April 15
SciAccess: Advancing Accessibility in Astronomy and Human Spaceflight
Speaker: Anna Voelker, SciAccess
Abstract: People with disabilities comprise 28% of the U.S. population, and yet are severely underrepresented in astronomy and the STEM fields. This session will share the work of SciAccess, a non-profit organization working to expand access to STEM education and research. From 3D-printed astronomy outreach tools for blind students to portable planetarium shows to accessible astronomy conference strategies, this session will showcase ideas and resources that students and faculty can incorporate within their own work.
Participants will also gain insights on cutting edge programs that are improving access not only to studying space, but to traveling to it. As space becomes commercialized and long-term infrastructure is developed, a critical question emerges: how can we design space habitats to be accessible, resilient, and usable by the widest possible range of people? This talk will highlight emerging strategies in this field through the work of AstroAccess, a novel research program focused on advancing human spaceflight accessibility. Since its founding in 2021, AstroAccess has conducted seven microgravity missions in which disabled scientists, students, and engineers perform research in weightlessness aboard parabolic flights. AstroAccess has consulted on accessibility with NASA and multiple commercial spaceflight companies, championing the experiences of disability experts to instigate industry-wide change.
From the astronomy outreach resources that inspire future generations of explorers to the evolving definition of the “right stuff,” this talk illustrates how building accessibility into every stage, from our classrooms to our space stations, benefits all people.
Host: Prof. Chris Reynolds