Outreach Programme Brings the Solar System to Visually Impaired Learners

Outreach Programme Brings the Solar System to Visually Impaired Learners

UKZN staff and students facilitated an Astronomy outreach programme to mark Eye Care Awareness Month at the Arthur Blaxall School for the visually impaired in Pietermaritzburg.

Around 150 learners ranging in age from six to 17 learned about the planets and their sounds, texture and smells.

The event was led by Professor Rituparno Goswami and Dr Sinenhlanhla Precious Sikhosana of the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC), both of whom have organised outreach programmes for learners with disabilities over the past two years.

They were supported by a team from the Science and Technology Education Centre (STEC@UKZN), led Dr Tanja Reinhardt. The other collaborators were Ms Diane Mariah Singh and Ms Nwabisa Mphithi of the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society, and Ms Olivia Smith, a partially sighted teacher at the school.

After a story telling event about the solar system with fun and interesting facts presented by Goswami and Sikhosana, the facilitators passed round models of the planets to the learners and their teachers. These models convey through touch what the planets might look like. They were accompanied by cut-outs cut to size, and an ice box and kettle to convey the heat and cold on those like Mercury and Neptune, respectively.

The learners also listened to radio waves emitted by the planets that were converted to sound, which enabled them to “listen” to the voices of the planets. Careful use of a diluted sulphuric acid spray created the “smell” of planet Venus’ acidic clouds on the model. The event thus stimulated all sensory modes other than the visual.

The excited students remarked on the creativity of hand-crafting planets to help them learn about the solar system. The school expressed interest in building a collection of such astronomical and scientific exhibits and the UKZN team readily agreed to support this project.

‘There are a number of examples of great scientists with disabilities and it is the duty of science communicators to reach out effectively,’ noted Goswami. He added that learning about the solar system may encourage learners with disabilities to pursue careers in astronomy and astrophysics.

Words: Survivor Gwala

Photographs: Nokwanda Khuluse