Sound is vibration, the physical movement of energy in the form of waves. Sound touches us, even the softest sounds transcend through space, moving air. Every breath we take is physically altering our environment.  It is this concept, the nature of our interconnectedness with our environment, that is the driving force behind Cat's artistic practice. Her research aims to explore the physical qualities of sound and its influence on pattern and formation in the environment as well as how sound affects us, emotionally, perceptually and physically.

Audio Botany [2009 ©] is an ongoing project investigating the effect of sound on growing plants funded by Dundee Visual Arts Awards Scheme. After exploring the affects of sound on the movement of water in Sonorous Form it became clear that sound must affect us physically, as our bodies consist of over 70% water. Since then Cat has been growing sunflower seeds under a variety of different sine waves within the human hearing range. Each set of three plants is grown indoors under a fixed light source and temperature, with a constant sine wave of a fixed frequency sounding from underneath the plant.

Each frequency is tested a number of times to reduce the occurance of anomelies. Cat is currently testing the frequencies 50 Hz, 250 Hz 1250Hz 6250Hz & 15 000Hz. It is too early to suggest any definate trends but so far plants grown under 250Hz seem to grow slightly faster than the others.

Cat is currently seeking further funding to expand the project to explore frequencies outwith the human hearing range.

Royal Horticultural Society released details of a similar project: Can talking to plants bear fruit? Click here to read)