The Tactile Universe: accessible astrophysics for vision impaired school children
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation
Abstract
The Tactile Universe is an award-winning public engagement project based at the University of Portsmouth's Institute of Cosmolgy and Gravitation that is empowering and raising the aspirations of students with vision impairments (VI) by making current astrophysics research topics accessible to them.
To date, the project has developed and used its tactile resources to help VI children experience the size and scale of our solar system and understand what gives every galaxy in the Universe its own unique colour and shape. With the support of the STFC, the project now has the chance to expand to cover even more exciting topics, and ensure its legacy in the coming years.
Predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916, as part of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves were not detected until 2015, when the merging of two black holes in a distant galaxy (one of the most cataclysmic and energetic events that can occur in the Universe) caused ripples in space-time that were detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) instrument.
Working with LIGO scientists at the University of Portsmouth and around the UK, the Tactile Universe team will develop resources and activities suitable for VI students aged 14-16, covering the detection of, and science behind, gravitational-waves.
To make sure that the project's resources, old and new, reach everybody that they can, the Tactile Universe is working to train and grow a network of presenters who will deliver activities to VI students wherever they are based.
The resources that the Tactile Universe will develop during this STFC Legacy Award will also be made available online through www.tactileuniverse.org, alongside our existing tactile resources, lesson plans and guides currently shared on the website. With access to a 3D printer, anybody will be able to download and make their own set of tactile resources to feel the awe inspiring shapes and structures of galaxies and understand gravitational-waves, one of the most exciting areas in astrophysics today.
To date, the project has developed and used its tactile resources to help VI children experience the size and scale of our solar system and understand what gives every galaxy in the Universe its own unique colour and shape. With the support of the STFC, the project now has the chance to expand to cover even more exciting topics, and ensure its legacy in the coming years.
Predicted by Albert Einstein in 1916, as part of his theory of general relativity, gravitational waves were not detected until 2015, when the merging of two black holes in a distant galaxy (one of the most cataclysmic and energetic events that can occur in the Universe) caused ripples in space-time that were detected by the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) instrument.
Working with LIGO scientists at the University of Portsmouth and around the UK, the Tactile Universe team will develop resources and activities suitable for VI students aged 14-16, covering the detection of, and science behind, gravitational-waves.
To make sure that the project's resources, old and new, reach everybody that they can, the Tactile Universe is working to train and grow a network of presenters who will deliver activities to VI students wherever they are based.
The resources that the Tactile Universe will develop during this STFC Legacy Award will also be made available online through www.tactileuniverse.org, alongside our existing tactile resources, lesson plans and guides currently shared on the website. With access to a 3D printer, anybody will be able to download and make their own set of tactile resources to feel the awe inspiring shapes and structures of galaxies and understand gravitational-waves, one of the most exciting areas in astrophysics today.
Organisations
- University of Portsmouth (Lead Research Organisation, Project Partner)
- University of Glasgow (Collaboration)
- Royal Astronomical Society (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Ogden Trust (Collaboration)
- South East Physics Network (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Royal National Institute for Blind People (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- CARDIFF UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- The Ogden Trust (Project Partner)
- Royal National Inst of Blind People RNIB (Project Partner)
- CARDIFF UNIVERSITY (Project Partner)
- University of Glasgow (Project Partner)
| Description | STFC Legacy Award top-up Funding 2023 |
| Amount | £14,902 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2023 |
| End | 03/2023 |
| Description | STFC Legacy Award top-up funding 2020 |
| Amount | £6,937 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2020 |
| End | 03/2021 |
| Description | Partnership with Gravitational Wave Research Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | Physics and Astronomy Department |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided presenter and resource training to gravitational wave research group. Provided gravitational wave research group with with a gravitational wave resource kit. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Feedback on project resources being developed to communicate science of gravitational waves. Hosted a gravitational wave presenter and resource training session in late 2023. Gravitational wave research group members intend to use Tactile Universe gravitational wave resources in future schools and public engagement. |
| Impact | Ran a presenter training workshop in late 2023 for gravitational wave researchers focusing on our gravitational wave resources Tactile Universe have provided a gravitational wave resource kit to be used in future schools and public engagement. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Partnership with Royal National Institute for Blind People (RNIB) |
| Organisation | Royal National Institute for Blind People |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | N/A |
| Collaborator Contribution | Help promoting the project through RNIB Connect radio. Access to the expertise and experience of the RNIB Bookshare Manager. Affiliation with a national charity associated with sight loss. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnership with School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Provided training to the department's outreach officers and to members of the gravitational wave research group Provided the department with 6 solar system and galaxy resource kits Provided the department with a gravitational wave resource kit |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cardiff University hosted a Tactile Universe presenter training workshop in early 2023, attended by internal outreach officers & researchers, as well as external educators, specialist teachers, academics and members of the public. The outreach and public engagement team from the School of Physics and Astronomy now hold 6 tactile universe solar system and galaxy resource kits and are acting as a resource hub for Wales. They have also begun to deliver Tactile Universe workshops to local primary schools. The outreach and public engagement team from the School of Physics and Astronomy have provided feedback and ideas for the development of accessible resources around the science of gravitational waves. Members of the outreach and public engagement team, as well as the gravitational wave research group from the School of Physics and Astronomy attended a presenter training workshop in late 2023 and have been provided with a Tactile Universe gravitational wave resource kit to use in future schools delivery and public engagement. |
