海角直播

Comic created to encourage interest in science among children

A comic book to encourage interest in science among children has been developed with creative input from a 海角直播 academic.

Green Kid, developed by academics at 海角直播 and University of York, aims to boost enthusiasm about science in children aged between nine and 12. The comic, which is about green and sustainable chemistry research, is to be distributed to children in York鈥檚 primary schools through a project funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Set in 2064, the comic sees the character Green Kid go back in time to the 2020s to meet their inventor Summer as a child and see how scientific research to create green solutions and a circular economy could save the world from the ravages of climate change.

Co-creator of the comic, Julian Lawrence, Senior Lecturer in Comics, Graphic Novels & Sequential Arts at 海角直播鈥檚 School of Arts & Creative Industries, said: 鈥淐omics and illustrations are always a great way to engage, enthuse and educate a young audience on an important issue or topic.

鈥淭his has been a really interesting project to be involved with 鈥� showcasing the expertise here at 海角直播 and the impact comics can have. I am delighted to see that this will be distributed to primary schools in York and hope it helps get the message across.鈥�

The comic, which also includes educational games and puzzles, focuses on the sustainable solvent Cyrene - which was discovered by York researchers in 2014. The bio-based chemical can be used to sustainably manufacture a range of products from lithium batteries and carbon fibre bicycles to medicines.

Made from sawdust, Cyrene is safe, sustainable, recyclable and does not harm the environment. A company called Circa is building a plant in France to produce Cyrene and will sell it to manufacturers to replace toxic solvents.

Dr Rob McElroy, from the Department of Chemistry at the University of York, is one of the researchers behind the comic and a co-inventor of Cyrene. He said: 鈥淚 have a love of comics and visual arts and have wanted to use them to help get across the exciting world of Green Chemistry for a long time.

鈥淲hen I met Julian Lawrence, we talked about how he wanted to use his art to help inform the public about scientific research and we realised we could work together. We really wanted to show kids that science isn鈥檛 boring. The comic gets across some exciting scientific concepts, that aren鈥檛 usually introduced until degree level, in a simple way.

鈥淭he plot is centred around the climate crisis, but with a hopeful message that scientists are working hard to come up with solutions like Cryene. Through the characters, we also wanted to reflect the fact that Chemistry at York is a diverse place, with an equal number of women and men undertaking a PhD, and with researchers from all over the world.鈥�

The researchers have tested what children and their teachers think about the comic at two schools in York. Feedback from the schools suggests that pupils had an increased understanding of words like sustainable and solvent after this session. The researchers are now seeking further funding for another two issues of the comic.