The Institute of Particle Physics and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), KEK
Tsukuba University of Technology (NTUT)
The Institute of Particle Physics and Nuclear Studies (IPNS) of the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in collaboration with the Research and Support Center for Higher Education for People with Disabilities (R&S Center), National University Corporation Tsukuba University of Technology (NTUT), has produced the groundbreaking braille book entitled “Origins of the Universe and Matter: Understanding the Invisible World,” which aims to engage visually impaired people in the profound scientific investigation of the origins of the universe and familiarize them with the fundamentals of particle physics.
The Universe was born 13.8 billion years ago as a tiny bubble-like entity that gave rise to matter, the Earth and eventually life. While many aspects of this process remain a mystery, this introductory book provides an accessible explanation of current research and future studies, allowing visually impaired readers to participate in the exploration of these cosmic questions by researchers at the IPNS.
Translating scientific texts into the braille poses unique challenges due to the scarcity of translators with both the braille and scientific expertise. Recognizing the desire of visually impaired people to learn more about the universe, the IPNS initiated this project to bridge this gap.
A team of ten researchers from the IPNS (Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Junpei Fujimoto) prepared the manuscript, which was then painstakingly translated into the braille by a team from the R&S Center, led by Associate Prof. Manabi Miyagi. While the R&S Center routinely translates textbooks for visually impaired students, working with authors to translate material in the field of particle physics was a new experience. Typically, the braille translation is done for existing publications that may contain complex text or figures that are difficult for visually impaired people to understand. In this project, however, after the physicists had written the manuscript, it was proofread by visually impaired people to ensure clarity before being translated into the braille, resulting in an accessible presentation.
A notable feature of this braille book is the inclusion of almost all of the graphs and figures from the original text, represented by both textual descriptions and tactile graphics: these raised images allow visually impaired readers to explore the data by touch. Experts from the R&S Center and physicists had extensive discussions to achieve the best possible presentation.
Blind mathematician Dr. Hitoshi Tanaka of NTUT, a member of the translation team, shared his thoughts: “The development of the braille has paralleled the challenges faced by blind people. This project reflects the resilience and potential of the braille. I hope that readers will find it as enriching as I have”.
Naohito Saito, Director of the IPNS, said: “This project allows visually impaired people to join us in contemplating the mysteries of the universe. The passion and dedication that the visually impaired participants showed in understanding complex scientific concepts was truly impressive”.
Feedback from the proofreaders was overwhelmingly positive. One visually impaired reader appreciated the detailed explanations of elementary transitions and the inclusion of equations illustrating the potential energy of the Higgs field, noting the rarity and value of such in-depth content in accessible formats.
The braille book is available in two editions: a text-only braille edition and an illustrated one. The latter will be available for loan to individuals, universities and research institutions, with plans to donate sets to libraries and services for the visually impaired. In addition, the data for both editions has been registered with KEK, and Tsukuba University of Technology repositories, allowing free downloads, and it is also planned to register with the National Diet Library repository.
Tsukuba College of Technology, the predecessor of the NTUT, was established through the efforts of Prof. Tetsuji Nishikawa, the second director of the National Laboratory for High Energy Physics (the predecessor of KEK), and Prof. Isao Miura, the founding president, who was the director of the Scientific and Technical Service Department at the National Laboratory for High Energy Physics. The collaboration between the two institutions has continued ever since.
The Bluebacks edition of the original book “Origins of the Universe and Matter: Understanding the Invisible World” (published by KODANSHA) was released in March 2024 and is available in bookstores. The royalties received by the authors of the original book will be donated in full and used to disseminate the braille and tactile graphics editions for the visually impaired.
Contact
High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK)
e-mail: press@kek.jp
The Institute of Particle Physics and Nuclear Studies (IPNS), KEK
e-mail: ipns-pr@ml.post.kek.jp