| Impact | Ran a presenter training workshop in early 2023 hosted by Cardiff University for Welsh educators, science communicators, researchers and members of the public interested in using our resources. Ran a presenter training workshop in late 2023 for gravitational wave researchers and outreach officers focusing on our gravitational wave resources Tactile Universe have provided a gravitational wave resource kit to be used in future schools and public engagement. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Partnership with the Ogden Trust |
| Organisation | Ogden Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | A number of Ogden Outreach Officers have continued to use the resource kits which provided to the Ogden Trust during our previous award. Ogden Outreach Officers were trained to use our resources during an Ogden Outreach Officer's annual meeting. We were also invited to run a teacher training workshop at an Ogden Trust Schools Partnership meeting. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Access to the expertise of the central Ogden Trust team and the national network of outreach officers. Access to science teachers through Ogden Trust hosted teacher training events. |
| Impact | Ran a teacher training workshop as part of the Ogden Trust Schools Partnership meeting in 2022 Ran an outreach officer's training workshop as part of an Ogden Trust Officer's annual meting in 2022 |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnership with the Royal Astronomical Society |
| Organisation | Royal Astronomical Society |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | N/A |
| Collaborator Contribution | The RAS have helped promote and raise awareness for the project with their Members/Fellows. RAS have invited the project team to present at national and more local specialist meetings. |
| Impact | Exhibited the project as part of the Public Outreach Festival held during the National Astronomy Meeting 2022 |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Partnership with the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In late 2023 the Tactile Universe team ran a presenter and resource training workshop with researchers from the School of Physics and Astronomy. The workshop focused on our newer gravitatinal wave resources. After the workshop, we provided the gravitational wave research group with a Tactile Universe gravitational wave resource kit which will be used in future schools and public engagement. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The gravitational wave research group hosted a Tactile Universe presenter and training workshop in late 2023. The gravitational wave research group have received a Tactile Universe gravitational wave resource kit and intend to use it in future schools and public engagement delivery. |
| Impact | Gravitational wave researchers and other astronomers in the school of physics and astronomy have been trained to use our gravitational wave resources. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Partnership with the South East Physics Network (SEPnet) |
| Organisation | South East Physics Network |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In the previous funding period SEPnet officers were trained in the use of Tactile Universe resources and a resource kit was provided to SEPnet for these officer's to use. During this funding period, this resource kit has been used by a number of officer's as part of their outreach delivery. In 2023 we ran a presenter training workshop for our solar system and galaxy resources as part of an outreach officer's away day for newer outreach officers. After the training workshop, we provided 3 galaxy and solar system resource kits to the SEPnet outreach officer from the University of Hertfordshire and a single resource kit to the SEPnet outreach officer from Queen Mary University of London. |
| Collaborator Contribution | SEPnet has been an integral partner to the project since its conception in 2016. Specific contributions from SEPnet in this grant period have included providing opportunities for the team to present about the project at SEPnet outreach officer meetings and away days, making use of the other officers' expertise, and providing the expertise of the SEPnet Director of Outreach and Public Engagement to advise on aspects of the project such as evaluation and dissemination. SEPnet have hosted 2 Tactile Universe presenter and resource training workshops for outreach officers during away days. |
| Impact | The SEPnet outreach officer from Queen Mary University of London has been provided with a Tactile Universe solar system and galaxy resource kit and is using these resources in local schools delivery. The SEPnet outreach officer from University of Hertfordshire has been provided with 3 Tactile Universe solar system and galaxy resource kits and are now acting as a resource hub for local schools. They are also planning on running teacher CPDs to train local educators in how to use our resources. |
| Start Year | 2016 |
| Description | Media coverage and interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The Tactile Universe team were interviewed by BBC Radio and on local TV following the announcement of the award of our RAS Annie Maunder Medal for Outreach in 2022. In 2023, the team were interviewed by RNIB Connect Wales to raise awareness of the project in the region. This coincided with a presenter training workshop the team ran in Cardiff. Later in 2023, as part of RNIB Connect Radio's 20th Anniversary 'Blind leading the blind' series, we ran a galaxies workshop for a blind presenter which was recorded and broadcast. We have also been featured in the RNIB Library Stories series. Internationally, the project has been featured twice on different programs linked with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's Radio National. These interviews have resulted in enquiries about our resources and how to access them, as wellas requests for collaborations on other accessible projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Ogden Trust Outreach officer training workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The project was invited to run a training workshop for outreach officers at an annual Ogden Trust Outreach Officer's meeting. Officers found the workshop useful. One officer who was a previous resource kit holder has gone on to organise a number of final year undergraduate student projects which have involved using the project's 3D model software plugin to design their own accessible resources. