NOTE: During this time of social distancing and university life interrupted by the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the Chronicle’s virtual Things to Do provides a variety of opportunities to engage with Cornell resources and programming. See the University Events Calendar for updates.

A sound experience

“The World According to Sound,” the popular sonic-immersion podcast and 90-second radio feature with Chris Hoff ’02 and Sam Harnett, will broadcast a new show to be streamed live May 23, at 8:30 and 11:30 p.m. EDT. Tickets for the show, “Outside In,” are $10; choose a time when buying tickets.

The co-creators have adapted the eight-channel surround sound format of their live show into a mixed and spatialized version for listening with headphones.

“The idea is to bring people together for an hour of deep, communal listening, even though we’re all physically still isolated,” Hoff said. “It’s mostly new material, along with some older stuff, all mixed together into an hourlong sonic trip that will take people outside of their houses to restaurants, sports games, zoos, inside a sourdough starter, to outer space – basically as far away from the pandemic as possible.”

The webcast may include audio from Cornell. As artists-in-residence in the interdisciplinary Media Studies Initiative last fall, Hoff and Harnett recorded sounds across campus, including audio of the hockey and fencing teams and the Introductory Oceanography class taught by Bruce Monger. The artists also collaborated with faculty and students and began production on a series of audio lectures using sounds drawn from Cornell collections.

Local flavors

Chris Kirby ’14, founder of Ithaca Hummus, will be cooking meals online with Ithaca-area chefs and restaurant owners every Friday at 5:30 p.m. in “Restaurant Revival Tour” on Instagram Live.

The series will feature a guest chef, owner or key employee from a different restaurant, preparing a simple dish each week. The first episode is May 22, with Kirby and chef Wynnie Stein from Moosewood Restaurant making za’atar-flavored pita chips.

Kirby aims to promote the local restaurant industry with the series, by highlighting restaurant owners and workers and sharing details such as delivery and takeout service or reopening news.

Senior Spirit Days

The Senior Days Committee and Campus Activities have arranged for a variety of virtual activities May 26-29 to help members of the Class of 2020 celebrate their achievements.

Fun and engaging opportunities to share memories with friends and classmates during Senior Spirit Days will include virtual escape rooms, daily live campus tours on Instagram, a comedy performance and a DIY cooking class May 27; a step-by-step how-to on creating a painting of the McGraw Hall clocktower May 29; and the Cornell Trivia Challenge, also May 29.

A talent show for seniors, “Cornell’s Got Talent: Senior Edition,” is May 28 at 8 p.m. on Zoom; register at the link.

Events and activities are open to the entire Cornell community.

Planning for international research

The Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies will present a session May 28 at 11 a.m. for graduate students engaged in international research. Register for the webinar and submit questions in advance.

“How to Do Research in the Time of Coronavirus” will feature faculty panelists from disciplines including history, nutritional sciences, global development, area studies and government, along with Jan Allen, Graduate School associate dean for academic and student affairs.

Topics of discussion will include how to think about and plan dissertation research; diverse methodologies and innovative approaches; and strategies for making progress in research in a time of travel restrictions and global uncertainty. The panel will be moderated by Rachel Beatty Riedl, director of the Einaudi Center and professor of government.