IIT Delhi launches comic book-style brochure to explain complex scientific concepts

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) has launched a first-of-its-kind comic book-style brochure to communicate science in accessible, culturally relevant, and broad ways.

The comic-styled brochure, titled “DMSE- Delivering a Material Safari Experience” is designed to demystify complex scientific concepts and throw light upon real-world connections to make materials engineering both impactful and relatable, according to an official statement by IIT Delhi.

The brochure introduces Professor Padarth, the department’s newly unveiled mascot, who serves as a witty guide leading readers through the world of materials science.

Using a jungle-safari-theme, the comic takes readers across different domains such as metals, ceramics, polymers, data science, and emerging smart materials, the institute said.

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IIT Delhi's Comic books on materials engineering soon

Explaining the materials engineering field, Jayant Jain, head, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said: “This comic book was conceived to herald an era of bringing the fun aspects of STEM to the fore. Materials engineering is a deeply creative and inspiring field, and we wanted a medium that could engage students and non-technical audiences alike. Through Prof. Padarth’s adventures, we hope to spark curiosity and showcase the excitement that lies in understanding the materials that shape our world.”

The institute also stated that a series of comic books will also be released after the 1st edition of the DMSE comic book to capture the essence of the department, its research, projects, and teaching work.

R Lakshmi Narayan, professor, who led the comic book-style brochure initiative, said: “The idea is to let students look at materials as something they live with and experience every day so that the work they do does not feel highly technical but completely natural and logical. Prof. Padarth’s journey through the realm of materials will be the new fantasy world through which we wish to reach out to our younger generation of materials scientists.”