Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL)
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Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre (DCAL)
@dcal-ucl.bsky.social
160 followers 27 following 85 posts
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dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Our DCAL 2025 Christmas Newsletter is out now 🎄
Read the newsletter and watch the BSL videos here: mailer.ucl.ac.uk/7SWP-2ECWZ-3...
Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you a peaceful festive break and a positive New Year.
December 19, 2025 at 9:56 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Congratulations to Brennan Terhune-Cotter on receiving a Newton International Fellowship from the Royal Society! He’ll be with us at DCAL until Nov 2027, working on neural mechanisms of reading in deaf adults: fingerspelling.
royalsociety.org/news/2025/11...
Exceptional researchers awarded early career fellowships worth more than £83 million | Royal Society
A new cohort of exceptional researchers at have been awarded funding through the Royal Society’s early career schemes, the University Research Fellowship (URF), Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (DHF) and Ne...
royalsociety.org
December 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Deadline extended to Friday 5 December.
UCL DCAL is recruiting a PhD researcher on tactile BSL and DeafBlind communication. DeafBlind applicants especially encouraged.
Apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
December 1, 2025 at 9:34 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
New lay summary!
Dr Matt Brown shares key findings from his PhD on how BSL expresses “and”/“or” through signs, facial expressions, body movement and space and why this matters for linguistics, pragmatics, and deaf children’s language development.
🎥 youtu.be/6FbIw9aAslo
"And", "Or", and intonation in BSL
YouTube video by DCAL UCL
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 10:10 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Some of our colleagues at DCAL attended the British Library’s Family Festival: Imaginary Worlds on Saturday 22nd November, where we hosted a DCAL stall. We had a fantastic time meeting everyone!
November 27, 2025 at 10:11 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
PhD opportunity at UCL on tactile BSL & DeafBlind communication.
3-year FT / 5-year PT, £27k stipend, start Feb 2026.
UK students only. Deadline: 1 Dec 2025.
More info + how to apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
PhD Opportunity at UCL – Tactile Sign Language & DeafBlind Communication
Join a pioneering ERC-funded project at UCL’s DCAL, Europe’s leading centre for Deafness, Cognition & Language research.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Last call for the Bencie Woll Prize – apply by 8 December. £500 award for early-career researchers with a BSL-focused publication from the last two years. Send your CV, 500-word summary and publication link to [email protected]. Deaf researchers encouraged to apply: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
The Bencie Woll Prize for Linguistic Research on British Sign Language
The Bencie Woll Prize celebrates exceptional research in British Sign Language (BSL) linguistics.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
There’s still time to apply for the Deaf in AI & Technology workshop. The deadline’s this Sunday, 23 November. Re-sharing in case you haven’t seen it yet.
November 18, 2025 at 10:43 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Meet Vernon, a final-year university student in Biomedical Sciences, who shares his internship experience at DCAL. His week at DCAL gave him insight into research, brain imaging, and better clarity about his future career - youtu.be/ylHW99wRuT8
Interview with Vernon: DCAL Internship Experience
YouTube video by DCAL UCL
youtu.be
November 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
In our next #AcademicSpotlightSeries, Prof. Kearsy Cormier shares her journey from studying ASL linguistics in Texas to leading DCAL. Her 20+ years at UCL exploring BSL structure, use & brain processing have shaped sign linguistics. Watch her story: youtu.be/7Pkq-qUpkUc?...
Academic Spotlight Series | Kearsy’s Journey: From Studying ASL Linguistics to Director at DCAL
YouTube video by DCAL UCL
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 10:51 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
We’re joining the British Library’s Family Festival: Imaginary Worlds on Sat 22 Nov (12–4pm). Visit DCAL’s Fingerspelling Space Race to race friends and test your BSL skills.
More info: events.bl.uk/events/famil...
November 6, 2025 at 9:36 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Deaf in AI & Technology workshop – 9 Dec 2025, London. Find details and apply at www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
Deaf in AI and Technology Workshop
Join the Deaf in AI & Technology workshop on 9 Dec 2025 in London. Explore how deaf professionals are shaping the future of tech, AI and sign language.
www.ucl.ac.uk
November 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
PhD Opportunity at UCL – Tactile Sign Language & DeafBlind Communication. Funded PhD at DCAL exploring tactile BSL and DeafBlind interaction. UK only. Deadline 1 Dec 2025.

www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
PhD Opportunity at UCL – Tactile Sign Language & DeafBlind Communication
Join a pioneering ERC-funded project at UCL’s DCAL, Europe’s leading centre for Deafness, Cognition & Language research.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 31, 2025 at 2:49 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Join UCL’s DCAL as a Research Assistant on the Tactile Language Project – exploring protactile and tactile forms of BSL with deafblind people across the UK. Full-time, 18 months. Apply by 17 Nov 2025

