Comics about mathematics, science, and the student life.

Map

First panel: The supervisor gives their student a map and says, "Now you're ready to start your research. Here's the map." Second panel: The supervisor walks away, saying, "Let me know if you find anything!" Third panel: A close up of the map as the student opens it. It's Map 1 of 99, shows one spot where the supervisor has looked, and everywhere else is filled with question marks.

“What did you think this would be, painting by numbers?”

18 Feb 2022

Dead Ends

A map from point A to B, showing various attempts to get there. Each path ends at an "X" before B. Caption: The low points of research.

And just before each “X”, you think that this finally might be the one…

16 Feb 2022

First

A line graph showing the frequency of saying, "Oh no, you go first.", with it increasing to the right. On the left, there's "In person". On the right, there's "Virtual calls".

You either have everyone talking at once, or very long and awkward silences where nobody wants to speak in fear of talking over each other.

14 Feb 2022

Conveyor Belt

Left panel (What we want): A person looks at their blackboard filled with scribbles and says, "Tell me the truth, math!" Right panel (What we get): A conveyor belt representing mathematics, with the assumptions as the input and the implications as the output.

In plain terms: Garbage in, garbage out.

11 Feb 2022

Hopebeat

A graph showing the "hopebeat" during research. It begins at a baseline, spikes up when we think, "This is a breakthrough!", hits a low when we realize, "Okay, maybe not", bounces back up just above the baseline when we find a new topic to get excited about, spikes when we think, "This will change the world!", crashes down again when we realize it won't work, and then repeats.

Note: Time between peaks is irregular and can grow to arbitrary durations.

09 Feb 2022

Judge

Two scientists discussing. The first says, "You shouldn't judge a paper by its title." The second asks, "That's what you do?" The first says, "Oh no, I'm way too busy!"

You’d think this would mean more catchy paper titles, but you’d be wrong.

07 Feb 2022

Hype

A line graph going towards the right, indicating more hype. There's a "Rejection threshold", and a scientist kneels to place their paper near it. Off-panel, their collaborator shouts, "Make sure you put our paper as close as possible!" The scientist responds, "Done."

This is really an art.

04 Feb 2022

Barriers

A researcher runs towards a large barrier, ready to pole vault over it. The barrier's label is "My mathematical barriers", while the pole is "What I know". Caption: Reading in a new field.

It’s as if nothing I ever did applies anymore.

02 Feb 2022

Work Ethic

Panel One (Caption: Amateurs): A person kicks back with their feet on their desk. "I just need to wait for the perfect idea." Panel Two (Caption: Professionals): A person starts working at their desk. "Time for the usual session."

The key is starting.

31 Jan 2022

Becoming

Panel One: In the top-left corner, there's a region marked "X". On the right, there's a dotted region representing the knowledge of a person. The public (outside the comic) says: "Not an expert!" Panel Two: The two regions get a little closer, and the public says, "Not an expert!" Panel Three: The two regions get closer again, and the public says, "Not an expert!" Panel Four: The two regions overlap ever so slightly, and now the public shouts, "They're an expert!"

It’s always good to remember there are different levels of expertise.

28 Jan 2022