[BlindKid] The Science and Engineering Division and National Association of Blind Students Joint STEM Seminar

[Louis Maher]

The Science and Engineering Division and National Association of Blind Students Joint STEM Seminar

Two divisions of the National Federation of the Blind, namely: The Science and Engineering Division (SED) and the National Association of Blind Students (NABS), are presenting a joint Zoom conference on how blind college and graduate students, and blind professionals, are succeeding in courses and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The Zoom conference link will be the standard NABS Zoom link shown at the bottom of this message. The call will occur at 7:30 PM EST through 9 PM EST on Sunday, February 22, 2026. We will have three speakers. Each talk will be twenty minutes long with an extra five minutes for questions.

Topics will be of interest for blind students from middle school through graduate school and for professionals. Parents of blind school-aged children and educators are also welcome.

Currently, the scheduled titles, speakers, abstracts, and speaker introductions, are:

Opening Remarks
Lauren Altman, president, National Association of Blind Students (nabs.president at gmail.com<mailto:nabs.president at gmail.com>), and John Miller, president, Science and Engineering Division (Johnmillerphd at hotmail.com<mailto:Johnmillerphd at hotmail.com>) (7:30 PM)

Title: Engineering the Future: Storing Clean Energy Deep Beneath Our Feet (7:40 PM)

Speaker: Matthew Ard (mattard at stanford.edu<mailto:mattard at stanford.edu>)

Abstract: The transition to clean energy is one of the greatest challenges of our time, but what opportunities actually exist to solve this crucial problem? In this talk, I will introduce the field of Energy Science and Engineering and discuss how I am working to tackle climate change through my research on large-scale energy storage. I will share my journey from undergraduate studies to a PhD program and discuss the methods and technologies I use to conduct high-level research as a student with a visual impairment. By sharing my research and personal experience, I hope to demystify the research process and show that a career in research is a tangible reality for students from all backgrounds.

Speaker Introduction: Matthew is a second-year PhD student at Stanford University in the Energy Science and Engineering program and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. His research is focused on enabling a clean energy future through underground energy storage. He graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. As an undergraduate, he conducted research at Stanford University and Columbia University, where he focused on solving problems related to climate change. Beyond the lab, Matthew is dedicated to improving accessibility and advocating for inclusion in his communities. He works with the Office of Access, Belonging, and Community and mentors undergraduate and graduate students to help them navigate their own paths in higher education.

Questions: (8:00 PM)

Title: Birding by Ear and Beyond; Exploring, experiencing, and engaging in the wonder of the Natural world as a person who is blind (8:05 PM)

Speaker: Donna Posont (dposont at umich.edu<mailto:dposont at umich.edu>)

Abstract: Wonder of the natural world is for everyone and that includes those who are blind or low vision. Sometimes we learn in various ways by engaging all our other senses to experience natural science. This program at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Environmental Interpretive Center meets at least monthly to learn about nature and is taught as though all participants are blind, but, friends and family are welcome.

Speaker Introduction:
Donna Posont
Coordinator: Birding by Ear and Beyond
Environmental Interpretive Center
University of Michigan-Dearborn
dposont at umich.edu<mailto:dposont at umich.edu>

I have a bachelor's degree in social work from West Liberty University in West Virginia. I returned as a non-traditional student and received a degree in Environmental Studies with a naturalist focus and a minor in Biology graduating in 2015 from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. During my time as a student I started a monthly program for blind people to learn to identify birds by sound. Upon graduation I became a staff naturalist and the program grew to Birding by Ear and Beyond. The Beyond part provides for experiencing all aspects of the natural world such as frogs, tree, and plant identification, learning about the watershed, building, and maintaining a Butterfly Garden. I received training as a Certified Interpretive Guide from the National Association of Interpretation, and this is helpful in sharing about nature. The program has been featured in national magazines such as Audubon and Birds and Blooms as well as appearing on CBS and NBC nightly news and various podcasts such as Ray Brown's Talkin Birds, Any Bird, Any body, and Eyes Free Sports. In 2016 I receive the Outstanding Part time Interpreter the Year award from the National Association of Interpretation Region IV. In 2024 I was a Merit Award recipient from Michigan Association of Environmental Outdoor Educators. My proudest moment came when I received the Jacob Bolotin Award from the National Federation of the Blind in 2024 for an outstanding program which has enhanced the lives of people who happen to be blind.

Questions: (8:25 PM)

Title: Audiom: Evaluating if digital interactive alternate text provides the same information as visual spatial maps and diagrams (8:30 PM)

Speaker: Brandon Biggs (brandon.biggs at xrnavigation.io<mailto:brandon.biggs at xrnavigation.io>)

Abstract: Sighted people view over 300 digital maps a year, in contrast to blind people, who view less than one map a year on average. Only around 17.5% of blind
people have ever viewed a map of any kind as a blind person. This talk will present Audiom, an interactive alternate text game-like digital interface that
can allow the non-visual viewing and creation of different types of spatial information, such as maps and diagrams. Over 13 academic studies and co-designs
have been performed on over 150 blind and 40 sighted participants to create and evaluate Audiom. The presentation will then discuss how Audiom is being
compared with visual digital maps and diagrams. The objective of this work is to clearly define what it means for a non-visual text map to serve the equivalent
purpose to a visual map to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. The results of this work should inform digital accessibility legislation to facilitate
equal educational and employment opportunities for professions requiring the use of spatial information.

Links to Audiom:
Personal use:
https://audiom.net
Commercial use:
https://xrnavigation.io

Speaker Introduction: Brandon Biggs is an entrepreneur, researcher, inclusive designer, developer, and life-long learner. He is the CEO of XR Navigation, an Engineer at the
Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, Co-Founder and board treasurer at Sonja Biggs Educational Services Inc., and a PhD student at the Georgia institute
of Technology. In 2016, he received his bachelor's in music from California State University East Bay, in 2019 he received his master's in Inclusive Design
from the Ontario College of Art and Design University, and in 2021, began his PhD in Human Centered Computing from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
He is almost completely blind from Leber's Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). His projects and ventures center around building tools to solve some of the most
difficult problems in the blindness field. He leverages his lived experience coupled with human centered inclusive design principles to create solutions
that create lasting and sustainable impact. To achieve this goal, Brandon is half entrepreneur and half academic.

Questions: (8:50 PM)

Closing Remarks
Lauren Altman and John Miller (8:55 PM)

Adjourn: (9:05 PM)

Division Contact Information

If you wish to learn more about NABS, including how to become a member, go to:
"https://www.nabslink.org/".

If you wish to join the SED, go to:
"http://www.nfb.org/divisiondues".

Dues for NABS and SED are $5 per division per year.

NFB divisions' fiscal years start on January 1 and end on December 31 of the same year.

Individuals may join the NABS and SED e-mail discussion groups at "https://www.nfbnet.org/".

If you have any questions about the mechanics of the seminar, please contact Louis Maher (713-444-7838, ljmaher03 at outlook.com<mailto:ljmaher03 at outlook.com>).
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Join Zoom Meeting:
February 22, 2026, 7:30 PM EST

Zoom Meeting Room <https://zoom.us/j/4678833687?_x_zm_rtaid=KOKAICd1R4ihtmx1LS5OTg.1769021469326.3ccbb5b08dc1b4996eb5278c87f34feb&_x_zm_rhtaid=216%23success>

Meeting ID: 467 883 3687

One tap mobile
+13017158592,4678833687 US (Germantown)

13126266799,,4678833687# US (Chicago)






Regards
Louis Maher
Phone: 713-444-7838
Email: ljmaher03 at outlook.com<mailto:ljmaher03 at outlook.com>

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