Doctoral student Gabriela Heck and professor Janaina Pereira participate in the STEM Sign Language Summit event at Gallaudet University
Gallaudet University, in Washington, D.C. in the United States, is the only university in the world where the primary language is sign language. That means its studies are directed at deaf or hard of hearing students. The Graduate Program in Education doctoral student, Gabriela Heck, discusses in her thesis the inclusion of deaf people in science, understanding the influences that make her arrive at this space. Between March 2 and March 5, she took part, along with Janaina Pereira, professor from the School of Humanities, of the STEM Sign Language Summit event, held by the American university and that aims to develop signs in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
For Gabriela, this event was a great opportunity to further her doctoral studies. “This event is directly connected to my doctoral research, in which I discuss the inclusion of disabled people in science, and I study specifically what influences these people to pursue (or not) these careers,” she says.
In addition to the participation in the event, the student and the professor presented an article on the creation process of a Scientific Sign glossary in Brazilian Sign Language, developed between 2019 and 2020. “Professor Janaina invited me to the Study and Innovation Group in Brazilian Sign Language to help with creating a bilingual glossary of scientific signs in Brazilian Sign Language, which is available free of cost on Youtube. At the moment, there are more than 200 signs registered in the scientific glossary, contributing to the inclusion of the death community in basic and higher education in Brazil and promoting the dissemination of scientific knowledge in an accessible and inclusive manner,” explains the doctoral student. In addition to the glossary on scientific topics, the group has also developed materials in authors in social sciences, health, law and religious signs.
In this participation, Gabriela considers the impact of the event beyond her research. “Having the opportunity to visit the only university directed at the education of deaf people in the world, focusing on science, which is my field, is without a doubt going to be a very important chapter of my doctoral journey, providing me with many ideas, materials and contacts for the development of my thesis. In addition to my doctorate, the experience can also contribute to the project I am a part of, alongside the Vice-President’s Office of Research and Graduate Studies, on Women in Science, as I intend to identify and possibly interview deaf female scientists and further understand their career choices and challenges faced for being disabled women in scientific careers,” she says.
For the professor, this participation promotes a greater social impact of the projects developed by the Study and Innovation Group in Brazilian Sign Language. “Our participation in this event strengthens especially the basis of our PUCRS research so that it can be recognized worldwide, in addition to updating scientific and academic information to bring researchers, students, professors and the Brazilian Deaf Community together,” stresses Janaina.
