Please note: We strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance to guarantee entry, as we do sell out on weekends.
PRESS RELEASE
Celebrate World Day of the Deaf at the New England Aquarium with ASL-proficient divers and programming
Open to the public with Aquarium ticket: Sept. 29 from 2 to 4 p.m.
WHAT: The New England Aquarium and Atomic Hands are partnering to celebrate World Day of the Deaf on September 29. This program will include two dives in the Indo-Pacific Coral Reef exhibit with American Sign Language (ASL)-proficient divers, and other activities aimed at celebrating and raising awareness of the Deaf and hard of hearing community. The dives will be taking place from 2 to 4 p.m. with the first dive from 2 to 2:30 p.m. and the second dive from 3 to 3:30 p.m.
WHO: Dr. Barbara Spiecker, a deaf marine ecologist and co-founder of Atomic Hands, will be one of the divers signing to guests from inside the Info-Pacific Coral Reef exhibit. To gain more work experience between receiving her master’s and pursuing her PhD, Dr. Spiecker was a volunteer diver in the Giant Ocean Tank at the Aquarium. This was one of the first moments she realized she was in a unique position to make STEM fields more accessible to those in the deaf community.
Dr. Barbara Spiecker conducts quantitative modelling of intertidal and subtidal macroalgae ecosystems to better understand the complexity of scale and pattern in these ecosystems and how the patterns may alter in response to climate change. She is also very involved in developing STEM-specific educational resources in ASL, consulting on bilingual K-13 STEM instruction, and performing standardized test translation.
WHEN: Sunday, September 29 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA.
WHY: Dr. Spiecker and Atomic Hands co-founder Dr. Alicia Wooten discovered they were both experiencing challenges of English-centric learning, lack of networking with deaf STEMists, and frustration of not being able to access science videos in a spoken language. In forming Atomic Hands, they are:
- Fostering wonder and curiosity in STEM fields through the production and dissemination of ASL-centric resources
- Empowering the community to expand ASL by developing and delivering engaging STEM-related topic through creative language play
- Encouraging collaboration and networking opportunities among current and future deaf STEMists and the community
MEDIA CONTACT: Hannah Boutiette, 413-717-7759, hannah@teakmedia.com