The Science and Comics Initiative

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/1794/29339

The University of Oregon Science and Comics Initiative unites two growing areas at the University of Oregon: Comics & Cartoon Studies and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This program encourages interdisciplinary research and spurs curriculum development. We bring together faculty, students, and researchers from numerous departments, programs, and campus facilities to produce scholarship that utilizes both humanistic and scientific research practices.

Professors Tien-Tien Yu (Physics) and Kate Kelp-Stebbins (Comics and Cartoon Studies) began the initiative with a fellowship project in Spring 2020, pairing students from Comics Studies with Professors in Physics and Neuroscience to produce graphic narratives illustrating and explaining UO faculty members’ scientific research. Following the successful completion of the first stage of the Science and Comics initiative in Summer 2020, the program is now run by Luca Mazzucato (Institute of Neuroscience) and Kate Kelp-Stebbins. The program is expanding with applications across additional fields.

Goals include: the establishment of cross-campus workshops devoted to communicating scientific research through comics and sequential art; a course or courses in which Comics Studies students work alongside STEM students to produce compelling and visually engaging research descriptions; a research publication compiling the graphic narratives produced by Comics Studies/STEM students; gallery and museum shows in which student work is displayed for a public audience.

To learn more about the initiative and see a digital exhibit of the completed comics please visit the Science and Comics Initiative's website.

