VL2 Logo
The Science of Learning Center on Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2), a unit of CPSO’s Language Planning Institute, has been approved for funding for the remaining three years of its five-year cycle at $4 million per year. The approval came August 11 from the National Science Board, and all members of the team are “popping the champagne,” as recommended by Dr. David Lightfoot, assistant director of the National Science Foundation, Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences.
The science board’s approval follows a highly successful second-year review of VL2 in April by a renowned group of researchers, including international scholars that resulted in a recommendation for the continued funding.
Since its establishment in 2006, VL2, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), has been opening new venues of research that focus on understanding skilled deaf readers whose first language is ASL. This increased funding will allow additional researchers to join VL2 in its efforts to understand the mechanisms involved with skilled deaf readers. Approval by the National Science Board will allow these exciting projects to proceed.
Dr. Thomas Allen, principle investigator and director of VL2, stated, “The Site Visit was a highly productive event, with recognition for our researchers such as Drs. Paul Dudis (assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics at Gallaudet) and Jill Morford (associate professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque) as engaging in ‘transformative scientific advancements.’ We believe the center has the potential to transform the education of all deaf individuals, and other visual learners in general, giving us great hope for the future.” Following the recent news from the National Science Board, Allen said he is working on budgets to bring on board a larger group of researchers who will work with VL2 in its endeavors.
In its first 18 months, VL2 was awarded $4.5 million, which was used to establish an infrastructure and the basis for future research. This work included establishing partnerships, beginning ground breaking research, and bringing on board a diverse group of deaf and hearing students at all levels—undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral—to meet the goals of providing a greater understanding of the biological, linguistic, cognitive, socio-cultural, and pedagogical conditions that influence the acquisition of language and knowledge in the visual modality.
VL2 is one of six Science of Learning Centers. It is a virtual center with an eight-university network that, in addition to Gallaudet, includes the National Technical Institute of the Deaf, Boston University, the University of New Mexico, University of Illinois- Champaign Urbana, Georgetown University, and two members of the University of California system—San Diego and Davis.
Visit the VL2 website by clicking here.
