Scientists ‘ Night
6. March 2023On Friday, 30 September 2022, the traditional Scientists’ Night event at UTB took place, with participation from the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences and the Centre for Language Education. This year’s theme, Through All the Senses, was brought to life through demonstrations of assistive tools for those who lack one or more senses but instead refine others, tastings of British delicacies, and an introduction to Braille.
The United Organisation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (SONS) in Zlín, led by Pavla Andrýsková, DiS., offered visitors the opportunity to experience walking with different visual impairments using simulation glasses. Various assistive tools used by individuals with visual impairments in daily life were also showcased. A highlight was a Braille typewriter, where visitors could have their names typed out in Braille. Representatives from the Centre for the Disabled in the Zlín Region, o.p.s., presented an introduction to sign language, allowing visitors to “sign” their names. This station also displayed assistive tools, particularly for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The facility under the leadership of Bc. Kateřina Kupčíková presented many other aids and introduced visitors to life with hearing disabilities. A special thanks goes to the representatives of various organisations who played a significant role in the event’s realisation and introduced the general public to life with disabilities. We would also like to express our gratitude to the students of the Social Pedagogy programme, who not only supported this event but are a reliable presence at other promotional activities as well. At the stand of the Centre for Language Education, visitors explored several publications in Braille. For instance, they could compare a standard edition of the third Harry Potter book with its Braille version, which consists of approximately ten volumes. Visitors also tried using a specialised typewriter designed for visually impaired individuals. More advanced English learners challenged themselves with tasks such as finding errors in literal translations from Czech to English or completing English jokes by filling in the missing words. One of the highlights was the tasting of British and American delicacies. Visitors sampled items such as the distinctive Marmite spread made from yeast extract, mint jelly with rosemary—traditionally served with lamb in England—and the delicious lemon curd, a creamy spread made from lemons and butter.