Aśka turns Scitech touring experience into graphic novel

Former Scitech science presenter and graphic novelist Aśka has drawn on her years travelling across Western Australia with the Statewide team to help shape her new graphic novel The Friendship Paradox. 

Aśka worked with Scitech for seven years from 2015 to 2021 as a casual science presenter, engaging students and communities across WA. Reflecting on those years, Aśka said the unique nature of touring created strong connections between team members and offered invaluable learning experiences. 

“There’s something unique about travelling together to remote communities, solving problems in unfamiliar spaces, and delivering shows in everything from brand new auditoriums to dirt pits,” said Aśka. 

“Personally, I grew a lot during those years. I learned about adaptability, about working with diverse audiences, and about the vastness and complexity of Western Australia. I saw firsthand the different educational contexts students are navigating across metro and regional areas. 

“Most importantly, I honed my resilience and problem-solving skills. Live science communication teaches you to think on your feet, adjust quickly, and support each other. That experience has stayed with me.” 

The Friendship Paradox is a coming-of-age story that follows a young person entering the workforce and hoping for a fresh start after the challenges of high school. For Aśka, science presenting provided the perfect setting for the story’s themes of growth, connection and self-discovery. 

“Science presenting felt like a natural fit for this story,” Aśka said. 

“It’s a unique job that builds communication skills, adaptability, teamwork and confidence, often all at once and in unpredictable environments — a perfect backdrop for a young adult book. 

“While the novel is a work of fiction, many of the emotional beats are inspired by my own years of experience navigating professional and personal challenges, all while sharing love for science with ever unpredictable audiences.” 

An excerpt from The Friendship Paradox by Aśka. Photo: Allen & Unwin.

The novel’s main character, Dash, uses their knowledge of physics to help make sense of the world around them. For Aśka, who previously worked as a quantum physicist, the process of storytelling has a lot of similarities to scientific discovery. 

“Both disciplines demand that you sit with uncertainty long before you glimpse any clarity,” said Aśka. 

“It begins with wonder: looking up at the night sky and feeling a big, inexplicable emotion, without yet having the language to describe or understand it. Then comes the work. 

“Science turns wonder into structure. Hypotheses, experiments and tools translate the universe into marks on the page, making the beautiful measurable. It doesn’t remove the emotion; it simply shares space with discipline. 

“Story crafting is similar, just with different tools. Drafts, outlines, research and revision are all part of refining the idea. It’s analytical and iterative. 

“Both processes involve trial and error, and a lot of invisible effort. 

“Eventually, after many false starts and plenty of notes and sketches, something clicks. You begin to understand the forces at play and find a way to communicate that original feeling to others. 

“In the end, you’re translating something unwieldy into a structure others can enter and connect with. 

“Understanding that this sometimes frustrating journey of creativity follows a scientific process really helps. I know I’m working towards something, even if most days it feels like I’m getting nowhere.” 

Through The Friendship Paradox, Aśka brings together science and creativity to craft a story about friendship and finding your place in a puzzling world.   

To learn more about Aśka’s work and order a copy of The Friendship Paradox, which will be published on 31 March 2026 by Allen & Unwin, visit askastorytelling.com  

Cover artwork of The Friendship Paradox by Aśka. Photo: Allen & Unwin.