'We're meeting people where they are': Graphic novels can help boost diversity in STEM, says MIT's Ritu Raman

Imagine a secret organization that combines the exceptional talents and physical skills of its agents with incredible gadgets to protect the world from evil villains bent on using science to rule the world. No, we’re not talking about the next instalment of James Bond, but the incredible female scientists in the "Curie Society" series of YA graphic novels.

Following the exploits of teen science prodigies Simone, Maya and Taj, the two books in the series are action-packed adventures where the main protagonists learn how to use their gifts to become the next secret agents in The Curie Society — a secret organization formed to support exceptional female scientists around the world (and save it at the same time).

Ahead of the second book's launch, we spoke to MIT professor Ritu Raman, one of the lead Science advisors on the series, about how graphic novels can help promote STEM Education, why diversity is so important and what it's like to be immortalized in comic book form.

Alexander McNamara: How did you get involved in the making of the Curie Society books?

Ritu Raman: I met Heather and Adam [Einhorn and Staffaroni, authors of the books] several years ago when I was postdoc at MIT, and we were talking about how there's a lack of content for preteen and teenage girls that shows Science in both an exciting way, but also an accurate way. Something that motivates people, but then also shows them, within reason, what's going on in the world of STEM today.

When Heather and Adam did the first book, they talked to a bunch of different scientists and engineers from a variety of different perspectives. There was a huge collaborative effort to put the first story together, which I think was particularly important when they're fleshing out the three main characters and their origin story.

AM: What was your role in the series and how did you help in its creation?