Comics and Visual Narratives in Science Communication
Summary
Comics and other forms of visual narrative have emerged as innovative conduits for conveying scientific knowledge to diverse audiences. By integrating sequential art, concise text and illustrative metaphors, these media reduce cognitive load and promote dual-coding of information, thereby improving comprehension and recall. Visual narratives can encapsulate complex data, experimental processes and abstract concepts within relatable storylines, making them particularly effective for audiences with varying levels of scientific literacy. Practitioners have deployed comics in settings ranging from formal education and museum exhibits to online outreach and public health campaigns, demonstrating their versatility in bridging disciplinary boundaries and cultural contexts. The global uptake of this approach reflects its capacity to foster engagement, encourage critical reflection and strengthen science-society dialogues.
Research from Nature Portfolio
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Comics and Visual Narratives in Science Communication publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in comics and visual narratives in science communication across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Comic: A medium combining sequential images and text to convey a narrative or explain concepts.
Visual narrative: A storytelling approach that uses imagery in sequence to depict events, processes or ideas.
Sequential art: The arrangement of individual images or panels in a deliberate order to communicate progression or causality.
Infographic: A visual representation of data or information designed to present complex material clearly and succinctly.
Storyboarding: The process of planning a visual narrative by sketching key scenes or panels to outline the flow of information.
References
- Communicating Science through Comics: A Method. Publications (2018).
- Expanding Opportunities for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Subjects Teaching and Learning: Connecting through Comics. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (2019).
- Learning about climate change with comics and text: a comparative study. Sustainability Science (2023).
- Informing children citizens efficiently to better engage them in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2020).
- Teaching Science Communication with Comics for Postgraduate Students. Frontiers in Communication (2021).
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