What happens when we treat chemistry as a language—and start teaching it like one?

Today on the Science with Impact Podcast, Colleen Kelley, founder of the Molecular Literacy Project and creator of Kids Chemical Solutions, shares how comics, storytelling, and joyful design can make chemistry accessible—even to eight-year-olds.

A first-generation college student turned chemistry professor, Colleen reflects on how early exposure and imagination can shift chemistry from a gatekeeping course to a subject students feel confident exploring. Drawing from decades of teaching experience, she invites us to reimagine chemistry not as something to survive, but as a language to speak—with curiosity, confidence, and creativity.

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🤔 Who is this for?

  1. Chemistry educators and outreach professionals rethinking how to engage learners early and often
  2. Research scientists and program leads interested in building more inclusive STEM pathways
  3. Curriculum designers and science communicators exploring the role of storytelling in technical learning

📋 What is it about?

Colleen shares how molecular literacy—starting as early as age eight—can transform how students experience chemistry. She explores why storytelling, visual thinking, and intuition matter just as much as equations, and how rethinking our approach can reduce failure rates, close equity gaps, and bring joy back into the classroom.

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Key Takeaway: When we treat chemistry as a language and meet students with curiosity, imagination, and clear storytelling, we open the door to lasting understanding—and a more inclusive future in science.

⌚️ Time Stamps:

00:00 Introduction to Molecular Literacy
00:11 The Power of Storytelling in Science
00:36 Rebranding Chemistry for Broader Impact
01:46 Meet Colleen Kelly: Comic Book Creator
02:03 Making Chemistry Accessible Through Comics
04:30 Colleen's Journey into Chemistry
07:49 The Joy of Solving Chemistry Puzzles
10:51 Incorporating Mysteries into Chemistry Education
11:52 Resources for Teachers and Students
17:22 The Importance of Early Chemistry Education
18:38 Challenges in Learning Chemistry
21:48 Developing Chemical Intuition
23:09 Calculator Confidence vs. Intuition
24:21 Drawing to Enhance Molecular Literacy
25:01 Teaching Chemistry to Young Students
27:52 Addressing Chemistry's High Failure Rates
32:53 Storytelling in Chemistry Education
39:21 Rebranding Chemistry Education
43:02 Integrating Science with Other Disciplines
45:29 Final Thoughts on Molecular Literacy

📣 Guest:

Colleen Kelley, Ph.D. | Chemist, educator, and founder of the Molecular Literacy Project

🎙️ Host

⁠Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D⁠., is the founder of ⁠Science with Impact⁠, where we partner with research organizations to translate STEM advancements into measurable societal benefits beyond academia.

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  2. Communicating (illustration/animation, data visualization, and presentations)

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