Tervetuloa Suomeen! (Welcome to Finland!)
Welcome to ISLAND 2024 Tampere!
Registered Attendees, Please Join us at the Nokia Arena on August 27 and August 28!
For registered attendees joining us virtually, please use the links below for both days.
Click here for alternate call-in instructions
Schedule of Presentations Inclusion in Science, Learning a New Direction (ISLAND) 2024 University of Tampere, Finland
*All times listed in Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) (GMT/UTC +3)
Please check after August 17 for schedule updates based on speaker confirmation.
Tuesday, 27 August, 2024
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
9:05 a.m. Curriculum Made Accessible: The Importance of Inclusion.
Presenter: Ashley Neybert, Oregon State University, USA.
9:35 a.m. Alternative Avenues for Accessibility in STEM.
Presenter: Jennifer Doran*, Ashley Neybert, and Dr. Andreas Schmittner
Oregon State University, USA.
10:05 a.m. Accessible STEM books : how to make it happen.
Presenters: Sami Määttä1 and Tim Arborealis2
1Accessibility Library Celia, Finland.
2Swedish Agency of Accessible Media
10:35 a.m. BREAK (15 minutes)
10:50 a.m. Bridging Similarities Through Shared Experiences.
Presenter: Ashley Neybert* and Dr. Martin Storksdieck
Oregon State University, USA.
11:20 a.m. Maybe theirs, but not ours- representation in algorithms.
Presenter: Dr. Rebekah Rousi* and Juho-Pekka Mäkipää
University of Vaasa, Finland.
11:50 a.m. Fostering Neurodivergent Persistence in STEM: AIE- STEMPLOS Program Insights from Faculty.
Presenter: Rebecca Matte
Landmark College, USA.
12:20 p.m. Lunch (70 minutes)
1:30 p.m. The Blind Scientist’s Toolkit for Multi-Sensorial Science.
Presenter: Dr. Mona Minkara, Northeastern University, USA.
2:00 p.m. Supporting Neurodivergent Students in STEM: Case Studies and Innovative Strategies for Success.
Presenter: Dr. Christin Monroe, Landmark College, USA.
2:30 p.m. Teaching Fundamentals of Accessibility: Perspectives from Students and Teachers on Course Implementation.
Presenters: Pauliina Baltzar*, Tero Avellan, and Dr. Markku Turunen
Tampere University, Finland.
3:00 p.m. BREAK (15 minutes)
3:15 p.m. Science in Braille: Connecting and Advocating for the Necessity of Blind Scientists.
Presenters: Dr. Mona Minkara* and Dr. Sheri Wells-Jensen1
*Northeastern University, USA.
1Bowling Green State University, USA.
3:45 p.m. Using Audible Light Sensors for Laboratory Physics.
Presenter: Dr. Peter Walters, Independence Science, USA.
4:15 p.m. Sensing the future of laboratory independence for the blind.
Presenter: Dr. Greg Williams, Independence Science, USA.
4:45 p.m. Adjourn
Wednesday, 28 August, 2024
9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction
9:05 a.m. The Role of Technology in My Life: Narrating the Evolution of Technology and Its Impact on a Blind Individual from a Developing Country.
Presenter: Dr. Shrirang Sahasrabudhe, Educational Testing Service, USA.
9:35 a.m. Opportunities and Challenges for AI as an Assistant in STEM Accessibility.
Presenter: Dr. Markku Häkkinen, Educational Testing Service, USA.
10:05 a.m. Enabling graduate students in STEM to understand the fundamentals of communicating across the senses to facilitate accessible communication.
Presenter: Dr. Helen Sullivan, Rider University, USA.
10:35 a.m. BREAK (15 minutes)
10:50 a.m. Round Table Discussion 1: How Higher Education is Improving IT Accessibility for Students with Disabilities
12:20 p.m. Lunch (70 minutes)
1:30 p.m. Round Table Discussion 2: Making Science Education Accessible to Students with Disabilities
3:00 p.m. BREAK (15 minutes)
3:15 p.m. Round Table Discussion 3: Students as Agents in Universal Access to Research Information
4:45 p.m. Debrief and Closing Remarks
About Tampere University
“Tampere University is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. We bring together research and education in technology, health and society. The University is known for its excellence in teaching and research and it collaborates with hundreds of universities and organizations worldwide. Our community consists of about 22,500 students and around 4,200 staff members from more than 80 countries.” Tampere University
About Tampere
“ According to us Finns, Tampere is the most loved residential and tourism city in Finland. It is a way of life that takes you along. The secret of Tampere is its originality. Tampere is a functional entity in a compact size.
Thousands of congress delegates and over one million travelers visit Tampere every year. Many of them arrive Tampere by plane.
The industrial structure of Tampere is versatile. Tampere is internationally known as a city of technology, often going in the forefront of development. The hometown of innovations has made many world-class breakthroughs and has developed products and services that improve the quality of life of ordinary people.
Tampere is defined by a few unique characteristics: it is surrounded by beautiful lakes and eskers, it has a perfect scale for walking and there’s always something new and innovative going on. The center of the city is dominated by industrial heritage; the national landscape of Tammerkoski rapids and historical red brick buildings. But in Tampere we don’t look back, and therefore construction sites are often seen in everyday street life. The tramway route will be extended even further. In December 2021, Finland’s largest multipurpose arena, Nokia Arena opened.
From the cultural point of view, Tampere is defined by our local treats of black sausage with lingonberry sauce and the world’s best doughnuts, morning coffee at Laukontori Market Square enjoyed in a small lake breeze, our imaginative museums, events after events, vibrant cool attitude and the fact that we are the Sauna Capital of the World.
Tampere is not perfect, it is a city of people, where it’s okay just to be you. Tampere has something wonderfully traditional, even seductive, and something so dynamic but relaxing. Yes, Tampere is a state of mind!” About Tampere – About Tampere – Visit Tampere
And some tips what to do in Tampere: Tampere, Finns’ favorite city – Visit Tampere