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You've probably heard of many blind musicians, blind singers, and blind massage therapists, right? In our Human Practices activities, we even interviewed a blind singer and a blind bartender. But have you ever wondered why we rarely hear about blind scientists? Why is the representation of visually impaired individuals in scientific activities so low?
During our HP activities, we met a young man who became blind later in life. He had been passionate about chemistry from a young age and even participated in the National Chemistry Olympiad of China during high school. However, In the last year of high school, he lost his sight due to an eye disease. Despite this, his love for science, especially chemistry, remained as strong as ever. When describing a scent, he often compared it to a chemical reagent he was familiar with.
After hearing these stories, our team felt deeply moved. We realized that this group, often overlooked by society, deserves more opportunities to participate in science. We want to introduce them to the latest advancements in biology and raise awareness about technologies like stem cell therapy and gene therapy, which could potentially restore their vision in the near future. We also want to help them learn more about synthetic biology and how it can improve our lives.
Our iGEM project is dedicated to promoting inclusivity, particularly focusing on visually impaired individuals. We believe that synthetic biology and science, in general, should be accessible to everyone, regardless of disability. Through our efforts, we’ve not only addressed barriers to participation but also worked actively to create opportunities for visually impaired individuals to engage with science. Below is a comprehensive summary of our work on inclusivity and how it follows the iGEM Inclusivity guidelines.
1. Investigating Barriers to Science for the Visually Impaired
Historically, individuals with visual impairments have faced numerous challenges in pursuing scientific education and research. We first aimed at STEM-specific researches but soon found that there is very few mature surveys on this subject. So aside from doing our own one-on-one interviews and reaching out to more blind individuals through charities, we first take a look at career path for the visually impaired in general. Statistics show that among individuals who are blind or visually impaired, over half of working-age individuals are not in the labor market, and only 44 percent are employed. Those with visual impairments earn over $13,000 less on average, indicating disparities in employment and income levels. Moreover, individuals with visual impairments holding a bachelor’s degree or higher face the largest earnings difference of $14,727 compared to their counterparts without disabilities. Our Human Practices work highlighted the following key barriers:
Our Response
We addressed these barriers by focusing on accessibility and representation throughout our project. Our goal was to ensure that visually impaired individuals could actively participate in synthetic biology and broader scientific fields. In addition, we call on society and governments to take action by implementing policies that can eliminate the barriers preventing visually impaired individuals from engaging in science. For example:
2. Expanding Access to Science and Synthetic Biology
Educational Initiatives and Accessible Tools
To broaden access to synthetic biology, we initiated several projects aimed at introducing visually impaired individuals to scientific fields:
Here are the transcripts of our first Podcast titled, "Don't make decisions about us without our involvement."
Designing Inclusive Products
In addition to education, our project also focused on creating practical products to address the daily challenges faced by visually impaired women. We designed a menstrual product that uses scent-based feedback to help users know when it’s time to change pads, empowering them to manage their menstrual health with more independence and dignity .
3. Engaging the Target Group: Dialogue and Consideration
Engaging with the Visually Impaired Community
One of the core principles of our project was ensuring that the voices of visually impaired individuals were heard throughout the process. We engaged in direct conversations, interviews, and feedback sessions to better understand their needs and challenges. Some of our key activities include:
Incorporating Feedback into Product Design
Based on feedback from visually impaired women, we made several key improvements to our product, including:
This ongoing dialogue with visually impaired individuals has been crucial in making sure that our solutions are both practical and inclusive.
4. Documenting Work for Future Expansion
Comprehensive Documentation and Sharing
We understand the importance of making our work accessible to others, allowing for future teams or external organizations to build upon it. To this end, we have:
Our work in promoting inclusivity is just the beginning. We believe that synthetic biology—and science as a whole—has the power to improve lives. However, it can only do so if it is truly accessible to everyone. By breaking down barriers, engaging underrepresented groups, and expanding educational opportunities, we hope to inspire a more inclusive and diverse scientific community.
Join Us in Making Science Accessible for All.
Whether you're part of the iGEM community or an external organization, we encourage you to explore our work and build upon it. Together, we can create a world where visually impaired individuals have equal access to the wonders of science.