Deafblind Researcher Graduates While Training to Climb Everest
By Education Correspondent
Karolina Pakenaite, a postgraduate researcher aiming to become the first deafblind person to summit Mount Everest, has completed her PhD at the University of Bath.
Diagnosed with Usher syndrome at 19, Karolina is gradually losing her sight and hearing. Her research focused on translating photographs into tactile images to help visually impaired people access and interpret visual content through touch.
Alongside her, guide dog Bosley — who has supported her throughout her nine-year journey — took part in the graduation ceremony in a specially made gown.
Karolina said: “Bosley has been an exceptional guide dog, and it felt important to formally recognise everything we have achieved together.”
Karolina has also been pursuing her mountaineering goals, training with support from Team Bath and the university’s Mountaineering Club, having completed several high-altitude climbs in preparation for Everest.
She said: “Pursuing the Everest challenge alongside my PhD was demanding, but the two journeys ultimately reinforced one another. During my doctoral research, I often reflected on how far those small steps takes you on a mountain, and when I was climbing, I reflected on how the same approach carried me through the PhD – focusing on achievable goals each day.
"The PhD challenged me intellectually, while mountaineering project challenged me physically, and pursuing both journeys in parallel was a defining experience.”
She plans to continue developing multisensory communication systems, including haptic wearables for extreme environments, and create accessible multisensory visual experiences.
She added: “I still remember receiving my acceptance email, hardly believing that I had been offered a place on the PhD… Beginning the programme was daunting, and the journey itself was demanding, and I am proud to have reached this stage.”
Prof Michael Proulx said: “Many people have compared pursuing a PhD to climbing a mountain, but I think Karolina might be the first to summit so many challenges in parallel, including the mission to Everest. She has published incredible work, raised awareness about Usher's Syndrome, collaborated with industry, and more. Watching her dedication has amplified how inspiring she is.”
To others with Usher syndrome or who are deafblind, Karolina said:
“You are allowed to adapt systems so that they work for you – this is not a weakness, it’s good design. What matters is identifying approaches that provide appropriate support, advocating for what you need and recognising that your lived experience can offer valuable insight within any field you choose to pursue.”
