Deaf Science Day: Inclusive interactive educational experience a hit with Scottish schoolchildren
Deaf learners from all over Scotland explored science, the sea and space as part of a unique interactive and inclusive educational experience.
More than 80 schoolchildren enjoyed special Deaf Science Day activities at Dynamic Earth Science Centre and Planetarium in the heart of Edinburgh.
The latest edition of the event broke new ground, with more than twice as many schoolchildren joining the fun as attended the inaugural edition, which took place in March 2025.
Designed to spark deaf children’s interest in science, the four-hour event treated students to a range of specifically prepared activities, with British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters also on hand to provide interpretation. Six deaf scientists also joined the Dynamic Earth team, supporting students across the different activities and serving as real-world role models for the young learners in attendance.
A teacher signs to learners during a workshop called Deep Sea Adventures
Sessions included a visually stunning show, You Are Here, complete with subtitles and BSL interpretation, that explores the depths of our Universe from inside the Planetarium. The show featured Tina Malinsky, a deaf scientist from the Scottish Sensory Centre's BSL glossary team, signing on screen.
The children were also treated to a journey through the Dynamic Earth galleries, which gave them a chance to explore the history and geography of Earth. Meanwhile, a series of specially prepared experiments helped students learn about the realities of life deep under the sea and understand the impact of ocean acidification, while also introducing them to some new signs in the process.
The Restless Earth Gallery focuses on the geological processes that shape the planet's surface.
The programme receives RSC funding and was founded as a result of a collaboration with Dr Audrey Cameron, who is one of our Honorary Fellows, a Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and a deaf chemist herself and the lead of the Scottish Sensory Centre’s (SSC) BSL glossary team.
Organisers were pleased with the engagement they saw from the children and would love to make the programme a permanent fixture on the calendar so that it can inspire more deaf learners to pursue careers in science.
“This is the biggest event we've held for the deaf community,” said Emma Clark, Community Manager at Dynamic Earth. “We brought 82 young people from around 22 different schools across Scotland, all the way from Irvine in Ayrshire down to Dumfries and Galloway, and then here in the Lothians as well.
“To be able to connect with those pupils has been incredible, especially as some of them are the only deaf people in their school, so to be able to meet other deaf children from across Scotland, it's a really beneficial experience for them.”
Learners explore an exhibit showing the rainforest
She added: “Last year, we had between 30 and 40 people, so we've doubled that this year and we actually had to cap the amount of people being able to come. Hopefully if we do continue to run this programme, it'll only ever get bigger.
“I would love to make it happen every year. Audrey said today that she could see the confidence growing in some of the pupils that came last year and then came again this year, so if we can contribute to that, that would be amazing.”
Supported by the BSL Glossary team at the SSC, the University of Edinburgh and the Erasmus+ funded MUFFIN Project, the Deaf Science Day programme is one of Dynamic Earth’s initiatives aimed at making science more inclusive and accessible.
The Planetarium show, complete with BSL interpretation, took learners to the edge of the solar system
For Dr Cameron, the events hosted at Dynamic Earth enhance opportunities for deaf scholars and are crucial for encouraging students to develop and pursue a passion for science.
“I think very often deaf children go to these kind of exhibitions and they don't really get access or really understand what's kind of going on, but today has been great for that, and I've seen a lot of happy faces,” she noted.
“Sadly, there aren't many deaf scientists and there are real barriers for us, but Dynamic Earth have really offered opportunity for like schoolchildren to hook them and encourage their enthusiasm and interest in science, and hopefully they will grow up and be the deaf scientists of the future. It's been an amazing, awesome day, and I really want to thank everybody who's been involved – the deaf scientists, interpreters and the staff at Dynamic Earth.”
Visitors learned about pH and animals that live underwater during the workshop.
The event also highlighted the importance of representation, showing pupils that a future in science is both possible and achievable. It also provided a rare opportunity for deaf learners to engage fully with scientific content in an accessible and supportive environment.
For the youngsters who attended the celebration, the exercises helped them interact with science in new ways and brought them together with peers from schools across Scotland.
“It was pretty fun and I can't choose my favourite activity because all of them were fun,” said one of the visiting pupils, who added that the day’s activities also helped her to practise signing and connect with other learners.
Dynamic Earth also hosted another Deaf Science Day event on 1 March this year, with numerous free activities for children to enjoy. Chemistry-focused activities explored ocean life and ocean acidification, while Dr Cameron herself took part in Meet the Scientist sessions as representatives from the Scottish Sensory Centre taught visitors new science signs.
A group of children hurdle around a screen as part of the Rainforest Gallery
This year’s activities were made possible thanks to support from our Outreach Fund, which provides grants of up to £10,000 for projects that promote chemistry-based public and school engagement in the UK and Ireland.
The window for applications is open now and Deaf Science Day programme lead Emma encouraged other potential applicants to submit their ideas to our dedicated Outreach Fund team.
“We couldn't have run this event, especially not at the scale it was at, without the funding and the support from the RSC,” she added. “Of course, it was great to have a focus as well on what kind of science we were doing and to be able to really work with Audrey and other deaf scientists on the topics that they were interested in, that they'd studied all their lives, and to be able to inspire the young people through that.”
A big cat pounces on a visitor to the Casualties and Survivors Gallery
Learn more about our Outreach Fund
- Find out whether your engagement activities might qualify for funding and apply now by visiting our Outreach Fund page.