At the intersection of art, science, and storytelling, SciToons is transforming how we understand complex topics. Founded by Dr. Oludurotimi Adetunji at Brown University, this innovative program combines animation and narrative to make science accessible, engaging, and deeply human.
SciToons Animates Science with Storytelling for Human Connection and Understanding
Are you concerned about contaminated water in your neighborhood? Wondering how composting helps the environment? Or unsure about choosing the right medicine for your sore throat? These everyday quandaries require both agency and literacy—the ability to make informed choices for yourself and your loved ones. But do you fully understand the skills needed to make these decisions?
At Brown University, professors and students from diverse fields ranging from neuroscience and the arts, come together weekly to explore questions like these. Through a unique program called Science Cartoons (SciToons), they break down complex scientific and health topics to make them easier to understand. As part of an effort to improve and increase the public’s health literacy, the Brown team employs storytelling, animation, multimedia, and art to create engaging videos that appeal to a wide audience.
Making Science Accessible Through Animation
“I really wanted to find a way to share science in a compelling way,” says Oludurotimi Adetunji, Brown's associate dean of undergraduate research and inclusive science and an adjunct faculty member in Brown’s Department of Physics. “The idea was pretty simple, innovative and unique: to talk about science through animated stories.”
SciToons was founded in 2011 by Dr. Adetunji. The program pairs subject matter experts with novice animators to create short, three-to-five-minute YouTube videos that combine scientific concepts with animation. The videos are crafted with the goal of making science more accessible to a broad audience, from high school students to the general public. These videos are notable not only for their scientific accuracy but for their engaging narratives, which are designed to make science relatable and compelling, he says.
The Rock, and the idea that every rock has a story, was the first SciToons video-, garnering more than 15,900 views.
“It was our first grand experiment,” says Dr. Adetunji, executive producer of the videos. “We were like, ‘wow, we did it.’ Why this works is because we have a team who really analyzes a subject to remove jargon and co-create together.”
Since then SciToons, has created 59 videos, and garnered over 23,000 followers on YouTube. In all, the series has been viewed more than 4,453,150 times and watched in over 180 countries on YouTube. As of this writing, its top three most-watched videos are "How Do Solar Cells Work?" with over 814,000 views, "Echolocation" with over 596,000 views, and "What Is Solar Energy?" with over 534,000 views -and counting on YouTube. SciToons has also been featured on the social media platforms of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Department of Energy Office of Science, and TED-Ed.
A Pioneer in Narrative Medicine
— Dr. Oludurotimi Adetunji
In an era where the intersection of storytelling and science is increasingly seen as a powerful tool for human connection and understanding, Dr. Adetunji has been at the forefront of bringing the disciplines of - narrative medicine, science communication, and multimedia education together. SciToons is a model for bridging the gap between scientific expertise and public engagement, making complex concepts more accessible while fostering empathy and deeper connections between consumers and the scientific and medical communities.
In 2023, Dr. Adetunji and students worked with a team of consultants from Columbia University’s Narrative Medicine Program. (Angelica Recierdo, Derek McCracken, and Dr. Benjamin Schwartz),to produce Narrative Medicine: The Power of Storytelling, a six-minute video aimed at introducing narrative medicine as an approach to healthcare that builds meaningful relationships between patients and providers through storytelling.
In the video, viewers are introduced to the notion that the healthcare encounter is not just a clinical transaction, but an opportunity for both the patient and the healthcare provider to engage in a shared story. Through the act of storytelling, the patient's unique perspective on their health and life is honored, and the provider is able to offer more than just medical expertise—they offer understanding, empathy, and care. The video, which has received over 15,000 views since its release, has been widely praised for its accessible and engaging explanation of narrative medicine and its potential to change the way we think about healthcare.
Expanding SciToons’ Global Reach
During COVID, SciToons also was a powerful tool to amplify the health concerns and medical information needed by people across the globe. Watch this video on science advice in times of crisis. One of the team’s most recent videos, Health Literacy involved an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts from graphic medicine, narrative medicine, public health, health research and health literacy.
Turning Science into Future Creative Careers
One of the goals of SciToons is to inspire students to pursue science as a future creative career.
“Our students who go into the healthcare field will most likely take a more inclusive and empathetic approach that values every individual's story,” he says. ”Our goal is to change the narrative and make science available to all people.”
Narrative Mindworks Questionnaire
1. What is your definition of Narrative Medicine or Narrative Practice?
Narrative medicine is the practice of mindfully contextualizing a patient’s lived experiences to better care for and treat them. It’s an approach to healthcare that considers not only the physical but also the mental and emotional aspects of a person’s health. By seeking out a patient’s story, clinicians can gain an in-depth perspective of their patient and ultimately see a whole person, not just a diagnosis.
2. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Perfect happiness, for me, is living in alignment with my values, which centers on connection with faith, family, and friends, supporting just causes, and meeting challenges with resilience, optimism, and joy.
3. Which living person do you most admire?
My parents.
4. Who are your favorite writers?
Norman Vincent Peale, Susan Cain, and Malcolm Gladwell.
5. Describe yourself in six words.
Achiever, collaborator, ideator, innovator, mentor, and optimist.
6. What are you most grateful for?
I am most grateful for the opportunity to be raised in a family unit where my parents value dignity, respect, and education.
7. What’s next on your bucket list?
I would like to visit all 50 states in the United States of America, and I have seven more states on my bucket list, including Alaska!
For more information about SciToons, check out these links:
