Subscription Center
February 19, 2013
| 
9
Katie McKissick is the author and illustrator of Beatrice the Biologist, where she explains commonly misunderstood science concepts with words, pictures, and crude jokes. Follow on Twitter @beatricebiology.
Well, hello there! Welcome to my first Symbiartic post. My name is Katie, and I write and illustrate a blog called Beatrice the Biologist. The most common question I get is, “Why is it called Beatrice the Biologist if your name is Katie?” A couple reasons:
1) Katie the Biologist has no ring to it.
2) Beatrice is an awesome name.
3) I wanted to write a children’s book called Beatrice the Biologist, so when I started a blog, I recycled the name.
4) I wanted to create a science communication mascot to represent the idea that we are all scientists.
5) Because I love messing with people.
I come from a biology background with a small amount of art training. I’ve taken a few classes here and there, doing stuff like this:
"Visual Biography" in pencil and charcoal 33" x 40"
To explain science, I mix it up by doing short, stand-alone comics as well as long (sometimes rambling), illustrated explanations. I try to find humor in unexpected places and take very few things seriously.
My short comics include things like this:
To see my long-form posts, check out The Horrifying Transformation of a Strawberry Flower, Poop. Magical, magical poop, and Element Recycling.
I’ve also experimented with videos like this one about debating evolution.
Here on Symbiartic, I’ll be translating the latest science news into comics and discussing any and all science art issues and happenings. But, just like I did with my personal blog, I will be experimenting with this new online space and seeing where it goes. Prepare yourself for the weirdness.
About the Author: Katie McKissick is the author and illustrator of Beatrice the Biologist, where she explains commonly misunderstood science concepts with words, pictures, and crude jokes. Follow on Twitter @beatricebiology.
Rights & Permissions
9 Comments
Add a Comment
You must sign in or register as a ScientificAmerican.com member to submit a comment.
Click one of the buttons below to register using an existing Social Account.
The Cognitive Science of Star Trek
It's not about predators, it's about journal quality
Dear Guardian: You've Been Played
Anti-Psychiatry Prejudice? A response to Dr. Lieberman
Scour: Why Most Bridges Fail
Northern Elephant Seals: Increasing Population, Decreasing Biodiversity
See what we're tweeting about
Horganism Ishmael: "All men live enveloped in whale-lines. All are born with halters round their necks."
Dhunterauthor Nuevo Verdad: Geotrippin’ Parte the – Oh, Crap, I Forgot Cape Blanco!: Going through photos for the next insta... http://t.co/Sj3ldKqzuD
DNLee5 “@MonasLists: too tired to be awake, too awake to be asleep” // This, me, every morning #thestruggle
YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed for the one-year subscription.
Share
Email
Print
Welcome, Katie.
Link to thisGreat drawings and humor. I look forward to seeing much more.
wooohoo! Bring the weirdness. I love weird (insert serious face here.)
bzoinks!
Link to thisYay, welcome! I’m glad to see you are getting a bigger megaphone for your fun and informative drawings.
Link to thisHoly crap! Congrats :)
Link to thisWelcome to the family!
Link to thisThat Evolution Debate still cracks me up.
Link to thisWelcome to Symbiartic Katie!!
We are the Best SciArt Blog on the Intertubes™.
Link to thisCue the Scientific American scoffing-commenting hipsters*:
“Cartoons on Scientific American?! Well, I used to read the print magazine BEFORE it devolved into this populist site. Sooo unscientific. Tsk tsk.”
*You know you peeps are out there. Nuthin’ but love for ya.
Link to thisExcellent, great to see you being shared and seen by others.
Link to this