Eclipse Soundscape Brings a Multi-Sensory Experience to the 2017 Total Eclipse

August 18, 2017 Kit Englard

Description: Gray rectangle outlining an inner rectangle. In the center is a black circle. Behind it is an artists rendition of the light from the corona during a total solar eclipse. Which is the outer-most layer of the sun which outlines the moon.… — Description: Gray rectangle outlining an inner rectangle. In the center is a black circle. Behind it is an artists rendition of the light from the corona during a total solar eclipse. Which is the outer-most layer of the sun which outlines the moon.
Photo credit: ©2006 Miloslav Druckmüller, Peter Aniol Printed with permission

Common sense tells us that those without the full use of their sight will miss the awe-inspiring aspects of the eclipse. Luckily, Dr. Henry Winter thinks outside of conventional wisdom and is bringing this once in a lifetime event to everyone. Winter, an astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory took his passion for inclusive science education and applied it to the solar eclipse by developing the Eclipse Soundscape app. It creates a unique, multi-sensory eclipse experience for those who are blind, visually impaired, and DeafBlind.

Astronomer Wanda Diaz Merced Uses Physics and Technology to Expand Accessibility to the Universe

May 26, 2017 Kit Englard

The ESO telescope located at La Silla, Chile. The building has a gold dome, and is sitting on a hill. In the background is the milky way.

Wanda Diaz Merced is an astronomer who has had a visual impairment for most of her life, and attended school during a time when there was less awareness for the needs of students with disabilities. She grew up in Puerto Rico, where like all children, she became an observer to the world around her. “Even though my parents were poor and I had no exposition to science activities besides the science class in my school, I always knew I wanted to know how things worked.” Merced said of her life. This intrinsic curiosity about the natural world would lead Merced to pursue science as a professional career.

March for Science Denies Internal Climate Problems

May 3, 2017 Kit Englard

Little girl sitting on someone's shoulders at one of the March for Science events, holding a sign which reads, "We need to understand."

March for Science took place last month, the main event being in D.C. with sister marches happening around the country. Overall, the march has been considered to be wildly successful. You can even find images of dogs participating in the event. However, not all people were represented during the events, and we can all guess what got left out. Yep, it’s accessibility.

Youth Slam Puts Science in the Hands of Blind and Visually Impaired Kids

April 24, 2017 Kit Englard

Chemistry lab table, with 3 small bottled and 2 large ones full of colorful liquid. On a chalkboard behind them are various chemical formulas.

Blind children are often not given an opportunity to get involved with STEM (science technology engineering and mathematics) subjects. Nemeth code is not often introduced, and main streamed students simply don’t get access to biology, physics, and chemistry in the same way their sighted peers do. Youth Slam, run by the National Federation for the Blind’s National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS) is stepping in to change all of that.

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