SwRI scientist uses anime for STEM outreach

SAN ANTONIO — January 26, 2026 — A new paper by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) staff details how using popular culture could effectively teach science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) concepts. The paper shares insights from SwRI staff who hosted “Physics of Anime” panels at anime and hobbyist conventions across the country, presenting complex scientific ideas in an engaging way to curious attendees.

“Anime,” a style of animation originating in Japan and popular worldwide, reached an estimated global value of around $25 billion in 2024. For nearly five years, Dr. Roman G. Gomez, a lead scientist in SwRI’s Space Science Division and the paper’s lead author, has educated panel attendees about the real-world physics depicted in anime features.

“Anime is very mainstream these days, especially popular among younger generations,” Gomez said. “A recent study showed that a remarkable 42% of Gen Z watches anime weekly, but its popularity is not limited to just that age group. Its reach has grown so large that it resonates with audiences across various educational, professional and cultural backgrounds, as evidenced by the diversity of attendees at major conventions. This diverse environment offers a unique opportunity for public engagement and generating enthusiasm for science.”

The anime industry incorporates many storytelling genres, including science fiction, superhero stories and fantasy. The authors of the paper realized that these themes offered ways to make physics, engineering and technology concepts relatable and engaging.

In mid-2025, Gomez hosted his third “Physics of Anime” panel at Anime Expo (AX) 2025, the largest anime convention in the country, in Los Angeles, California, as part of the AX Journal of Anime and Manga Studies Symposium. The panel referenced many contemporary anime series, explaining how specific shows featured actual scientific concepts — such as quantum mechanics, general relativity and solar physics — to heighten dramatic tension and further their narratives. Most of the nearly 300 attendees were between 18 and 34 years of age.

“Anime conventions offer educators and experts an opportunity to introduce the diverse convention attendees to concepts that might seem daunting or challenging in a classroom context,” Gomez said. “However, as anime fans, most already buy into and understand a lot of these same concepts within the context of their favorite fictional narratives. We focused on showing how these fictional use-cases can relate to their lives in the real world.”

Attendees at the 2025 panel presentation were asked to complete pre- and post-panel surveys on their comfort with scientific concepts, interest in STEM and general interest in anime and anime conventions. Gomez and his co-authors published their findings in the November 2025 issue of Frontiers in Education.

According to the researchers, most respondents to the surveys were first-time participants in the annual “Physics of Anime” panels. They found that 67% of the nearly 200 post-panel respondents found the advanced scientific concepts presented to be more accessible and understandable, and the respondents expressed interest in learning more.

“We have surveyed panel participants since the first panel five years ago as a way to guide future work, but this year’s survey results are unique in that we saw a shift toward a greater appreciation for STEM,” Gomez said. “This indicates that using popular culture could serve as a bridge between niche interests and public science education. By meeting people where they are, like conventions, we hope to inspire the next generation of scientists.”

To access the paper, “The power of anime: using anime for education and outreach in STEM,” visit: https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1707055.

For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/what-we-do/technical-divisions/space-science.