![A shot inside the exhibit hall of San Diego Comic-Con 2019 A shot inside the exhibit hall of San Diego Comic-Con 2019. A massive crowd moves through exhibit booths from DC Entertainment, Lego, Top Cow, Sideshow Collectibles, and others.](/cabr/blogs/images/sdcccrowds-625x350.jpg)
![Comic_Con Sign 2019 A shot of the San Diego Comic-Con International sign. This yellow, black, and grey graphic frames a close-up shot of a comic-book eye.](/cabr/blogs/images/Comic_Con-Sign-2019_3.jpg)
Last year, park partner the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation (CNMF) started an outreach initiative to engage the community about their public lands. CNMF Outreach Coordinator Samantha Wynns has been doing just that – from science and engineering fairs to Fleet Week, Cabrillo National Monument is bringing the national parks abroad. This year, Samantha was able to arrange for CNM representation at San Diego Comic-Con through one of her innovative programs, Conservation + Comics. Initially this workshop was held only at Cabrillo, but as the outreach initiative has grown so, too, has the scope of programs like this.
![Comic_Con 2019 C+C Library Workshop Depicted in this photograph (from left to right) is Catherine Hoang from SD Central Library, student Felix, instructor Samantha Wynns, instructor Alonso Nunez, graphic novelist Claudia Famosa, and student Krystal after a free Conservation+Comics workshop.](/cabr/blogs/images/Comic_Con-2019-C-C-Library-Workshop.jpg)
This year, free public Conservation + Comics workshops were held at the San Diego Central Library the week of SDCC in celebration of the popular arts convention. But that wasn’t it for Cabrillo National Monument’s representation at Comic-Con – there was also a discussion panel about using art to communicate science titled “Conservation + Comics: Enhancing the Understanding of Science Through Art”.
![Comic_Con Panel 2019 On Panel Members of the Conservation + Comics panel sit at a long table draped in black and the SDCCI logo and speak into microphones as they discuss how art is an effective method for science communication.](/cabr/blogs/images/Comic_Con-Panel-2019-On-Panel.jpg)
![Comic_Con Panel 2019 On Panel The smiling members of the Conservation + Comics panel sit at a long table draped in black and the SDCCI logo. Samantha Wynns speaks into the microphone.](/cabr/blogs/images/Comic_Con-Panel-2019-On-Panel-2.jpg)
Moderated by Paul Wynns of the non-profit The Kevin Workman Foundation, this panel focused on methods to better communicate science. Art is one of these effective methods – it can convey detailed information while simultaneously creating an emotional connection with the observer. Since science can be a difficult topic to communicate due to its complexity, art has been recognized as a very useful communication tool – you don’t even need to speak the same language to receive a message from art. Panel participants Garfield Kwan (Squidtoons, marine biologist), Alex Warneke (Climate Science Alliance, chemical ecologist), Alonso Nunez (Little Fish Comic Book Studio), and Samantha Wynns (Cabrillo National Monument, biologist) each discussed how they use art to enhance the understanding of science, pointing out pitfalls and offering up tips and tricks for efficacy. Those in the audience were encouraged to participate in the discussion with questions and by participating in a live-draw, where Alonso Nunez took audience suggestions in order to create a conservation comic on stage.
![Comic_Con Panel 2019 Paul Wynns Panel moderator Paul Wynns of the Kevin Workman Foundation listens intently at a podium with the SDCCI logo pasted on it.](/cabr/blogs/images/Comic_Con-Panel-2019-Paul-Wynns_2.jpg)
![Comic_Con Panel 2019 Group Shot The close-up, grinning faces of Alex Warneke, Garfield Kwan, Alonso Nunez, and Samantha Wynns (left to right) as they hold up their SDCCI nametags after the panel.](/cabr/blogs/images/Comic_Con-Panel-2019-Group-Shot_2.jpg)
![Alonso_Comic-Con Panel 2019 Alonso Nunez from Little Fish Comic Book studio poses next to an easel and large pad of paper with his live-draw, one-page comic on it. The sharpie-drawn comic images depict the Amazon Rainforest and an Arrow Frog.](/cabr/blogs/images/Alonso_Comic-Con-Panel-2019_2.jpg)
So much of public service is about engaging the people where they’re at and finding new ways to reach them. For the National Park Service, that means connecting people to their public lands in a meaningful way. Cabrillo National Monument’s presence at SDCC was one such method to touch new audiences, and to share the beauty of the natural resources of this nation’s incredible national parks. Preserving and protecting these cherished lands starts by connecting with one mind, one heart, and one person at a time and art can help us do so.
References
More about the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation Outreach Initiative:
https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/bringing-the-people-to-the-parks-and-the-parks-to-the-people.htm
More about Conservation + Comics:
https://www.nps.gov/cabr/blogs/conservation-comics-telling-the-story-of-science-through-popular-arts.htm
https://www.pbmonthly.net/news/sd-cm-pb-cabrillo-outreach-programs-20190703-story.html