- 1University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, United States of America (nur.schuba@beg.utexas.edu)
- *A full list of authors appears at the end of the abstract
In late 2024, the International Ocean Discovery Program’s Expedition 405 embarked on a mission to further investigate the physical conditions and the geologic processes behind the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake. Alongside groundbreaking scientific research, the expedition prioritized public outreach. Comics were one of the media utilized for this purpose.
These comics simplified complex scientific ideas, experiences of life aboard the Chikyu research vessel, the collaboration between multidisciplinary teams, and the geologic data acquisition methods used during the expedition. Developed in partnership with the science party and crew, the comics drew on visual references and detailed notes to ensure accuracy. The comics used humor and engaging visuals to simplify scientific concepts, while portraying researchers as approachable and relatable individuals to inspire young readers to explore geosciences.
Published in English and Japanese, the comic book aims to inspire a diverse audience, sparking curiosity in Earth sciences and fostering early STEM identity development. Digital versions in English will also be freely available on the JOIDES Resolution website to ensure global accessibility. This initiative demonstrates how creative storytelling through comics can make complex science accessible to young learners.
Shuichi Kodaira (JAMSTEC), Marianne Conin (University of Lorraine), Patrick Fulton (Cornell University), James Kirkpatrick (University of Nevada), Christine Regalla (Northern Arizona University), Kohtaro Ujiie (University of Tsukuba), Piero Bellanova (RWTH Aachen University), Cameron Brown (University of California Los Angeles), Morgane Brunet (ISMER-UQAR), Marissa Castillo (The Ohio State University), Yu-Chun Chang (JAMSTEC), Mai-Linh Doan (Université Grenoble Alpes), Nobu Eguchi (JAMSTEC), Jenna Everard (Columbia University), Alysa Fintel (University of Washington), Jonathan Ford (Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geosifica Sperimentale), Rina Fukuchi (Naruto University of Education), Amy Gough (Heriot-Watt University), Huiyun Guo (University of California Santa Cruz), Derya Gürer (Heidelberg University), Ron Hackney (The Australian National University), Minori Hagino (Yamagata University), Yohei Hamada (JAMSTEC), Hinako Hosono (Geological Survey of Japan / AIST), Akira Ijiri (Kobe University), Matt Ikari (MARUM, University of Bremen), Tsuyoshi Ishikawa (JAMSTEC), Masao Iwai (Kochi University), Tamara Jeppson (U.S. Gelological Survey), Maria Jose Jurado (Geosciences Barcelona CSIC), Nana Kamiya (Kyoto University), Toshiya Kanamatsu (JAMSTEC), Aubrey LaPlante (Northern Arizona University), Weiren Lin (Kyoto University), Lena Maeda (JAMSTEC), Ayumu Miyakawa (Geological Survey of Japan / AIST), Yuki Morono (JAMSTEC), Rena Murata (JAMSTEC), Yasuyuki Nakamura (JAMSTEC), Natsumi Nakano (JAMSTEC), Uisdean Nicholson (Heriot-Watt University), Hanaya Okuda (JAMSTEC), Natsumi Okutsu (JAMSTEC), Pei Pei (Université Grenoble Alpes), Charlotte Pizer (University of Innsbruck), Troy Rasbury (Stony Brook University), Rebecca Robertson (Durham University), Catherine Ross (University of Colorado Boulder), Sara Satolli (University of Chieti-Pescara), Heather Savage (University of California Santa Cruz), Kaitlin Schnaible (University of Texas at Austin), Srisharan Shreedharan (Utah State University), Hiroki Sone (University of Wisconsin Madison), Chijun Sun (University of California Davis), Sean Toczko (JAMSTEC), Cédric Turel (UMR Géoazur), Taizo Uchida (Kochi University), Paola Vannucchi (University of Florence), Asuka Yamaguchi (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo), Yuzuru Yamamoto (Kobe University), Takeru Yoshimoto (Kobe University), Junli Zhang (MARUM, University of Bremen)
How to cite: Schuba, N. and the IODP Expedition 405 Scientists: From Research Vessel to Comic Pages: Inspiring Middle-Grade Readers Through IODP Expedition 405, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7636, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7636, 2025.
