Comics
Was it Really About Nature?
ARTIST
ROBERT SOISSON
Robert Soisson was born on November 11th, 1950. After high school, he went to study psychology in Heidelberg. He worked as a psychologist at the consulting center for school psychology in Esch until his retirement. Additionally, he is part of various national and international NGOs that advocate for children’s rights, extra-familiar educational support and school reform. He is married and father of two grown up children. He drew his first caricature for a very popular school newspaper and numerous leftist university magazines in Luxembourg and Heidelberg. He went on to socio-educational magazines and publications. He published two comics about children’s rights in collaboration
with Roger Leiner.
Location
Luxembourg
Artistic Focus
Humor, critical reporting, relevance
Contributions to LUX:plorations:
Was it Really About Nature?
Why did you participate in LUX:plorations?
“As a president of CartoonArt.lu I wanted to promote the idea of the science comics among our members.”
What did you like most about LUX:plorations?
“The idea of teamwork between scientists and artists.”
What was the biggest challenge for you?
“The biggest challenge was the fine Tuning of my ideas and the ideas of the scientists.”
SCIENTISTS/AUTHORS
GILLES EVRARD ESSUMAN
“My research is focused on alternative economies and social innovation. I am investing the process of social innovation to community initiatives at European grassroot levels for the purpose of degrowth.”
Research Focus
Social Innovation & Alternative Economies
Affiliation
Department of Geography and Spatial Planning (DGEO)
University of Luxembourg
Contributions to LUX:plorations:
Was it Really About Nature?
Why did you participate in LUX:plorations?
“To learn how to communicate complex research ideas in a simple, fun and accessible way to the general public.”
What did you like most about LUX:plorations?
“The co-construction process between the researchers and the artists.”
What was the biggest challenge for you?
“Simplifying my text without losing the main message and focus.”
TOBI OLADIRAN
“I am currently researching on the sustainability challenges of mutual funds.”
Research Focus
Sustainability
Affiliation
Department of Finance
University of Luxembourg
Contributions to LUX:plorations:
Was it Really About Nature?
Why did you participate in LUX:plorations?
“To learn how to communicate my scientific work through comics.”
What did you like most about LUX:plorations?
“The structure of the lectures.”
What was the biggest challenge for you?
“The time.”
MENTOR
VERONIKA MISCHITZ
Veronika Mischitz (Véro) is a former biologist, turned freelance visual storyteller. For over a decade, she focuses on visualizing and communicating science to broad audiences from various backgrounds through the medium comics. Driven by curiosity and a sense of wonder, she loves to explore unknown territory, learn new things along the way and turn them into compelling stories. Veronika is also teaching the magic of her craft to kids and adults. She is a mentor for LUX:plorations.
Work Focus
Visual communication, storytelling, science comics
Contributions to LUX:plorations:
Modern Talking
Keeping up With the Bacteria
Was it Really About Nature?
Losing Orientation
Why Science Comics?
A Furry Tale
A Gut Feeling
The Adventures of Tuwwo the Water Molecule
Math, Magic and Maryam
Why did you participate in LUX:plorations?
“As a comic artist and science communicator LUX:plorations is a dream come true: A group of highly motivated experts from different fields joining forces and creating outstanding science comics as a result!”
What did you like most about LUX:plorations?
“Working with such motivated, open and mindful participants as well as team members from different fields of research was amazing. Creativity and inspiration grew from our efforts as we explored new toolkits and skills together.”
What was the biggest challenge for you?
“Ensuring ongoing attention and support for all participants was extremely important to me and more challenging in an online-setting. But I think the whole team did a great job on that.”
SUPERVISOR
SERGE HAAN
Serge Haan is a professor of biological chemistry in the Department of Life Sciences and Medicine (DLSM) at the University of Luxembourg. His research in the Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group focusses on molecular disease mechanisms associated with the development and metastasis of colon cancer: how do cancer cells develop resistance to treatment and how do they interact with their microenvironment? His strong interest in communicating science to the public led to his founding the DESCOM project.
Research Focus
Molecular Disease Mechanisms, Cellular Signaling
Contributions to LUX:plorations:
One Ome To Rule Them All
Was it Really About Nature?
Inside the Solar Cell
A Gut Feeling
Why did you participate in LUX:plorations?
“I like thinking about how to break down difficult scientific content into understandable communications. It is actually a fun challenge and I consider it a duty of a University to reach out to the public.”
What did you like most about LUX:plorations?
“The dynamic of the entire team is excellent. Everybody is extremely motivated and we are all working towards the same goal.”
What was the biggest challenge for you?
“The remote work on such an interactive process with many discussions around the details in the graphics was a challenge. However, it turned out to work quite well in the end.”