Dr Audrey Cameron (born in Scotland) is a Deaf chemist and education specialist based at the University of Edinburgh, serving as a Chancellor’s Fellow in Science Education and British Sign Language (BSL). She coordinates the Scottish Sensory Centre’s STEM-in‑BSL Glossary project, which has developed thousands of BSL signs for scientific and environmental terms, enhancing science education and inclusion for Deaf learners in the UK. She has been honored with roles such as Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an Order of the British Empire in 2023[1].
Early life and education
Cameron earned a degree in chemistry from the University of the West of Scotland and completed her PhD in Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde, focusing on hydrogel polymer membranes. Following postdoctoral appointments at Strathclyde and Durham Universities, she acquired a PGCE in Secondary Education (Chemistry with Science) at Moray House School of Education and Sport, University of Edinburgh, in 2004. She subsequently taught in mainstream secondary schools[1].
Academic career and teaching
Dr Cameron holds a Chancellor’s Fellowship awarded in 2020 at the University of Edinburgh. She teaches on the PGDE Secondary Education (Chemistry/General Science) and PGDE Primary Education courses, and delivers the Deaf Studies module in the MSc Inclusive Education programme. Her role reflects a deep commitment to inclusive pedagogy and educational access for Deaf students[1].
BSL Glossary Project and environmental sign development
Since 2007, Cameron has coordinated the Scottish Sensory Centre’s STEM-in‑BSL Glossary project, which has built a searchable repository approaching 4,500–5,000 signs for STEM disciplines. The development team comprises Deaf scientists, teachers, sign linguists, and educators, ensuring both scientific accuracy and linguistic appropriateness[1].
In 2023, under Cameron’s leadership, the Royal Society and Scottish Sensory Centre launched a major initiative to create over 200 BSL signs for environmental and biodiversity terms such as “greenhouse gases,” “carbon footprint,” and “rewilding.” This glossary expansion made scientific discourse around climate change more accessible to Deaf BSL users[2]. By early 2025, a total of 400 environmental science terms had been represented in new BSL signs, informed by curriculum frameworks and reviewed via workshops with the Deaf community[3].
Impact and recognition
Cameron’s work has been widely praised for its role in bridging gaps in scientific communication for Deaf learners. Her leadership in glossary development was featured in national outlets and educational platforms, including interviews with Channel 4 and articles in professional media outlets emphasizing her contribution to climate accessibility[2].
In recognition of her services to chemical sciences and inclusion in science communication, she was appointed Order of the British Empire in the 2023 Birthday Honours, and awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland in 2024. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry[1].
Selected publications and public scholarship
Audrey Cameron has authored pieces for The Conversation and University of Edinburgh platforms. Notably, her featured review “How we developed sign language for ten of the trickiest climate terms” outlines the creation and design of BSL signs for abstract climate-related vocabulary, describing the methodological focus on visual concept representation rather than finger‑spelling[4].
Her academic output spans research on Deaf students in science education and inclusive assessment methods. Papers include explorations of alternative assessments, Deaf experiences in mainstream classrooms, and the linguistic challenges of science vocabulary in BSL[1].
- Wikipedia contributors. (2025). Audrey Cameron. Wikipedia.
- The Guardian / Royal Society press. (2023). Experts ‘rewild’ British Sign Language with new environmental terms.
- Rodenas, A. (2025). All hands on deck: rewilding British Sign Language. Positive News.
- Cameron, A. (2024). How we developed sign language for ten of the trickiest climate terms. University of Edinburgh / The Conversation.
