A conversation about conservation: New BSL signs and restoring Scottish waters

The project

The Marine, Underwater and Fish For Inclusion (MUFFIN) project, funded by Erasmus+, saw linguists and scientists develop a sign language glossary of nearly 100 marine species. Through collaborations with partners from five countries, the project successfully produced national glossaries of marine species living in Mediterranean and UK waters. 

Dr Audrey Cameron, Chancellor's Fellow in Science Education and Sign Language, Moray House School of Education and Sport, led the BSL Sign Development team, the UK's contribution to the project.

WWF Scotland and the Marine Conservation Society produced a video to support the project's promotion.

A homecoming 100 years in the making

Dr Cameron and a group of deaf volunteers from the University of Edinburgh and the Scottish Sensory Centre were invited to join one of the Restoration Forth Oyster Biosecurity events last year. The event prepared European flat oysters to be reintroduced to the Firth of Forth for the first time in 100 years as part of the Restoration Forth project.

Dr Cameron said, "A group of us deaf volunteers cleaned and scraped the surface of the oyster shells to remove the invasive species and disease - e.g., barnacles, sponges and seaweed. 10,000 were cleaned during that week, and we contributed a small part! After being cleaned, the oysters were then carefully added to the Firth of Forth.”

Making waves

Building on that experience, on 21 April, the Restoration Forth project team is hosting a Seagrass and Oyster monitoring event for deaf volunteers, in partnership with WWF Scotland and the Marine Conservation Society, at Tyninghame Beach. The aim is to encourage deaf people to get involved in citizen science and participate in conservation work. 

At its core, the project aims to promote the inclusion of deaf individuals in discussions about marine animals, raising their awareness of the marine environment and the tools needed to participate in these vital discussions.

These new signs aim to open conversations about the climate emergency, making it more accessible for everyone.

Thinking of studying inclusive education?

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Related information:

MUFFIN

BSL Glossary - Marine species curriculum terms

Dr Audrey Cameron

Restoration Forth | WWF