The IEEE Women in Engineering manga story contest returned for its second year to continue encouraging girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math fields. The competition aims to find the best-written Japanese comics and graphic novels centered around a character WIE created: Riko-chan, a preuniversity student who uses STEM tools to solve everyday problems.
The contest, which is supported by the IEEE Japan Council and the IEEE New Initiatives Committee, was open to all IEEE members and student members. They could submit multiple original stories individually, in teams, or on behalf of a preuniversity student.
Six winners were chosen. Their stories are available to read online, some in multiple languages including French, Hindi, and Spanish.
This year’s manga story competition is now accepting submissions. Check out the rules and deadlines on the WIE website.
Explaining how the power grid works
Why don’t we run out of electricity when everyone is using their air conditioner on a hot day? Readers can find the answer in Avengers of the Power Grid, written by Aditie Garg. The IEEE member is a technical lead at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Applewood, Colo. In her story, Riko-chan unravels secrets behind the seemingly endless supply of electricity and innovative solutions that keep ACs running on hot days.
IEEE Member Carolyn J. Sher-DeCusatis, who teaches software engineering at Western Governors University, in Millcreek, Utah, was inspired by pop star Taylor Swift for her Riko-chan and the Smoke-Filled Room story. In Sher-DeCusatis’s comic, Riko-chan and her classmate create pictograms to catch the attention of fictional singer Sailor Quick at her concert. Sher-DeCusatis used her experience working as an optics and photometry specialist at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, N.Y., when writing her comic.
“When I write a story, I look for a topic with worldwide appeal,” says Sher-DeCusatis, whose hobby is writing fiction. “After reading articles on whether Taylor Swift would make it back from her tour in Japan in time to cheer on her boyfriend [Travis Kelce] as he played in the Super Bowl [last year], I thought I should write about Riko-chan attending a fictional singer’s concert.”
In Riko-chan and the Furry Friend’s Prosthetic Leg, the title character’s determination and creativity turn adversity into an opportunity to help a beloved pet regain its ability to walk. After learning that her classmate’s cat was hit by a car and had one of its legs amputated, Riko-chan 3D-prints a prosthetic leg for the feline.
“This story was inspired by the potential of STEM to solve real-world problems with creativity and compassion,” says Elmira Alimohammadzadeh, the comic’s author. The IEEE member is a researcher in the United Kingdom. “I wanted to highlight that STEM is not just about technical skills but also about caring for others and solving meaningful problems. My hope is to encourage young minds to pursue [a career in] STEM, demonstrating how even small innovations, fueled by perseverance and kindness, can create extraordinary breakthroughs.”
“Through Riko-chan’s journey, I hope to inspire young minds to think outside the box and use their creativity to help others.”—Alba Benny
You can follow Riko-chan as she navigates the challenges of finding the right research project for class in Nazia Sultana Plabon’s Riko-chan and the Power of Wind Energy. The IEEE student member is an undergraduate in Bangladesh. During Riko-chan’s effort, she explores the world of wind energy and the difference between windmills and turbines.
Alba Benny, author of Riko-chan and the SmartMeds Box, was inspired by her own experience when writing her comic. The IEEE student member is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science at Sahrdaya College of Engineering and Technology, in Kodakara, India. In her story, Riko-chan uses her STEM skills to design an AI-powered pillbox to help her grandmother take the correct medication at the right times.
“I was inspired by my parents’ struggle with remembering if they took their medication—which led to accidental double dosing,” Benny says. “Through this story, I wanted to convey how technology, like an AI-powered medicine box, can help solve such simple yet significant problems. Through Riko-chan’s journey, I hope to inspire young minds to think outside the box and use their creativity to help others.”
The final manga, Riko-chan and the Seismic Safety System!, was written by Lais Lara Baptista. The IEEE member is a full-stack developer based in Brazil. Her manga story emphasizes the importance of knowing programming languages. After Riko-chan feels the rumble of an earthquake, she develops a program to detect tremors.
Riko-chan on IEEE Collabratec
Members can interact with Riko-chan through crossword puzzles and similar games in IEEE Collabratec’s IEEE WIE Global Network community. Each challenge is inspired by one of the published manga stories.
To join the community, create a free IEEE Collabratec account and sign up.
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