Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

I like to discover how things work

Maddi Astigarraga Bergara, who initially studied Biomedicine, is currently immersed in the world of scientific illustration. Although at first glance it seems that he has made a special journey, if he knows it, he is clear that his curiosity is boring and that he is willing to open all the doors that are presented to him.

Thus, when choosing his university studies, he was clear that he wanted to play from the sciences. This is how he remembers it: “I’ve always loved science and I’ve had very good teachers. For example, a teacher we had at ESO transmitted an incredible passion and even allowed us to experiment. That’s what I liked the most, discovering how things work.”

“I’ve always loved science and I’ve had very good teachers.”

At first he was thinking about studying Biochemistry, but then he saw that there was Biomedicine and, as he was very interested in the functioning of the human body, he chose it. “And, although I liked it, I stayed with the desire to know what is beyond the human body,” he confesses.

So he started looking at the masters. “I knew then that scientific illustration was a profession. Before that, I didn’t even think about it.” He admits he painted as a child. Surely the trend also comes from home: “My mother is a teacher of Mathematics and Visual Education and she is a very artist. We did a lot of homework and drew a lot.”

When he got to high school, however, he gave more importance to other disciplines than drawing and stopped painting. Who would have told him that he would be a professional illustrator later!

Illustration, trade

Until he got a master. “I didn’t imagine it, but when I finished the master’s degree I decided to bet and here I am. I know it’s not easy, but I’m stubborn and I’m going to do everything I can to get ahead,” he says with energy.

Here’s how he describes his purpose on his website: “I want to make the invisible visible, make the complex understandable, and arouse curiosity for the scientific world of those who see my illustrations.”

For now, the bet is giving good results and has also received recognition. For example, she won the 2022 Jot Down competition, in the field of scientific illustration, with an illustration that represented the invisibility of female scientists: Invisible.

“She won the Jot Down competition with an illustration depicting the invisibility of female scientists.”

Scientific illustration is also useful for learning: “My first big project was about insects, and that’s when I started counting the legs of insects. I said: at the age of 23, I’ve learned what an insect is and how many legs it has, really?”

There are difficulties along the way. Uncertainty, everything that implies being autonomous Perhaps the most difficult thing is to depend on the acceptance of others: “I do most of the work on request and I do it for the people. And I find it hard to think about how others will see it. The feeling is that I am always asking for approval.”

However, he is very satisfied with the reception that his works are having. This year he has published an illustrated book with texts by Irati Díaz Virto: How do animals sleep? (Txalaparta, 2026), and many other encouraging experiences, such as working with the Multiple Sclerosis Association.

Now, he is concerned about the use of artificial intelligence, since many of the works previously done by illustrators are now done by people with these systems. “But today I’m optimistic. Other days it is not so, but today it seems to me that it can also be for the good, because people will learn to value what has been done by hand.” By chance! By chance!

Maddi Astigarraga Bergara was born in 1997 in Deba. After studying biomedical sciences, he specialized in scientific illustration. He has subsequently completed the Master’s Degree in Teaching and the Master’s Degree in Data Visualization and Information Design. It is currently working on the dissemination of scientific knowledge through illustrations and workshops and in collaboration with different research groups and agents.