Overview of the project

Project leader: Dominique Proust, dominique.proust@obspm.fr
Project location: Global

Project description:
This project proposes the dissemination of a unique language for the deaf worldwide, associated with astronomical terms.

While celestial objects are varied and the project can be expanded easily, the proposal will give special attention to the basic terms linked with the IYL2015, for example light, light year, star, Sun, among others, but as this is a general project, we propose a complete “Sign Language Universal Dictionary”

As part of a new celebration where the Light is involved, the proposal can reach more visibility and can contribute to share all the people on the Globe under the same way to name the astronomical object, instruments, and discoveries using the sign language.

The development of this universal sign language of astronomical terms, the related multimedia material and the encyclopedic dictionary will be very useful specially for OAD activities which are carried out in a variety of developing countries with different languages, making it possible to carry out the same activities anywhere without the need of them being translated.

The dissemination of a unique language for the deaf worldwide, associated with astronomical terms, through a Universal Sign Language Dictionary and multimedia material.

• Make a selection of the main astronomical terms, used globally
• Organize in an especial dictionary all the signs just created
• Contact local organization with the purpose to create a common and universal sing lenguage in Astronomy
• Create a professional Web Site on the subject
• Create multimedia material to distribute all over the world

About the project leader:
Dr Dominique Proust is an astrophysicist and research engineer at CNRS. He has given series of sign language conferences in astronomy in deaf schools and associations in France, Brazil and Chile. He organizes monthly evenings at Paris-Meudon observatory where groups of 15-20 young deaf students come in order to observe with the 1m telescope and/or, depending on the weather, follow a thematic teaching in sign language.