How can cartoon puzzles help young people connect with polar and geoscience research? Jason Cervenec, Karina Peggau, Haylen Scott, Joseph Helterbrand, Vigo Bertolo, John Scholl, Amadou Agne, Addie White, and Maria Scaccia explore that question in a new publication in the Journal of STEM Outreach. Their study examines the development of cartoon-based puzzles designed to make polar and geoscience topics more engaging and accessible to young and diverse audiences.

Originally developed during the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to continue science outreach when traditional in-person programming was limited, the puzzles grew into a creative tool for connecting learners with scientific concepts. The publication shares how the project evolved and what the team learned about using approachable, interactive materials to engage audiences with polar and geoscience content. Read the full publication to learn more about the project and its development.