Digital decoders. A comic to inspire vocations in the digital sciences

Last updated on 12 May 2026

How can we highlight the incredible diversity and richness of digital science research? How can we also break the stereotypes that dissuade girls from embarking on this path?

Welcome the initiativeInstitute of Information Sciences and its Interactions the CNRS which published a few months ago The digital decoders a wonderful comic book that offers twelve portraits of researchers, teacher-researchers and engineers, whom comic book illustrator and author Léa Castor drew with her delicate paw.

A comic strip to show the extraordinary field of exploration of the researchers that the CNRS had the good idea to accompany with Complementary educational resources, for classrooms, for teaching staff and for pupils. The objective? Stimulate vocations, especially among girls. We're crossing our fingers.

Comic books, an original format for young people

Digital decoders is an initiative that combines art and science, in an attempt to make accessible what may seem inaccessible. An excellent tool of popularisation of science touching the incredible wealth of digital sciences through twelve individual journeys. Code, Artificial intelligence, data, bioinformatics, quantum information, human-machine interfaces …

And to talk about all these subjects, twelve women are crunched in this comic book, which is aimed more specifically at high school students or high school students. Touching portraits imbued with willpower, passion and a good dose of humor. All the ingredients they needed to overcome the obstacles to get there.

You will discover for example Anne - Cecile Orgerie, Green Computing researcher

You will also know, among other things, Claire Mathieu She is passionate about algorythms.

 

Teaching resources for the class to accompany comics

The CNRS has taken care to accompany the comic strip with a whole series of educational resources for teachers and students. You have at your disposal posters to decorate the classrooms, as well as foldable A4 formats of portraits, suitable for printing and which can be distributed to students.

The use of comics in high schools can also be a good way to approach the Secondary Programme in Digital Science and Technology (SNT). A specific booklet is available online for teachers.

Ten pedagogical sheets are proposed in this accompanying booklet. They fall into three categories: Digital sciences and their context / Transversal concepts and applications / Decoders and NTS.

Students on their side, and more particularly for classes from 4th to 2nd grade, can access factsheets made available by ONISEP.

A great initiative that allows the CNRS to display its ambitions in terms of diversity beautifully. The comic book Les Décdeuses du numérique is sold for EUR 6. It can be downloaded or consulted free of charge with all other resources. on the dedicated website set up by the CNRS.

Hoping that the initiative generates vocations and desires among young girls who are still too absent from these research sectors. As one of the comic book’s heroines puts it, ‘Too much Jean-Pat, not enough Nabila, Margot, Samia, Élodie … Why deprive yourself of half the brains of humanity’.

See also: CNRS The newspaper, a website for the general public and of course for the world of education