This project is part of the Science Communication & Comics course at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. The course is designed for advanced undergraduate students and will be led by myself, Professor Caroline Hu.

As a scientist collaborator, you will provide your research material and field expertise. The student will be bringing their skills in illustration, design, and storytelling. I will facilitate and be a resource for you and the student every step along the way!

A successful collaboration will exercise your science communication skills and deepen the student’s understanding of science and the research process. If both collaborators agree, you may use the final comic for publicity and educational purposes and the student can use it as a portfolio piece.

What will be asked of you:

• A pre-activity survey about your science communication experience and goals. Who, what, and why?
• A peak behind the scenes of doing science. (e.g. examples of raw data, photos of workstations, etc.)
• An initial half hour virtual meeting with the student and three rounds of feedback (script, sketches, and finishes) over email.
• An outgoing survey about your experience.

What the student and I will do:

• Do necessary background research to become familiar with foundational concepts and visualizations of your science.
• Develop visual vocabulary to depict the science in comic form.
• Script, sketch, and finish 4 page comic.
• Incorporate your feedback to ensure scientific accuracy.

• Graduate students, post-docs, faculty, and staff actively engaged in scientific research are welcome.
• Open to scientists anywhere in the world. 
• Open to all scientific fields. (Yes this includes social science!)

If you are interested in participating, please fill out your information by September 13, 2024. They will notify you if you have been selected for a collaboration by September 20^th and they will get started shortly afterwards. This project will be students’ primary focus for the months of October through mid-December. Signing up does not guarantee a collaboration will happen this fall, since the class is only ~15 students. There will definitely be future opportunities!

For more details click here