International Noise Awareness Day (INAD) is a global campaign, founded in 1996 by the Center of Hearing and Communication (CHC), aiming to raise awareness of noise on the welfare and health of people. Noise affects people in many ways, but only deafness and annoyance receive actual interest from the general public. Worldwide, People are called upon to take part via various actions on this occasion: open days on hearing from acousticians, lectures in public health departments, universities and schools, panels of experts, noise level measuring actions, and readings. The day is commemorated on the last Wednesday of April of every year. It is organized in several countries all over the world, such as in Brazil, Chile, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States of America.

To celebrate INAD 2017, our colleagues in the European Acoustics Association (EAA), which along with INCE-USA is an affiliate of the International Congress on Acoustics (ICA), has developed several interesting activities:

• Α Pan-European competition among young students under a subject related to sound (not necessarily noise), to raise the awareness of the youth on problems due to noise;
• Τhe preparation of systematic courses, workshops, and presentations in schools and cultural organizations around Europe organized by the National Acoustical Societies, aimed at raising the awareness of the students and young people about noise effects on health and well-being;
• Τhe involvement of the Media in disseminating information on INAD 2017 to make the general publice more aware of noise issues;
• Τhe organization of a conference in Brussels in which invited speakers will present new findings on health problems due to noise.

While INCE-USA members are not likely to be able to participate in these events, we still encourage you to mark the day and let others know about it. If you participate in any activities celebrating the day, let us know!