BE WiSE at Comic Con: Where Science Meets Storytelling

As Caitlyn and I opened the car door and stepped out, we were immediately transported into a completely different world. Horns blared as frantic workers in bright green vests held up their hands, signaling for cars to stop. A parade of people wearing bright, extravagant cosplays crossed the street, and soon we were walking across the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge, surrounded by thousands of fellow fans. As we arrived at Sails Pavilion to collect our press badges, the smell of warm, soft pretzels filled the room, adding to the busy atmosphere as voices echoed through the crowded hallways. Our eyes lit up with amazement as we saw our names written across the badges, above the words “BE WiSE Fleet Science Center Reporter”. There we were at San Diego Comic Con.

Anticipation ran through my fingertips as I scrolled through the Comic-Con website, looking for all the happenings at the convention just one week before. Now that we had arrived, I scoured the map, trying to find directions to Hall H for the Percy Jackson panel. Once we made our way there, we were pointed to the front of the hall, and were shocked when just five minutes later, the cast walked inches away from us across the stage to address the massive audience.

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There, we discovered teasers, news about new cast members, and exciting tales from the actors' journeys in season two. On their way off the stage, Walker Scobell and Aryan Simhadri, the leading actors in the series, even stopped to say hello before leaving for their fan signing in the Exhibit Hall. This was just the beginning of our adventures through the halls of the San Diego Convention Center.

The busy energy continued the next day as the Exhibit Hall filled up and people posed in their elaborate cosplays. Smiles lined the room as attendees discussed their favorite panels, autographs, and swag they got while exploring the various booths. Artists showed off their incredible works to passersby, and vibrant colors filled every part of our view as we walked through the crowds.

Soon, we made our way to another panel I had saved the previous week, Lilo and Stitch.  This panel featured the original cartoon voice actors of Stitch and Nani, Chris Sanders and Tia Carrere, as well as Maia Kealoha and Sydney Agudong, who play Lilo and Nani in the new live-action film. We got glimpses of Maia and Sydney's real-life sisterly bond while also learning more about the immense cultural importance of the movie through real-life experiences and anecdotes from the cast.

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Out of the 104 days of summer vacation, Caitlyn and I knew just how to spend our last day of Comic-Con at the Best Invention Ever! Panel. Hosted by the Fleet Science Center in collaboration with the AAAS IF/THEN® Program, the panel featured expert scientists and the creators of the beloved Disney cartoon, Phineas and Ferb.

At the panel, we got to go on a journey learning about how essential creativity and imagination are in the world of science, as Computer Scientist Gracie Ermi, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineer Mike Tolley, and Water Planning Engineer Jose Castro came up with inventions to propose to the audience and creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh.

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Each invention proposed was unique in its own way, highlighting pressing issues in our society like climate change, while also throwing in some whimsical fun like teleporting cheesecakes and unlimited yarn. We also learned about limitations to technology, the necessity of preparing for failure ahead of time, and how to “fail louder…creating a safe space for younger audiences,” Ermi adds.

Through our Comic-Con journey, one key message stuck out: the importance and necessity of science and connection in the community. Through the thousands of sci-fi fans, artists, and creators gathered in San Diego, it became clear that science isn’t just confined to textbooks or labs; it lives in the stories we love, the characters we root for, and the futures we imagine. Movies, TV shows, and media spark curiosity about space, technology, and human potential, inspiring generations to dream bigger than ever before. Comic Con forces us to reimagine the world around us, transforming downtown San Diego into a diverse center for imagination and innovation.

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Visit the Fleet Science Center's YouTube channel to see Comic Con through the BEWiSE lens!

This year, the Fleet Science Center sent four young women in the BEWiSE program to San Diego Comic-Con to report on the event and the Fleet's panels. This post was written by a team of these reporters and reflects their experience at one of the world's largest pop-culture and science fiction celebrations of the year.