A Week of Molecular Magic: Behind the Scenes of Our University of Florida Partnership

For the past 3 months, I've been working with Dr. Oliver Grundmann at the University of Florida to create interactive molecular animations that make complex chemical concepts accessible and engaging.

The process has been mesmerizing, and I'm excited to share two interactive, inquiry-driven case studies:

We started with the aim of helping students understand how pH-dependent ionization affects drug absorption and bioavailability.

Applying the CURIOUS Educator Metaframework, I broke the concept down into a case study that students (and now you!) could interact with:

Aspirin v. Lidocaine

Students can click between environments and watch molecules transform in real-time, seeing exactly why aspirin absorbs in the stomach while lidocaine cannot.

Key Pedagogical Advantages

1. Replaces static 2D structures with dynamic 3D conformational changes
2. Connects abstract pKa concepts to real-world drug absorption mechanisms
3. Shows statistical ionization ratios (65% ionized vs. confusing molecular counts)
4. Integrates seamlessly with existing Canvas LMS curricula
5. Scales to any drug molecule using our established workflow

We solved the complex challenge of creating scientifically accurate molecular animations that work reliably across all devices and browsers, with zero software installation required for students.

Then, we created a second activity to improve how students learn pharmaceutical chemistry by making molecular interactions visible and interactive.

Why does aspirin last 8-12 hours while ibuprofen wears off in 4-6 hours?

Students manipulate 3D molecular models, test hypotheses about drug duration, and watch real-time animations of covalent bond formation—moving beyond static Lewis structures to dynamic molecular storytelling.

This approach addresses the core challenge in pharmaceutical chemistry education: helping students visualize how molecular structure determines therapeutic outcomes.

This represents another step into what I believe will become a new standard for molecular visualization in chemistry education—moving beyond static images to create the kind of interactive, conceptual understanding that transforms how students think about molecular behavior. The methodology is replicable, the technology is accessible (and free), and the educational impact is measurable.

The Bigger Picture: Where Science Meets Impact

This work with UF represents everything Science with Impact stands for. We're not just creating content—we're building bridges between complex science and meaningful understanding. Each animation, each interactive experience, each educational tool is designed to multiply the impact of brilliant research.

I'll be honest—I never expected to fall in love with molecular animation. But there's something profoundly moving about seeing these molecules rendered in 3D.

Each of the animations started with molecular structure optimization in Avogadro, importing into Blender using Brady Johnston's Molecular Nodes Plug-In, and keyframing (sort of like stop-motion animation but digital).

I'm more energized than ever about the potential for 3D molecular animation to transform science communication, and I want to bring you along for the journey.

Your support and engagement with Science with Impact have made collaborations like this possible. Every download, every share, every thoughtful comment has contributed to building a community that values both scientific rigor and innovative communication.

With gratitude and excitement,

Vanessa Rosa, Ph.D.
Founder, Science with Impact

P.S. Keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks, we're interviewing the Science with Impact Team (Yasmina Demaj, Rafael Fernanz, and me), Lennart Nacke of the University of Waterloo, Matt Wilkins, founder of Galactic Polymath Education Studio, Checo Colon-Gaud of Georgia Southern, and more!