Introduction 

Are you a researcher or a PhD student? Are you working on the sustainability of coastal zones? Are you particularly interested in science communication but also in the dialogue between art and science?  The opportunity of EU-CONEXUS Comic Strip in Science project is open to you. It is the opportunity to collaborate with an illustrator and have your research project transposed into a comic strip. 

The project aims to raise the awareness of the general public and increase interest in science. It also aims to inform a non-expert audience about how EU-CONEXUS addresses coastal sustainability.  

Through this project, EU-CONEXUS aims to promote 9 research projects (one research project per EU-CONEXUS partner country) on the sustainability of coastal zones. Whether your research tackles the engineering sciences (mechanics, materials, etc.), the environment, biogeochemistry, ecology, social and human sciences but this is not an exhaustive list, we welcome you to apply to this call for expressions of interest in the EU-CONEXUS Comic Strip in Science project.  

Final deliverable

Each research project will be transposed into a 3 pages comic with a cover illustration.  

The final deliverable will be a digital magazine containing the nine research projects transposed into nine comic strips addressing the general public and which can be downloaded free of charge. 

Eligibility to the comic strip project

The call for expressions of interest to EU-CONEXUS Comic Strip in Science project is open to all EU-CONEXUS researchers and PhD students.

Objectives of the project

• To stimulate interest for coastal sustainability and present how this topic is being addressed within EU-CONEXUS Alliance and via a variety of scientific disciplines (human and social sciences, fundamental sciences); 
• To promote EU-CONEXUS research projects to a wider and non-scientific audience; 
• To encourage the sharing of scientific knowledge in an innovative manner  
• To encourage a dialogue between scientists and artists. 

Selection criteria

The research projects will be selected following these criteria:  

• Motivations of the applicant for scientific communication and sharing knowledge towards the general public;  
• Interest of the applicant for a dialogue with an artist;  
• The research project links with the topic of coastal sustainability. 

Selection procedure

The research projects will be selected locally at each of EU-CONEXUS university based on the above criteria.  

At EU-CONEXUS level, special attention will be given to the diversity of disciplines (human and social sciences, fundamental sciences) being represented in the Comic Strip in Science project between the nine (9) research projects selected. 

Applicant’s commitment

The collaboration between the scientist and the artist is planned to be over a period of six months and may count up to three or four meetings.  

The scientist undertakes to free time up for dialogue with the illustrator over that period. 

Submission deadline

Draft timeline of the project

The results will be officially announced by e-mail to the applicants, in April 2025 (week n°16), at the email address provided during entry. 

Data Protection (GDPR)

The information provided by the candidates may be used for data processing, excluding commercial or political use.

Candidates benefit from the right to access, rectify and remove data about themselves by making a formal request to the Organizer of EU-CONEXUS Comic Strip in Science project. Candidates may request to be omitted or removed from EU-CONEXUS Comic Strip in Science project before the closing date of the submission.

Registration form 

– Step 1 of 3

Applicant(s)

Name *

First

Last

Email *

University *

Project

Title of the research project *

Is your research individual or a group research?*: *

*For research group project, please fill in all names of the researchers involved.

Summary of the research project (150 words): *

In which phase of the project would you like to be integrated? *

• First phase (creation of four comic strips): from June to November 2025
• Second phase (creation of five comic strips): from November 2025 to April 2026
• No preference / do not know

Next

You are interested in the scientific comic strip project because: *

• You want to share your research with a different audience.
• You are interested in creating a dialogue with a comic strip artist.
• You are passionate about comics
• You have already seen works of this type.
• Other (please specify).

Other interest

In which category would you classify the main topic of your research? *

• Arts & Humanities
• Life Sciences & Biomedicine
• Physical Sciences
• Social Sciences
• Technology
• Other (please specify):

Other category

How familiar are you with the world of comics? *

• I’ve read several comics of different styles.
• I’ve worked on a comic-related project before.
• I have no experience but I’m interested.
• Other (please specify):

Other familiarity

How much time are you willing to dedicate to this project? *

• 1 hour per week.
• 1 hour every two weeks.
• 1 hour per month.
• As much time as needed.

Your involvement in the project would consist of: *

• Explaining the fundamentals of my research to the artist.
• Creating a dialogue with the artist to explore new perspectives on my work.
• Writing the comic’s script in collaboration with the artist.
• Reviewing and approving the script proposed by the artist.
• Other (please specify):

Other involvement

How open are you to learning from the artist and adapting to the creative process? *

• High
• Medium
• Low

Next

Do you have previous experience with interdisciplinary projects (art, science, technology, etc.)? *

If YES, please briefly describe the project:

Which skills or previous experiences do you think could add value to this project? *

• Science communication
• Writing or storytelling experience.
• Knowledge of visual design or illustration.
• Other (please specify):

Other skills

According to you, what type of audience would be best suited for your research topic? *

• Children
• Teenagers
• General public
• Experts in your field
• Other (please specify):

Other audience

What would you like the audience to understand or experience through the comic strip based on your research? *

What is the impact of your research project on society? *

What do you personally hope to gain from this project? *

Submit

This activity is organised under the EU-funded Project EU-CONEXUS Plus (Project number 101089709) titled : “A significant step forward for the European University for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability” .

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.