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)
- South East Physics Network (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Royal Astronomical Society (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Ogden Trust (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Cardiff University (Collaboration)
- Royal National Institute for Blind People (Collaboration)
- The Ogden Trust (Project Partner)
- Royal National Institute of Blind (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 | None yet |
| Collaborator Contribution | Feedback on project resources being developed to communicate science of gravitational waves |
| Impact | None |
| 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 |
| Collaborator Contribution | Cardiff University hosted a Tactile Universe presenter training workshop, 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 have provided feedback and ideas for the development of accessible resources around the science of gravitational waves. |
| Impact | Ran a presenter training workshop hosted by Cardiff University for Welsh educators, science communicators, researchers and members of the public interested in using our resources. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. |
| Impact | None |
| 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. 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 | 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 | 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 | 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. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| 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 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 1700 members of the public in 2022 and 2023. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| 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 |