AMR Graphic Novels Project
A quick introduction of the team and the project
The AMR Graphic Novels project brings together colleagues from microbiology, education and the arts to explore new ways of engaging people with one of the most important global health challenges of our time: antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Graphic Novel project is a genuinely cross-disciplinary collaboration between three educators with different areas of expertise.
Dr Michael Shaw, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Lincoln with a background in molecular microbiology has a particular interest in inclusive and digital pedagogies. Alongside teaching and research, Michael has previously presented work on digital approaches to AMR education at Microbiology Society conferences and is a member of the Society’s Education and Outreach Network.
Dr Nicola Crewe, Senior Lecturer in Food Microbiology, is a microbiologist whose expertise spans food microbiology, molecular biology in the food industry, UKAS accreditation and educational innovation. Nicola is also a member of the Microbiology Society’s Education and Outreach Network and has been passionate about finding creative ways to make microbiology education more engaging and accessible.
Completing the team is Mark Leary, Course Lead for Graphics and Illustration at Lincoln College of Art and Design. Mark brings more than 20 years of professional experience in artwork and design, alongside expertise in educational practice and visual communication. His current PhD explores how visual media and aesthetic experience can be used in education, making him ideally placed to help translate complex scientific ideas into compelling visual narratives.
What is AMR Graphic Novels?
AMR Graphic Novels is a cross-disciplinary education and outreach project that uses visual storytelling to communicate the science and importance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a way that is engaging, accessible and memorable.
The idea emerged from a shared interest in education, microbiology and visual communication. As a team, we wanted to explore whether graphic novels could help bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and public understanding by presenting complex concepts through narrative, characters and illustrations. Rather than relying solely on traditional science communication formats, we wanted to create resources that would spark curiosity and encourage people to engage with AMR in a different way.
Our first issue of the graphic novel, The Invisible War, helps to explain how antibiotic resistance occurs and why AMR represents a growing global challenge. By combining accurate scientific content with professional illustration and storytelling, the graphic novel aims to make difficult concepts easier to understand without oversimplifying the science.
A key feature of the project is collaboration; each chapter involves really effective teamwork. This allows us to ensure that the science is accurate, the educational design is effective, and the visual narrative is engaging. We see this as a great example of how different disciplines can contribute unique perspectives to tackling complex challenges such as AMR.
More broadly, the project is about experimenting with innovative approaches to AMR education. Graphic novels offer a powerful way of combining visual communication with narrative, helping readers connect with scientific ideas on both an intellectual and emotional level. We hope the resources increase understanding of AMR and that they also inspire conversations and encourage more people, not just those interested in science, to take an interest in microbiology and the role it plays in addressing global health challenges.
You have made sure this is a free-to-access resource, what was your thinking behind this, and why are accessible educational tools so important?
From the very beginning, we wanted the AMR Graphic Novels project to be as open and accessible as possible. Antimicrobial resistance is a global challenge that affects everyone, so it felt important that the educational resources we create should be available to everyone too.
One of our core principles has been removing barriers to access. That's why we have made the graphic novels freely available through Creative Commons licensing. We had heard from teachers that they had challenges finding high-quality resources that can be adapted and used in different contexts, whether that's a school classroom, a university lecture, a public engagement event or independent learning. By openly sharing the novels, we hope other educators can use, adapt and build upon the materials in ways that suit their own learners and settings.
More broadly, we see this as part of a wider commitment to open education. Knowledge has the greatest impact when it can be shared widely, and challenges such as AMR require a collective response. If educational resources remain behind paywalls or restrictive licensing arrangements, their potential reach and impact are inevitably limited. Making the novels freely available helps support wider conversations about AMR and encourages educators from different disciplines to engage with the topic.
Accessibility is equally important. We want our resources to be usable by as many people as possible. Throughout the project we've thought carefully about how different learners might experience the graphic novels and what barriers could prevent engagement. Graphic novels are often seen as highly visual resources, but that can create challenges for readers who use assistive technologies or who access content in different ways.
As a result, we've invested considerable effort in ensuring the digital versions are accessible. This has included developing accessible PDF formats, providing meaningful alternative text, improving document structure for screen readers and thinking carefully about how visual information is communicated. Accessibility must not be an afterthought added at the end of a project; it should be built into the design process from the start.
Ultimately, the goal is simple: if we're serious about improving understanding of antimicrobial resistance, then we need educational resources that are open, inclusive and easy to access. Making the graphic novels freely available and designing them with accessibility in mind is our way of helping ensure that as many people as possible can take part in that conversation.
How did the idea come about?
The project started with a simple question: could graphic novels help us communicate antimicrobial resistance more effectively?
Both Nicola and Michael have backgrounds in microbiology, but we also share a strong interest in educational innovation and public engagement. Through our involvement with the Microbiology Society’s Education and Outreach Network, we had spent a lot of time thinking about how we could reach audiences beyond traditional lectures, scientific papers and awareness campaigns.
The project really took shape when we started collaborating with Mark Leary. Mark brought expertise in illustration, design and visual media, alongside a background in how visual experiences can support learning. What began as an informal conversation between colleagues from different disciplines quickly developed into a genuine collaborative project. In fact, the project started over coffee and cake, and, in many ways, that is still how it operates today. Some of our best ideas, story developments and creative discussions have emerged from regular catch-ups over coffee, where we could openly explore ideas from our different disciplinary perspectives.
In many ways, the project itself reflects one of the key messages we often share about AMR: solving complex problems requires people with different expertise working together. The AMR Graphic Novels project grew from exactly that kind of collaboration, bringing together scientists, educators and creative practitioners around a shared goal of making AMR education more accessible, engaging and impactful. And, thankfully, it continues to be fuelled by plenty of coffee and cake.
In the Novel you have created striking imagery and storytelling, were these skills already established, a hobby or new for you?
The visual storytelling and artwork all come from Mark's expertise. He's the creative force behind the graphic novels and the person who transforms our scientific ideas into something visually engaging and accessible. With his background in professional illustration and his research into how visual media can support learning, he has an incredible ability to see storytelling opportunities where we are often focused on the science.
Our process is highly collaborative and, much like the project itself, usually starts over coffee and cake. We sit together and discuss the theme of a particular chapter, exploring what the challenge is, why does this problem arise and what is the underlying science? What potential solutions does current research offer, and what challenges still remain?
Mark almost immediately starts visualising how these ideas could become a story. He has a remarkable ability to take what might otherwise be a fairly technical discussion and imagine characters, settings and visual metaphors that can communicate the same concepts in a much more engaging way.
After these discussions, we provide Mark with a short-written briefing, usually a page or two, written intentionally in plain, accessible language rather than scientific jargon. This helps him