Sat Nov 15 00:14:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
Argha Manna, a former cancer biology researcher who dropped out of his PhD program to pursue comic art, will be conducting a “History in Comic Art” workshop in Kolkata. Manna, who previously worked as a journalist and learned illustration, found his calling when he realized comic art could be used to effectively communicate science. His work on disease transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic earned him a fellowship from MIT, and he currently holds positions at both IIT Gandhinagar and MIT. He aims to make science more accessible and engaging by combining art and science.
News Article:
Bengal Biologist-Turned-Comic Artist to Host Workshop in Kolkata
Kolkata, November 15, 2025 – Argha Manna, a former cancer biology researcher turned comic artist, will be hosting a workshop today, “History in Comic Art,” in Kolkata. Manna’s unconventional journey began at the Bose Institute, where he studied cancer biology before leaving to pursue his passion for art.
Inspired by a Science magazine’s comic art feature on Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, Manna realized the potential of combining science and art. He worked as a journalist to hone his illustration skills and began creating comic art on the history of science.
His work gained recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic with his comic “Be Aware of Droplets and Bubbles,” published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. This led to a fellowship at MIT where he worked on disease transmission.
Currently an Artist-in-Residence at IIT Gandhinagar and a Research Affiliate at MIT, Manna aims to make science more accessible through engaging visual stories. He believes art and science are deeply connected and sees the workshop as a collaborative space for dialogue and creative exploration.
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