The curious zoo of extraordinary organisms
Comics that share extraordinary beauty, wonders, & science
As a scientist, I’m passionate about sharing the immense beauty of organisms with young children through our multilingual comic series, “A Curious Zoo of Extraordinary Organisms”.
These comics are part of our outreach efforts supported by a National Science Foundation CAREER grant, which you can learn more about here. Illustrated by Lindsey Leigh and Jordan Collver, our comics vividly illuminate the beauty and complexities of scientific phenomena, making them more accessible to everyone, particularly historically excluded groups. By transforming cutting-edge research into multi-lingual content, we’re democratizing the world of science, acknowledging that scientific knowledge isn’t confined to one language.
Our efforts to develop comics for our science stories have been recognized nationally and institutionally. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine awarded Dr. Bhamla the 2023 Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communication. They have also received the CTL/BP Junior Faculty Teaching Excellence Award from Georgia Tech and even received a highlight from Assistant Director Dr. Joanne Tornow at the August 2022 National Science Board meeting. The immense volume of scientific publications can be overwhelming for experts and laypersons alike; our comics bridge this knowledge gap by distilling complex concepts into engaging narratives. These comics are a potent, creative tool for science communication, ensuring it’s comprehensive, inclusive, and captivating.
“Bhamla’s work is fantastic- both in the beasts he studies, and the way he engages the public in diversified science.”
Our comics were recognized by the National Academies
“Bhamla’s approach to science communication epitomizes excellence and inclusivity. His comic-based content is educationally rich yet lighthearted, visually engaging, and entertaining. It’s evident that he possesses a unique talent for transforming challenging concepts into digestible narratives. With this impressive capacity, he has the potential to continue making significant strides in the field of science communication, offering fresh perspectives and captivating audiences along the way.”
