Home / Science / New Signs Unlock UK Marine World for Deaf
New Signs Unlock UK Marine World for Deaf
13 Jun
Summary
- New sign language gestures for UK marine species have been created.
- Eight deaf marine biology students globally contributed to the project.
- Project MUFFIN aims to make marine science more accessible to deaf individuals.
A groundbreaking international initiative, Project Marine Underwater Fish For Inclusion (MUFFIN), has introduced new British Sign Language (BSL) gestures for marine species found around the UK. This effort significantly enhances accessibility to marine science for deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
Rebecca Hegedűs, a deaf marine biology student at the University of Exeter, collaborated with seven other deaf marine biologists worldwide to develop these vital signs. The project specifically addresses the lack of existing BSL signs for marine life, aiming to equip deaf children with the vocabulary needed to understand and engage with marine ecosystems.
Launched at Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, Project MUFFIN is led by Deaf Malta and funded by Erasmus+. It involves partners from Italy, Spain, Croatia, and the UK, with the Scottish Sensory Centre's BSL Glossary Project from the University of Edinburgh playing a key role in the UK's contribution.
Dr. Audery Cameron, the UK project lead and a deaf marine expert from the University of Edinburgh, highlighted the project's importance in broadening access to marine science. Historically, deaf children faced significant barriers, with BSL even being banned in schools. The British Sign Language Act 2022 marked a turning point, and Project MUFFIN actively works to fill the resulting vocabulary gaps, ensuring inclusivity in environmental conversations.
