A Touch of Space Weather: Inclusive Science Education Through Tactile and Auditory Exploration

Blind and visually impaired (B&VI) students remain significantly underrepresented in science education, particularly in visually intensive disciplines such as planetary science. To address this gap, the A Touch of Space Weather project by the Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB) has developed and implemented an innovative educational framework designed to make space weather—a key part of planetary and heliospheric science—accessible to B&VI learners.

The project combines multisensory learning methods with inclusive outreach strategies. One of its initiatives is a series of workshops delivered directly in schools serving B&VI students. In these sessions, participants explore space weather phenomena—such as solar storms, coronal mass ejections, and the Earth’s magnetic field—through touch and sound. Each student (or a pair) receives a set of specially designed tactile images representing solar activity and its impact on Earth. These tactile visuals are paired with auditory content, including sonified space weather data, enabling students to experience the dynamics of space through their senses of hearing and touch. A large tactile board, developed collaboratively with science communication students from KU University, Leuven, helps introduce key concepts in an intuitive and interactive format.

To support continued learning, the project has produced three professionally recorded audio booklets covering the Sun, solar storms, and the Earth's atmosphere. These audio materials are distributed to students who participate in the workshops and are also freely available online in streamable and downloadable formats.

Beyond serving B&VI students, A Touch of Space Weather actively fosters awareness of diversity and inclusivity among sighted learners. Through workshops held at science outreach events and schools, sighted children are introduced to the concepts of accessibility and empathy. During these sessions, students are guided to create their own tactile images using everyday materials like beads, fabric, and textured paper. These creations are then used during the workshops in B&VI schools. The act of crafting for someone with a visual impairment creates a powerful, personal connection to inclusivity.

An additional component involves a role-reversal exercise: sighted students are blindfolded and asked to explore a tactile image themselves—such as a tactile image depicting aurora—while being guided by their peers. These activities not only increase understanding of solar-terrestrial interactions but also raise awareness of the challenges faced by B&VI individuals and highlight the value of accessible communication.

This project shows that inclusive education can go hand-in-hand with fostering scientific curiosity. The B&VI students engaged in the program have shown deep interest and enthusiasm, often expressing how this was the first time they could physically "feel" what auroras or solar winds might be like. The feedback from both students and teachers has been instrumental in refining the materials and methods used.

By using an interdisciplinary topic like space weather—which naturally connects astronomy, geoscience, and technology—the A Touch of Space Weather project opens the doors of planetary science to learners traditionally left out due to sensory barriers. It also helps to cultivate a culture of accessibility and respect for diversity in the next generation of scientists.