Research in Motion: Making Blue Spaces Accessible for All (Speaking of Research Podcast, SCDTP)

In the first episode of Speaking of Research, a podcast from the South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership, we meet Sadie Rockliffe a doctoral researcher from the University of Brighton, who is reshaping our understanding of accessibility in natural environments.

Sadie shares insights from her research on sensory inequalities and access to blue spaces—like rivers, lakes, and the sea—for people with visual impairments. Using innovative swim-along interviews, she captures the lived experiences of participants highlighting both the barriers they face and the deep sensory connections they form with nature.

Sadie discusses her unique methodology, which emphasises interdependence over independence, and the importance of building trust with participants.