Inspiring Future Engineers Through Narrative
The IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) manga story contest has returned for its second year, continuing its mission to engage young minds and foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The competition challenges participants to craft original Japanese comic and graphic novel narratives centered around Riko-chan, a preuniversity student character created by WIE to showcase how STEM tools can solve everyday problems.
Open to all IEEE members and student members, the contest received submissions from individuals, teams, and entries on behalf of preuniversity students. The six winning stories, now available to read online, address various STEM topics and feature Riko-chan’s adventures, from exploring the power grid to developing an earthquake detection system.
Captivating Tales of STEM Ingenuity
Among the winners is Aditie Garg, a technical lead at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, whose story “Avengers of the Power Grid” unravels the secrets behind the seemingly endless supply of electricity and innovative solutions that keep air conditioners running on hot days.
In “Riko-chan and the Furry Friend’s Prosthetic Leg,” author Elmira Alimohammadzadeh, a researcher in the United Kingdom, highlights the potential of STEM to solve real-world problems with creativity and compassion. Riko-chan 3D-prints a prosthetic leg for a beloved pet, demonstrating how even small innovations can create extraordinary breakthroughs.
Alba Benny, a computer science student from India, draws inspiration from personal experience in her comic “Riko-chan and the SmartMeds Box,” where Riko-chan designs an AI-powered pillbox to help her grandmother manage medication.
Interactive Adventures with Riko-chan
Beyond the published manga stories, IEEE members can engage with Riko-chan through crossword puzzles and games inspired by the winning comics on IEEE Collabratec’s IEEE WIE Global Network community. To join the community and participate in these interactive challenges, members can create a free IEEE Collabratec account and sign up.
The IEEE Manga Contest continues to accept submissions for its current edition, with rules and deadlines available on the WIE website. By blending engineering concepts with captivating narratives, the contest aims to spark interest in STEM fields and inspire the next generation of innovators.
Original Source: https://spectrum.ieee.org/ieee-wie-manga-contest-2024
