Anna Klawonn’s research brought to life in a new comic

The comic follows DANDRITE Group Leader Anna Klawonn on a journey along Øhavsstien, a long-distance hiking route in southern Denmark. Accompanied by colorful crows, mice and snails, readers are introduced to Klawonn’s research into the complex relationship between the brain and the immune system, and to emerging scientific understanding of how inflammation, mood and environmental factors may be connected.

The publication forms part of Visuel Forskningsformidling (Visual Research Communication), a national initiative that brings together researchers, journalists, illustrators and animators to explore new approaches to communicating basic research in the natural and health sciences. Through visual storytelling, the project aims to make scientific knowledge more accessible while preserving the complexity and nuance that characterise research.

DANDRITE is a co-applicant on the project, which has received support from the Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Longstanding interest in storytelling cartoons

For Anna Klawonn, the opportunity to take part in the project combined a longstanding interest in storytelling cartoons with a commitment to research communication:

“Scientific outreach is important to me as a scientist because our research has potential implications for the general population. Our studies help explain the correlational findings from clinical studies, strengthening important knowledge - and they support the uncovering of new treatments - for combatting disorders of the mood. Also, I really like cartoons, and I am very impressed by the work from Karoline Stjernfelt. It was an honor to have her draw the story.”

Klawonn’s research focuses on neuroimmune interactions – the ways in which the immune system and brain influence one another. While these interactions are increasingly recognised as important for understanding both health and disease, they can be challenging to communicate to audiences without a scientific background.

The collaboration therefore offered an opportunity not only to present research findings, but also to experiment with how scientific ideas can be translated into narrative and visual form.

The comic was developed in close collaboration between Klawonn, journalist Peter Becher Damkjær and award-winning cartoonist Karoline Stjernfelt. Best known for her acclaimed graphic novel series I morgen bliver bedre, which tells the story of the Danish King Christian VII and his era, Stjernfelt has established herself as one of Denmark’s leading comic artists, with a distinctive ability to combine historical, personal and societal narratives.

Nature as an integral part of the story

A central feature of the comic is its setting. Rather than taking place in a laboratory or research institution, the story unfolds along Øhavsstien. The choice was rooted in Klawonn’s own experience of walking the route during a period of her life when she was seeking both mental calm a and a lift in spirits.

This connection between scientific inquiry and lived experience reflects one of the broader themes explored in the comic: the relationship between the external environment and internal biological processes. Nature serves not merely as a backdrop, but as an integral part of the story being told.

Like many interdisciplinary projects, the collaboration required participants from different professional backgrounds to develop a shared language and understanding Reflecting on the collaboration, Klawonn highlights the challenges and rewards of communicating science across disciplines:

“I have learned a lot on the challenges that comes from scientific communication across fields - working closely together with both cartoonist, Karoline, and journalist Peter was very interesting. Not always easy - but very constructive. It is challenging to communicate neuroscience - and you learn to embrace the process, it can bring a lot of new angles,” tells Anna Klawonn.

The comic is available through Fyns Amts Avis (in Danish). Anna Klawonn recommends paying particular attention to the small details woven into the illustrations: “Notice the little sick mouse – while all the other mice are dancing – in the left panel; these are really wonderful details that help tell the story.”

If you are interested in learning more about the broader initiative you can explore the Visuel Forskningsformidling project following this link 

Photo: Christian Lüsher