The honor was presented on May 28, 2026, by the current AES President, Brecht De Man.

The AES Fellowship is among the highest distinctions granted by the Audio Engineering Society. It recognizes individuals whose work has had a lasting impact on the research, development, and practical application of audio engineering technologies worldwide.

Thomas Sporer received the award in recognition of his immense contributions to perceptual quality evaluation of audio and related standardization activities. The honor acknowledges his pioneering work in the field of perceptual audio quality assessment as well as his longstanding commitment to the development of international standards for audio technologies.

Commenting on the award, Thomas Sporer said: “I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from the Audio Engineering Society. It is a special recognition of my scientific work in the field of audio research. My special thanks go to my research colleagues at Fraunhofer IDMT and Fraunhofer IIS, as well as to the international professional community with whom I have had the privilege of successfully collaborating for many years.”

The Audio Engineering Society (AES) is the world’s leading professional organization dedicated to audio engineering. It connects researchers, industry experts, and practitioners while fostering international exchange on the latest developments in audio and signal processing. Its conferences, publications, and awards provide important platforms for scientific visibility and professional discourse within the global audio community.

We congratulate Thomas Sporer on his award!