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | SEPnet Outreach Officer's training workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presenter and resource training workshop (focusing on our galaxy and solar system resources) run for South East Physics Network Outreach Officer's during 2023 Away Day. 12 Officer's from 7 partner Universities attended. Officer's from University of Hertfordshire and Queen Mary University of London have now received resource kits. Hertfordshire plans to act as a local resource hub and will provide training to local teachers. QMUL have delivered a workshop to a local school with vision impaired students and have plans for future delivery. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | School visits |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Throughout this award, the Tactile Universe team have engaged in a number of schools visits. In 2022 we worked with 7 KS4 vision impaired students across 2 local schools to test the new resources we are developing around gravitational waves research topics. Students reported that they were keen to reengage with the project and provide further feedback in future test sessions as more resources are developed. In early 2023, 6 students and 3 teachers from the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford visited the University of Portsmouth to find out about the project and to talk to the project PI about his experiences as a vision impaired person working in a STEM field. This school has requested a future visit from the project and are keen to look at developing bespoke tactile resources for their students to use in a variety of STEM subjects. In 2023 the final versions of our workshops the new resources associated with each were tested with 7 VI and 9 sighted KS4 students from 3 local schools. Students gave valuable feedback on the workshop content and reported feeling 'excited' and 'interested'. In November 2023, we assisted outreach officer's and astronomers from Cardiff University in delivering our solar system workshop to 56 sighted KS2 pupils at a school in Cardiff. In early 2024, the team delivered our solar system and galaxies workshops to 6 Special Educational Needs students (2 with VI) in a local school. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Tactile Universe Presenter Training Workshop - Cardiff |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Tactile Universe ran a presenter training workshop in Cardiff, hosted by the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University, to train other public engagement professionals and educators based in Wales to use the Tactile Universe resources developed between 2018 and 2020 during our Nucleus Award. 12 people attended the training, and Cardiff University have agreed to host 5 resource kits and act as a distribution hub for Wales.. Several attendees have expressed interest in using the resources moving forward. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Tactile Universe Presenter Training Workshop on Gravitational Waves - Birmingham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In October 2023 the Tactile Universe team delivered a presenter and resource training workshop to 13 astronomers (including gravitational wave researchers) from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham. The workshop focused on our new gravitational wave themed resources, and as part of the training workshop, we left a gravitational wave resource kit with the department for future use in schools and public engagement with the vision impaired community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Tactile Universe Presenter Training Workshop on Gravitational Waves - Cardiff |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In October 2023 the Tactile Universe team delivered a presenter and resource training workshop to 13 gravitational wave researchers, as well as outreach officers from the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University. The workshop focused on our new gravitational wave themed resources, and as part of the training workshop, we left a gravitational wave resource kit with the department for future use in schools and public engagement with the vision impaired community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Tactile Universe Presenter Training Workshop on Gravitational Waves - Glasgow |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In October 2023 the Tactile Universe team delivered a presenter and resource training workshop to 15 gravitational wave researchers from the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow. The workshop focused on our new gravitational wave themed resources, and as part of the training workshop, we left a gravitational wave resource kit with the department for future use in schools and public engagement with the vision impaired community. Researchers from this group are in the process of setting up their first school visit. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Tactile Universe Presenter Training Workshop on Gravitational Waves - Portsmouth |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In October 2023 the Tactile Universe team delivered a presenter and resource training workshop to 12 gravitational wave researchers from our own Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth. The workshop focused on our new gravitational wave themed resources. In the future, these trained members of our department's gravitational wave research group will assist us in schools and public engagement with the vision impaired community. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Tactile Universe at public events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Tactile Universe resources have been used at a variety of public astronomy events, both by the core Tactile Universe team based at the University of Portsmouth, and by others who have attended our training sessions, received a kit, or independently downloaded the resources from our website. In total these events have reached over 3,600 members of the public in 2022, 2023 and 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023,2024 |
| Description | Teacher training |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The project ran a teacher training workshop for 35 teachers from a number of schools as part of an Ogden Trust Schools Partnership meeting. The workshop was intended as a way of showing teachers how they could make their own lessons more accessible. Feedback from the workshop was positive with one participant stating that "The VI workshop was particularly good, really made me think about the terminology I use everyday in the classroom". One attendee, who is also a teacher trainer, went on to run a workshop using our resources with her PGCE cohort. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |