Friday, 6 June 2025 11:00am – 12:00pm

This seminar will be delivered in Chemistry Lecture Theatre 4

Speaker: Dr Cary Supalo

Host: Prof. Siggi Schmid

Title: Blind Chemists in the STEM Workforce: Prognosis and Possibilities

Abstract
This presentation will discuss briefly where we are now in the blindness field on the path towards full inclusion of the blind in the Chemistry enterprise and over all STEM workforces. What are some of the current challenges educators currently face and what are some innovative solutions that are just on the horizon towards removal of some of these current barriers both in the laboratory and in the classroom. This presentation will conclude with a discussion on barriers to access for the blind to enter employment in the STEM workforce. Some workable solutions will be presented on how chemists and other scientists can help to support change to remove some of these barriers. A glimpse at what the future for the blind may look like in the STEM workforce will also be presented.

Learning goal 1: To learn what current technologies and methodologies are used to make chemistry and other science laboratory learning experiences more accessible to students with visual impairments in a hands-on way.

Learning goal 2: To learn about the use of new mobile applications and access technologies such as refreshable tactile displays to perform scientific data collection tasks.

Learning goal 3: Learn about current barriers for blind people to successfully secure employment and what are some workable solutions to these access challenges.

Bio
Dr. Cary Supalo currently serves as a Research Developer at the Educational Testing Service (ETS). His primary responsibilities are assisting with conducting usability studies on current and new innovative high stakes tests. Additionally, he works with key stakeholders both internally and externally to promote inclusion and equity for all test takers. He also serves as an honorary professor of chemistry at the University of Sydney in Australia. There his research interests focus on making chemistry laboratory curricula more accessible for blind and vision impaired students.

Dr. Cary Supalo earned his Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University in 2010 in the field of chemistry education. In Spring 2023, Dr. Supalo completed his M.B.A. degree from Penn State University Smeal School of Business.

His research interest is in making science learning experiences more accessible in a hands-on way for students who are blind or otherwise print disabled. He founded Independence Science in 2009 which has positioned itself as a leader in making hands-on science learning experiences accessible to students who are blind or vision impaired. He successfully served as principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant to develop the first text-to-speech enabled scientific data logger which he commercialized through Independence Science. He has also served as a grant reviewer for NSF and the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, he has organized the Inclusion in Science, Learning a New Direction, Conference on Disability (ISLAND) annual conference since its founding in 2010. This conference serves as a forum for science educators, rehabilitation professionals, science teachers, and other professionals to learn more about new innovative technologies and methodologies that promote the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in the STEM subjects. Dr. Supalo, currently is a member of the American Chemical Society’s Committee on Community Activities (CCA). Dr. He also serves as an active member of the National Federation of the Blind and serves as a mentor for students who are blind seeking careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.