expert Roles
I am deeply committed to the research community, serving as:
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Chair: Archaeomusicology Interest Group, Archaeological Institute of America (AIA).
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Editor-in-Chief: Telestes: An International Journal of Archaeomusicology and the TELESTES Book Series.
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Expert Evaluator: For international agencies including the European Commission (MSCA), COST, the Austrian Science Fund, and the Spanish Research Agency.
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MCAA: Founding member and Chair of the Italy Chapter, and recipient of the "MCAA Outstanding Contributor Award".
Vision & Mentoring
With over 120 publications and 150 international conference presentations, I actively mentor the next generation of scholars, fostering career development in Heritage Science. Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, I combine academic excellence with strategic management, a skill set I solidified through professional training in Managing and Marketing the Arts at NYU. My goal is to continue building thriving networks that connect innovative researchers with world-class institutions.
Skills
- Heritage Acoustics
- Aural Architecture
- Digital Heritage
- Sonic Heritage
- STEAM
- MUSICOLOGY
- Dance Studies
- Immersive VR in Heritage
- History of Music and Dance
- Archeaomusicology or Music Archaeology
Interests
- interdisciplinary research
- Acoustic Ecology
- Sensory Archaeology
- Digital Transformation in Cultural Heritage
- Virtual and Augmented Reality for Heritage
- Psychoacoustics in Ancient Spaces
- Sustainable Heritage Management
- Archaeozoology & Ecoacoustics
- Music Archaeology or Archaeomusicology
- sound studies