Description
Due to its chosen detection techniques, astronomy has always been a visual science and produces some of the most beautiful images in science, engaging and awe-inspiring to many. However, scientists and communicators often overlook the need to communicate with blind and low-vision audiences who require different channels to experience this data. This study sonified NASA data of three astronomical objects and presented them to 3,184 sighted, blind, and low-vision survey participants to gauge their experience, yielding significant learning gains and positive experiential responses. Results showed that astrophysical data engaging multiple senses could establish additional avenues of trust, increase access, and promote awareness of accessibility in sighted and blind or low-vision communities. These findings underscore the urgent need to process and present information beyond images and provide new, novel methods for visual audiences to engage with science. This presentation will overview the research conducted in this work, published at Frontiers In Communication, and discuss the implications of outreach and education to the blind and low-vision community in astronomy.
