The Dessert that Changed the World — A graphic novel about agar supported by the British Phycological Society
Few people know about the importance of the phycocolloid agar (and the derivative agarose) for science, medicine, and industry. Even less people, sadly, know about the woman who had the brilliant idea to use it to grow microbes, and thus introduced it in the laboratory for the first time in 1881: Fanny Angelina Hesse (1850-1934). A team of scientists, artists, and science communicators is out to change that with a graphic novel that aims at making this story accessible and exciting to a broad audience! The graphic novel is called The Dessert that Changed the World (agar is a common dessert across Asia) and is partly based on unpublished historical material about Fanny Angelina Hesse. Please follow and support this project through Patreon, if you can! The British Phycological Society is a proud supporter along other life science organisations, societies, and companies. The book is likely due in 2027 and crowdfunding support is important! Many thanks
Corrado Nai – writer and project leader
- Please support this project on Patreon, if you can! https://www.patreon.com/corradonai/membership
- Get a sneak peek about the story and the art here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/fanny-angelina-144773050
- Take a look at their website and register for newsletter updates: www.fanny-hesse-graphic-novel.site
- Read more about Fanny Angelina hesse on a recent article on Smithsonian Magazine: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/meet-the-forgotten-woman-who-revolutionized-microbiology-with-a-simple-kitchen-staple-180984572/
