How do we inspire the next generation of science explorers? Let’s start with stories. Whether it is a tropical biologist trekking through a swamp-filled jungle or an astronomical physicist peering off at a faraway galaxy, scientist-storytellers allow us to feel the thrill of discovery and learn vicariously through their experiences.
Our team of educators, scientists, and illustrators set out to achieve this very goal: to provide stories of science – to show where, when and how scientists perform their research and to help explain why their discoveries are so important to our daily lives. The result of this effort led to one action-packed, awe-inspiring, adventure-themed learning resource: a comic book! By harnessing the educational power of art and science, comics provide visually engaging stories that also address and help teach key science concepts.
In Myrmex: A Comic Ant-thology you will find stories of warring species, ancient fossils, fruitful relationships, and science mystery. You’ll learn how fire ant queens start new colonies, how army ants build living bridges, and how Argentine ants invade entire continents.
Members of Project Noah have joined in this same quest for sharing knowledge and educating others about the wonder of our natural world. By making observations and joining biodiversity missions, Project Noah participants create their own stories of science discovery and in turn share these stories with the rest of the world. These efforts not only improve research outcomes in academia, but also and more importantly, help build a community of engaged and empowered environmental stewards.
Above: Esa’s weaver ant story and Subin S’s weaver ant sighting in Kerala, India
Above: Caldwell’s Army Ant story, showing how army ants attack their prey and Jonathan Sequeira's sighting of army ants eating a centipede in Costa Rica
When it comes to ants, the theme of our comic anthology, there is still an enormous amount that we do not know. How are different species genetically related to one another? Where are their current populations distributed? What are their relationships with other organisms? There is a myriad of scientific questions out there and an even greater number not yet posed, just waiting for Project Noah members to pursue in future adventures.
An army of science explorers stands before us. Whether you are a researcher, educator, artist, or parent, let’s come together to better engage others in conservation and environmental stewardship. It is only through our collective efforts that we will be able to come to better understand this wild world we call home.
This comic anthology is the result of a partnership with the School of Ants project, a citizen-science study headed by the Your Wild Life lab at North Carolina State University. You can find a digital copy of the comic as well as paired teaching resources for classroom use on the Your Wild Life lab website – http://ants.yourwildlife.org.
For more information on this project contact Andrew Collins on twitter @ascollins or at his blog NYC Ecology.