Comics and Biodiversity: Engaging New Audiences through Visual Storytelling

As the biodiversity crisis intensifies, there is a growing need for science communication formats that not only inform, but also emotionally engage audiences and reach those traditionally distant from scientific discourse. Within Spoke 7 of the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), we are experimenting with the expressive potential of comics to foster awareness and reflection on biodiversity loss and environmental responsibility. This talk presents two recent projects designed to communicate biodiversity through popular comic formats. The first, developed with Topolino, Italy’s iconic Disney weekly magazine, featured a special issue for the International Day for Biological Diversity 2024. The story, written and illustrated by Disney professionals in close collaboration with our team, followed an original narrative that highlighted the interdependence between humans and ecosystems. Targeting young readers, this project successfully merged entertainment with environmental education. The second initiative, part of the Comics&Science series published by CNR Edizioni, targets teenagers and young adults. To ensure narrative depth and scientific accuracy, the creative team was immersed in field visits to key research sites, including the Hydrobiological Station of Chioggia and the Botanical Garden of the University of Padova. The result is a story that tackles complex topics – such as anthropogenic impacts, ecosystem fragility, and human well-being – through engaging visual storytelling. By combining scientific content with artistic creativity, these projects illustrate the power of comics to support emotional engagement, enhance accessibility, and stimulate a participatory dialogue around biodiversity, particularly among audiences not typically reached by traditional science outreach.