👉 www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
Job Advert: Research Assistant – Tactile Language Project
Are you passionate about language, communication, and inclusion? Do you want to help shape the future of British Sign Language (BSL) for the deafblind community?
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 28, 2025 at 10:24 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
New paper with Evelyne Mercure: hearing children of deaf mothers learn sign and speech – showing bimodal bilingualism as enriching and adaptive.
🔗 cambridge.org/core/journals/bilingualism-language-and-cognition/article/BB899E0B4FCB32AE0DEF5D160F2EA4AA
cambridge.org
October 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
In our latest #AcademicSpotlightSeries, Dr Kate Rowley, deaf scholar & Deputy Director at DCAL, shares her inspiring journey from Deaf Studies to PhD, exploring sign linguistics, deaf culture & accessibility in education. Watch her story: youtu.be/BOSXQ6KwMiU
Academic Spotlight Series | Kate’s Journey: From Research Assistant at DCAL to Deputy Director
YouTube video by DCAL UCL
youtu.be
October 23, 2025 at 3:43 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Applications open for the Bencie Woll Prize 2025 — celebrating top research in BSL linguistics. Early-career researchers welcome. £500 + talk at DCAL. Apply by 8 Dec: [email protected] 🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc... #BSL #DeafResearch
The Bencie Woll Prize for Linguistic Research on British Sign Language
The Bencie Woll Prize celebrates exceptional research in British Sign Language (BSL) linguistics.
www.ucl.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 3:28 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Recruiting deaf adults from Greater London (under 35yo) for a new focus group series (interpreters provided!)

Help identify priorities and best practices for future research with deaf children & receive £200 for your time!

Email Victoria at [email protected]
September 19, 2025 at 8:40 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone who joined us for #DCALx 2025 last week! Inspiring talks, great conversations, and a brilliant evening celebrating BSL, literacy & cognition. We can’t wait for the next one! ✨
Dr Kate Rowley, in a bright blue top, signs at the lectern. Behind her, a slide titled “Grant Success!” announces a £1.4m ERC award for a 5-year tactile BSL project with job opportunities starting in 2026. Live captions run across the top of the screen. Dr Patrick Rosenburg presents in BSL beside a lectern with a laptop. His slide shows logos from deaf schools and universities he has worked with, including Boston University, Gallaudet and Frank Barnes School. Audience heads are visible in the foreground. A DCALx flyer rests on a desk in the foreground, showing the three presenters’ portraits. In the background, Professor Kearsy Cormier presents in BSL on stage with a slide about early BSL research and annotation challenges. Professor Kearsy Cormier presents at a lectern with slides about BSL and AI. The caption reads “What DO Deaf people want from sign language AI?” Audience members sit in rows with notepads.
September 9, 2025 at 2:25 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Exciting news – Kate Rowley has been awarded a £1.4M European Research Council (ERC) grant (#ERCStG | @erc.europa.eu) for a 5-year project on tactile BSL in the UK. Starts Jan 2026.
🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
Groundbreaking Research on Tactile British Sign Language
Kate Rowley has been awarded a £1.4M ERC grant to lead a 5-year study into tactile British Sign Language, used by deafblind people across the UK.
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 5, 2025 at 2:48 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Join us for #DCALx 2025 – an evening of bite-sized talks in BSL exploring sign language, literacy & cognition 📚🧠✨
🗓 4 Sept | 🕕 6–8pm | 📍 UCL London
Free & fully accessible
🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
DCALx 2025: Showcasing Research in BSL, Literacy and Cognition
Thursday 4 September 2025 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM University College London, near Russell Square, London
www.ucl.ac.uk
July 25, 2025 at 12:28 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
‘No evidence’ BSL harms speech or literacy – instead, early sign boosts language, memory and more! Hats off to @liamodell.com for the scoop. Read the full report: liamodell.com/2025/07/19/e...
‘No evidence’ BSL harms speech or literacy, as researchers stress benefits of early access
Hearing families should stop being told not to use sign language with their deaf children, deaf academic Dr Kate Rowley has said, with there being “no evidence” it impacts speech or literacy.
liamodell.com
July 21, 2025 at 10:55 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
💬 Powerful voices, proud community.

We were thrilled to attend the BDA Conference and see so many brilliant people – from passionate presenters to an engaged audience. A celebration of deaf identity, advocacy, and connection.

📸 Photos by Charlie Swinbourne – thank you!
July 18, 2025 at 4:07 PM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
🎉 The Bencie Woll Prize is open for applications!
Celebrating excellence in linguistic research on British Sign Language.
🔗 Apply by 8 Dec: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...
The Bencie Woll Prize for Linguistic Research on British Sign Language
The Bencie Woll Prize celebrates exceptional research in British Sign Language (BSL) linguistics.
www.ucl.ac.uk
July 9, 2025 at 8:57 AM
dcal-ucl.bsky.social
Hi! I’m Zahra Nawab, a deaf PhD student at UCL. I’m looking for participants for my research on language, thinking & emotions in deaf adults.

Interested or know someone who might be? Get in touch: [email protected]

For more information, please watch this video: youtu.be/Iw-TiANQpY0
June 30, 2025 at 12:05 PM