The Astro-Tac project reached out to students with special needs, especially the blind and visually impaired, in Nigeria through tactile experience. It aimed at increasing the participants’ knowledge in astronomy, space science, and engagement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities. The Astro-Tac project engaged 125 participants, mainly undergraduate and postgraduate students with special needs at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The workshop lectures were on the pale blue dot, astronomy for mental health and well-being, the solar system planets, telescopes for optical and radio astronomy, black holes, and women in the space sector. These lectures were delivered through live talks and pre-recorded audios. The hands-on sessions of the workshop were on a touch of the universe, a touch of the solar system planets, solar system modelling with special beads, a feel of different types of galaxies and the Sun, a feel of the moon with its craters, a feel of optical and radio telescopes, and a feel of the black holes. Other information on the fundamentals of astronomy and space science was delivered through printed braille documents. An astronomy/ Space science quiz competition was conducted at the end of the workshop among the participants.
The workshop’s outcome was measured using participants’ interviews and pre- and post-workshop assessments, which students completed with the help of facilitators. The post-workshop assessment result showed a significant 47% increase in knowledge about astronomy and space science among participants.