Sheri Wells-Jensen

Degrees and Institutions

Ph.D. Linguistics, State University of New York, University of Buffalo
M.A. Spanish and Applied Linguistics, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
B.A. Psychology and Sociology, Adrian College

Area: ESOL, TESOL, and Linguistics

Research Interests: Disability and inclusion in space exploration, astrobiology, disability studies, linguistics, TESOL, Braille

Select Recent Publications

Wells-Jensen, Sheri., and Glen Tiede. Forthcoming. Alternative sensory perception and scientific discovery: How would blind aliens build a radio telescope? In Douglas Vakoch (Ed.). Communication and Cognition. Oxford University Press.

Molaro, Jamie. Ann Kapusta, Sheri Wells-Jensen, et al. 2024. Disability and space flight: The 2021 and 2022 AstroAccess results. Acta Astronautica.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actaastro.2024.02.012

Wells-Jensen, Sheri, and S.J. Beard. 2023. Disabled people as a crucial resource in mitigating global risk. In A science of global risk. Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri. 2023. Welcoming disability as necessary in space travel. In Charles S. Cockell (Ed.). The institutions of extraterrestrial liberty. Oxford University Press.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri. 2023. Cognition, sensory input, and linguistics : A possible language for blind aliens. In Douglas Vakoch and Jeffrey Punske (Eds.). Xenolinguistics: Toward a science of extraterrestrial language. Routledge.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri. 2023. The science of xenolinguistics. In Lucas K Law and Julie Nováková (Eds.). Life beyond us: An original anthology of SF stories and science essays. European Astrolobiology Institute.

Schwartz, James S.J., Sheri Wells-Jensen, John W. Traphagan, Deana L. Weibel, and Kelly C. Smith. 2021. What do we need to ask before settling space? Journal of the British Interplanetary Society V74 #4.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri, and Alyssa Zuber. 2020. Models of disability as models of first contact. Religions. V11 #12.

Smith, Kelly C., et al. 2019. The Great Colonization Debate. Futures Vol. 110.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri B., Joshua A. Miele, and Brandie L. Bohney. 2019. An alternate vision for colonization. Futures Vol. 110: 50-53.

Wells-Jensen, Sheri B. 2018. The case for disabled astronauts. Scientific American: Observations. https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-case-for-disabled-astronauts/Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2019). How Do You Get Around? There’s No One Strategy to Get There. The Braille Monitor.

Wells-Jensen, S. B., Miele, J. A., & Bohney, B. (2019). An Alternate Vision for Colonization. Futures.

Wells-Jensen, S. B., et al. (2019). The Great Colonization Debate. Futures.

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2018). The Case for Disabled Astronauts. Scientific American.

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2018). An Ordinary Stranger. Rejoinder (An Online Journal Published by the Institute for Research on Women at Rutgers University).

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2018). The Daily Accidents of Life: Consequence of Blindness? Or Being Human? The Braille Monitor.

Select Recent Presentations:

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2019, June). We Have the Right to Wonder: All the Way to the Stars. SciAccess Conference. Columbus, OH: Center of Science and Industry.

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2019, May). Preparing to Survive: The Case for Disabled Astronauts and Colonists. FISO Teleconference.

Wells-Jensen, S. B., Kryzhanivska, A., & Hunter, L. (2019, April). Blind Rage, Blind Copies, and Blind Dates: A Cross-Linguistic Analysis of Ableist Collocations. Society for Disability Studies Conference. Columbus, OH.

Wells-Jensen, S. B., & Orchard, R. (2018, May). Spinning the Golden Record: Interstellar Miscommunication at 16-2/3 RPM. International Space Development Conference. Los Angeles, CA: National Space Society.

Wells-Jensen, S. B., & Meile, J. (2018, May). Inclusion of Disabled People in Early Colonization: A Case for Improved Survival. International Space Development Conference. Los Angeles, CA: National Space Society.

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2018, April). How Would Blind Scientists Discover the Stars? Reimagining Basic Scientific Progress. Society for Disability Studies Conference.

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2018, April). Things You Didn’t See because You Were Looking: Blind Aliens, Science and Interspecies Miscommunication. Social and Conceptual Issues in Astrobiology (SoCia) Conference. University of Nevada, Reno.

Wells-Jensen, S. B. (2018, March). Imagining Life on other Planets; Reimagining Life on Earth. ICS Fellows Lecture. BGSU Planetarium: Institute for the Study of Culture and Society (ICS).

Select Recent Media References:

“How Could We Decode a Message from Extraterrestrials?” Forbes by Elizabeth Fernandez, July 21, 2019

“They Learned a New Language – And then Discovered a Whole New World Online” MEL by Quinn Myers, June 2019

“It’s Time to Rethink Who’s Best Suited for Space Travel” Wired by Rose Eveleth, Jan. 27, 2019

 “Why Kids May Be the Key to Communicating with Alien Life” Slate by Kate Morgan, July 12, 2018

“How to Talk with Aliens” Science Friday Podcast Interview with Christopher Intagliata, Apr. 13, 2018

“What ‘Arrival’ Got Right about Communicating with Space Aliens” NBC MACH interview with Denise Chow, July 6, 2018

“How to Communicate with Aliens” Smithsonian’s Air & Space by Dirk Schulze-Makuch, May 31, 2018

“NASA’s Golden Record May Baffle Alien Life, Say Researchers” The Guardian by Ian Sample, May 26, 2018

“What Linguistics Can Tell Us about Talking to Aliens” Scientific American by Adam Mann, Oct. 9, 2018

Memberships

Institute for Culture and Society Fellow: Spring 2018

Member of Advisory Board: Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence International

Member at Large: Social and Cultural Issues in Astrobiology

Consultant ELPA21: Assisted with creation of Braille ESOL test for blind and visually impaired children

Discussant: International Symposium on Braille Research: Rice University.

Guest on NPR's Science Friday, November 2016

Consultant for Scholastic Books: Designer of the Ragayo Language for the Bear Haven book series

Courses Taught

ENG 2900: Language Study
ENG 3800: Linguistics for Language Arts Teachers
ENG 3810: Grammar & Writing
ENG 5100: TESOL Methods
ENG 5170: Applied Syntax
ENG 5180: Applied Phonology
ENG 6150: Intro to Linguistics
ESOL 1000: Academic Composition I
ESOL 5030: Intermediate Speaking and Listening