In observance of September as Color Blindness Awareness Month, Alfred University will be giving away two pairs of EnChroma glasses designed to help people with color blindness. EnChroma, the Berkeley, CA company co-founded by Alfred University alumnus Don McPherson ’84 M.S., ’88 PhD, donated the glasses to the University.
People can register for the free drawings—hosted by Alfred University Libraries—during Family Weekend/Homecoming, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23 and 24. To enter, go to Herrick Memorial Library and Samuel R. Scholes Library—during the hours of operation listed below—where interactive EnChroma displays will provide information on color blindness and how the glasses were developed. Anyone who visits the display—students and their families, staff, faculty, alumni, local community members—can enter to win a pair of EnChroma glasses.
Visitors can also try on one of the pairs from the libraries’ circulating collection of EnChroma glasses. Herrick and Scholes libraries each have 10 pairs of the glasses, which can be checked out and borrowed for up to seven days.
Following are the hours of operation of Herrick and Scholes libraries during Homecoming/Family Weekend:
· Friday, September 23: Herrick: 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Scholes: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
· Saturday, September 24: Herrick: 2 p.m.-10 p.m.; Scholes: 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
EnChroma was co-founded in 2010 by Don McPherson, a co-inventor of the EnChroma lens technology. McPherson, who earned master’s and doctoral degrees in glass science engineering from Alfred University, serves as EnChroma’s chief science officer.
There will be one drawing at Herrick and another at Scholes; people can enter both drawings. Registrants will be notified by Monday, September 26. Email: libraries@alfred.edu for more details.
Resources to learn more about color blindness:
Read about one woman’s experience living with color blindness
25 Interesting Facts About Color Blindness
Color blind people face challenges at school and work