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Now showing 1 - 14 of 14

Open Access
Sparking Life: Bioelectric Communication During Zebrafish Development
(2024) Smallwood, Bently; Lukowicz-Bedford, Rachel
This colorful digitally drawn comic explains why zebrafish are used as model organisms in biology and biomedical research. It explores research on connexion based gap junctions and the flow of bioelectricity through the neuromuscular system. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Bentley Smallwood and UO researcher Dr. Rachel Lukowicz-Bedford as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/sparking-life-bioelectric-communication-during-zebrafish-development/
Open Access
What Controls Sex Development in Fish?
Breslin, Sophia; Postlethwait, John H.; Desvignes, Thomas; Novillo, Manuel; Valdivieso, Alejandro; Chung, Bon-chu; Yan, Yi-Lin; Desvignes, Thomas; Lecointre, Guillaume; Ohara, Isabela Lagana; Shibatta, Oscar Akio; Sidlauskas, Brian; Yokoi, Hayato; Ansai, Satoshi; Schartl, Angelika; Schiavon, Luca; Papetti, Chiara; Lauridsen, Henrik; Garmann-Aarhus, Benedicte
In mammals and in birds, the sex of an individual is determined by its genes. A sex determining gene on a sex chromosome influence the development of ovaries or testes. But sex in fishes is much more diverse! What controls sex development in fish? Sex genes like in mammals and birds? Or do other types of sex determination systems exist in fish? In this short scientific graphic novel, Sophia Breslin, John Postlethwait, and Thomas Desvignes introduce you to the control of sex determination in fish: from the genetic regulation by sex determining genes and sex chromosomes to various cases of hermaphrodism and the influence of the environment, revealing the myriad of different sex determination systems found in fishes.
Open Access
Seeking the Structure of Matter
(2022) Gordon, Ella; Soper, Dave
This hand drawn comic explains physicists' understanding of the fundamental particles that make up the universe. It focuses on scientists' quest to find evidence for the long theorized Higgs boson. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Ella Gordon and UO researcher Dave Soper as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/seeking-the-structure-of-matter/
Open Access
Getting to Know Dark Matter
(2020) Hubbert, Mary; Yu, Tien-Tien
A digitally drawn comic exploring multiple explanations for dark matter, including axions, WIMPS, and primordial black holes. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Mary Hubbert and UO researcher Tien-Tien Yu as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/getting-to-know-dark-matter/
Open Access
From Space, to Earth, and Back Again
(2021) Lopez, Isabel; Fisher, Scott
This digitally drawn comic introduces readers to astronomy research at the University of Oregon and follows a group of students from their first days as undergraduates, through their educational journey as they research asteroids in the UO physics department. This comic was created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Isabel Lopez and UO researcher Dr. Scott Fisher. You can read the full comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/from-space-to-earth-and-back-again/
Open Access
The Next Few Steps: a Patients's Journey Post-Stroke
(2024) Whiteman, Ellyce; Frederick, Rebecca
This digitally-drawn comic follows a stroke patient learning about her options for mobility recovery post-stoke. It explores interventions including physical therapy, occupational therapy, passive braces, walking aids, external active devices, and internal implants; all help stroke patients recover their ability to walk post-stroke. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Ellyce Whiteman and UO researcher Dr. Rebecca Frederick as part of the Science and comics Initiative. You can read the full comic here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/the-next-few-steps-a-patients-journey-post-stroke/
Open Access
Oregon Ions
(2022) Bedrick, Anja; Allcock, David
An informational comic on the science behind quantum computing, exploring the physical technology of Ion traps, the science of quantum entanglement, and what quantum computing could mean for the world. An approachable introduction to quantum computing and ion traps. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Anja Bedrick and UO researcher David Allcock through the Science and Comics Initiative. Read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/oregon-ions/
Open Access
Leaf Cutter Ants: How Small Insects Cut Through a Big World
(2022) Cohen, Sam; Schofield, Robert
This comic explores the science behind how leaf cutter ants can cut through the same skin and leaves as much stronger animals, despite their relative lack of power. Leaf cutter ants and some other insects have extremely sharp mandibles that are resistant to wear because of their physical make up. This comic explains how scientists learned about leaf cutter ants' cutting abilities and how the ants' mandibles function over their lifetimes. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Sam Cohen and UO researcher Dr. Robert Schofield as part of the Science and Comics Initiative. You can read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/leaf-cutter-ants/
Open Access
Symmetry in Physics
(2021) Biersdorff, Page; Jeanty, Laura
A hand-drawn comic exploring symmetry in nature and physics, from symmetry in our everyday lives to symmetry in the universe and in atomic particles. This comic also explains asymmetries like the asymmetry between matter and anti-matter that allow matter to exist at all. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Page Biersdorff and UO researcher Dr. Laura Jeanty as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/symmetry-in-physics/
Open Access
The Bell Game: Beating the Odds With Quantum Entanglement
(2022) Kyser, Margaret; Raymer, Michael
This comic explores quantum entanglement through the lens of a game show. It celebrates the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics by explaining how quantum entanglement can be applied in new technology. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Margaret Kyser and UO researcher Michael Raymer as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/the-bell-game/
Open Access
Adaptable Adolescent: the Wonder of Adolescent Brain Development
(2024) Gomez, Nina; Mills, Kate
A comic describing the elasticity of the adolescent brain. Gomez and Mills explain how the brain matures and why being an adolescent can be confusing and challenging. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Nina Gomez and UO researcher Kate Mills as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/adaptable-adolescent-the-wonder-of-adolescent-brain-development/
Open Access
Flocking Birds and Active Matter
(2022) Ellis, Madison; Toner, John
In this hand-drawn comic a young witch learns from her crow familiar about how birds flock and are able to fly together in the correct direction. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Madison Ellis and UO researcher John Toner as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/flocking-birds-and-active-matter/
Open Access
Medusa's Shadow
(2023) Platenberg, Radio; McMorran, Ben
A stylized comic about a future where humans must hide from destructive aliens that explains quantum mechanics phenomena including the Elitzur-Vaidman effect and the Quantum Zeno Effect. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Radio Platenberg and UO researcher Ben McMorran as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/medusas-shadow/
Open Access
A Trip into Serotonin
(2020) McNamee, Audra; Mazzucato, Luca
A comic about how serotonin impacts the brains perception of the world. Created in collaboration between undergraduate cartoonist Audra McNamee and UO researcher Luca Mazzucato as part of the Science and Comics Initiative, read the comic online here: https://opentext.uoregon.edu/science-comics/chapter/a-trip-into-serotonin/

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