As a result of the corona pandemic, DAGA 2020 in Hannover unfortunately had to be cancelled, and DAGA 2021 in Vienna was also threatened by the crisis. For a long time it was unclear whether it could take place at all as an attendance event. One measure to make the event possible and to increase the plannability was to move DAGA 2021 from March to August, and in addition, to be able to meet all eventualities, a hybrid meeting was planned. This gives interested parties who are prevented from traveling to Vienna the opportunity to participate. At the same time, vaccinated, recovered persons and those who are willing to be tested have the possibility of physical participation. After all, personal contacts are an important incentive to participate in a conference, especially at the DAGA.
> Hygiene measures at DAGA 2021

Planning a hybrid event meant a considerable amount of extra work, especially in uncertain times when predictions of what the situation would be like in August were difficult. Consequently, the planning also faced some headwinds. However, the significant number of vaccinated individuals should allow for an in-person event. Due to the relaxation of COVID regulations in Austria as of July 1, it is possible to hold the DAGA in full. We want to go beyond the legal requirements, maximize protection against infection by making the wearing of masks mandatory, and by occupying only every second seat.

The August date offers a special opportunity to spend a few summery days, gladly with your companion, in one of the most livable cities in the world, beautiful Vienna. For this purpose, we have planned a flexible accompanying persons program, in which we will also provide information about the cultural highlights of Vienna. The DAGA will take place right in the heart of the city.

The capital in the east of Austria is world famous for its artistic and intellectual heritage, which has been shaped by prominent residents such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Egon Schiele, Ludwig van Beethoven, Sigmund Freud, Arnold Schönberg, Gustav Klimt, Otto Wagner and many others.
The cityscape includes, among other things, Vienna's Ringstrasse, dating from the Gründerzeit, which is also home to the State Opera, which celebrated its 150th anniversary just last year and plans a Vienna Opera Ball every year. The historic center, which is circled by the Ringstrasse, and Schönbrunn Palace are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We recommend all visitors* to visit these sights before, after or on free evenings of DAGA.

Vienna is the venue of the DAGA for the second time after 1990. The 47th annual conference will be held at the Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center - close to the city center in the area of the historic Vienna Prater. The former imperial hunting ground has been used as a recreational area since 1766 and as the Vienna Wurstelprater or amusement park since 1825. The area gained international attention at the latest in 1873 for the fifth World's Fair.

DAGA 2021 is mainly planned by the Institute for Sound Research (ISF), an institute of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW). Our 48 staff members conduct applied, interdisciplinary basic research in the field of acoustics, combining findings from numerous disciplines such as physics, psychology, phonetics, communications engineering, biology and mathematics. Consequently, our scientists are regular participants in the DAGA and are involved in a wide range of disciplines. The ÖAW is Austria's central non-university institution for science and research. Founded in 1847 as a learned society, it stands for innovative basic research, interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and the communication of new findings - with the aim of contributing to scientific and social progress. Today, it has more than 770 members and about 1,700 employees. The orientation of the DAGA is also committed to this mission.

We are all very much looking forward to finally being your hosts and welcoming you to Vienna.

With confident greetings,

Holger Waubke and Peter Balazs (conference chairs)
and the entire DAGA team