Exploring Science with Deaf Scientists!

The Scottish Sensory Centre successfully secured a See Hear project grant of £1000 from the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) and the City of Edinburgh Council to host four science sessions for deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing children in Edinburgh.

The project aimed to launch a science club at MHSES in the science laboratories under the guidance of Dr Audrey Cameron and a team of deaf scientists. Our initiative was designed to engage and inspire deaf children aged 6-16 through tailored hands-on workshops. To ensure accessibility, we utilised the SSC’s STEM in BSL glossary and provided sign language interpreters and electronic notetakers. The sessions were divided into two 2-hour workshops for different age groups – primary and secondary. In the first week, activities involved making bubbles and solving puzzles to escape the science laboratory. In the second week, participants learned about topics such as understanding how we breathe, CSI investigations and meeting Dobby, the ferret.

We are grateful for the collaboration with deaf scientists, colleagues at MHSES, and local education authorities in developing the workshops. Furthermore, we invited colleagues from the Edinburgh Science Festival, Dynamic Earth and the National Museum Scotland to raise awareness of working with deaf youth in scientific activities.

Target Audience

Learners aged 6-16 who are deaf, deafblind or are hard of hearing and based in Edinburgh.

Presenters

Deaf Scientists: Tania Allan, Audrey Cameron, Janette Dinse-Harrower, Clare Halliday