A Stork’s Story” is a graphic novel by producer Benjamin Dix from PositiveNegatives and comic creator Karrie Fransman that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs about migration in one of the world’s most iconic birds. Image: Karrie Fransman
A Stork’s Story” is a graphic novel by producer Benjamin Dix from PositiveNegatives and comic creator Karrie Fransman that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs about migration in one of the world’s most iconic birds. Image: Karrie Fransman

In graphic detail: revealing the secret flight of storks

World premiere of the animated film "A Stork's Story" and interactive demonstrations of the science behind stork research at the University of Konstanz

To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, the University of Konstanz is hosting a public event: the world premiere of the animated film "A Stork’s Story” that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs about migration in one of the world’s most iconic birds.

On Saturday, 12 October, the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz will welcome producer Benjamin Dix from London-based firm PositiveNegatives to present the premiere of the graphic novel "A Stork’s Story”. The event, which is hosted by Professor Martin Wikelski from the university’s Cluster of Excellence “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour”, will take place at 19:00 in the library at the University of Konstanz and will also include short lectures by world-leading stork scientists and interactive demonstrations of cutting edge science. Please note that this is an English-language event. Entry is free.

Dr Benjamin Dix is the Founder and Executive Director of PositiveNegatives—a London-based firm that produces comics, animations and podcasts about social and humanitarian issues, including migration, by combining personal stories with illustration. For “A Stork’s Story” he partnered with acclaimed comic creator Karrie Fransman who tells visual stories through creations published in books and newspapers as well as animations, sculptures, and virtual reality.

Their graphic novel “A Stork’s Story” brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs about migration in one of the world’s most iconic birds. Breathtaking technological advances are revealing details of long-distance flight in white storks, including the threats to their survival. But just as storks cross boundaries of countries and continents, the genre-defying “A Stork’s Story” transcends boundaries of storytelling by writing, not with words, but with animated illustrations that endlessly unfold.

As part of World Migratory Bird Day on 12 October 2019, the public event at the University of Konstanz seeks to bring attention to the conservation issues of storks and how science is producing knowledge to help. In addition to the first-ever screening of the animated film, the event will also include an introduction lecture by Benjamin Dix; short lectures by world-leading stork scientists who are uncovering the latest knowledge about storks; and interactive demonstrations of the science behind stork research. Demonstrations include the cutting-edge technology used to track birds, and data visualisations of storks using virtual reality.

Facts:

  • The University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Konstanz is hosting a public event: the world premiere of the animated film "A Stork’s Story”
  • “A Stork’s Story” is a graphic novel by producer Benjamin Dix from PositiveNegatives and comic creator Karrie Fransman that brings to life the latest scientific breakthroughs about migration in one of the world’s most iconic birds.
  • The event also features: lectures by Benjamin Dix and world-leading stork scientists; interactive demonstrations of cutting edge science.
  • Date: Saturday, 12 October 2019
  • Time: 19:00 - 21:00
  • Location: University of Konstanz, library. Free entry.
  • The event will be held in English.