INSPIRING: Meet Africa's new superheroes - The Super Scientists!
Durban-based Justin Yarrow creates a fun approach to looking at Africa's medical superheroes...
Life has its moments of ups and downs and most of the time we find ourselves moving around hurdles and making it work because we just have to.
But there are many moments where we think about the superheroes that our kids look up to, those ones that have their capes on with their special powers that allow them to steer into danger without a fear in the world. Just the thought of them leaves us feeling motivated.
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This is why we are so excited to hear about this awesome local comic book called, Super Scientists, that is based on real-life superheroes. People that are from the medical fraternity.
The comic book highlights the work of African scientists who are making a difference in the bio medical and marine medical areas. Each of them have a personal superhero role and their graphical avatars are so representative of their personal features. It really shows kids that superheroes don't always have to be fictional.
"Justin Yarrow, founder of Durban based science education non-profit CodeMakers, to 'transform' them into superhero trading cards that are spreading like wildfire across South African schools and the internet.
"Together with a bunch of illustrators, a bunch of collectable trading cards, known as the SuperScientists, that feature 48 South African scientists has been created and these feature the scientists who deserve the spotlight," Business Insider reports.
When you ask kids to name a scientist, they almost always say Einstein… fundamentally the idea is that kids see scientists as old and white. Frankly it limits people's imaginations, when they don't know how cool science really is. They don't have an image of what a real scientist looks like.
The whole point with this project is that we want to reflect the demographics of South Africa...Kids love to see a picture and know their hero is a person who worked down the road or is from a community from the town that they grew up in.
Not only is it highlighting the fact that real life South Africans are doing great things, but it also highlights the type of work that kids could potentially get into when they grow up.
It shares the diversity that the medical field is made up of as well. It's not just about working as a doctor or surgeon, but a plethora of roles that go beyond and above that, where discovery and research come into play.
I love [my superhero name]! Morpho is so fitting, it is fluid and truly encompasses what I love to do, which is understand why bones look the way they do and how that relates to the important functions they fulfil on a daily basis. This is such an important and necessary initiative, especially so in highlighting people of colour who have been, and continue to be, marginalised in scientific spaces. I am extremely proud and grateful to be among an amazing group of scientists who all inspire me as well.
We love the sentiment and energy behind this project. It not only highlights the diverse roles that these scientists play in society, but it also highlights the creativity and leadership of their roles and inspires our children in the most engaging way.
You can check out more about the Super Scientists on their website by clicking here. Alternatively, you can check out their social media channels below.
Image Courtesy of Justin Yarrow