Category Archives: North America

Workshops Build Solar Eclipse Sonification Devices

The LightSound Project is building and distributing solar eclipse sonification devices across the United State, Mexico, and Canada in preparation for the upcoming October 14, 2023 Annular Solar Eclipse and the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. The project runs workshops to teach students and adults how to solder while building devices that are then […]

Overview: LightSound Project: Accessibility for the Blind/Low-Vision Community

The LightSound Project began in 2017 as a way to make solar eclipses accessible to the blind and low-vision (BLV) community. LightSound is a low-cost, smartphone-size device that uses Arduino technology to convert light intensity to sound, giving BLV people another way to engage with an eclipse. During the 2017 eclipse, we deployed 3 devices […]

Sonification Project Improves Science Engagement

The SYSTEM Sounds project produced 9 Sonification videos (True Love Waits, Saturn Harp, Jupiter’s Moons, Black Widow Pulsar, Black Widow Pulsar (Narrated), Music of K2-187 Exoplanets, Light Curves of K2-187, Entire Light Curve of K2-187, Moon Impacts). The videos have been viewed over 185 000 times on YouTube and the project was featured on space.com, […]

‘DIY Universe’ Virtual Summer Program Enriches Learning During the Pandemic

DIY universe Virtual Summer Program

Families rely on summer programs to provide enriching experiences, a supportive community, and to address gaps in learning. Due to social distancing constraints during the summer of 2020, youth faced months of unfocused, unstructured time during which it was expected that learning gaps would expand between those whose families were able to provide alternative enriching […]

Astronomy Outreach Program Helps Native American Students

Native American Astronomy Outreach

The goal of the Native American Astronomy Outreach Program (NAAOP) is to help teachers to get their students excited about STEM and STEM careers. One component of the program is Book Club, used to increase student interest in STEM, but also student literacy. Native students generally read below grade level, and yet reading is a […]