Molecular Literacy Comic Books & Activity Sets for Kids

Main Article Content

Colleen Kelley

Abstract

As a science educator with 30 years of experience, I have observed that low performance of underrepresented minorities relative to their capabilities in my required college chemistry courses has contributed to their especially high attrition rates in science majors. To help improve fluency with Chemistry, I designed a comic book series called 'The M.C. Detective Agency.' This multi-episodic series envelops a cleverly concealed chemistry curriculum with the stories of twins, Poppi and Ray, who solve mysteries using chemistry.

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Article Details

How to Cite
Kelley, C. (2025). Molecular Literacy Comic Books & Activity Sets for Kids. International Journal of Designs for Learning, 16(1), 18–19. https://doi.org/10.14434/ijdl.v16i1.41433
Section
Short-Form Design Cases: Quick Hits
Author Biography

Colleen Kelley, Kids’ Chemical Solutions

Dr. Colleen Kelley is a retired University of Arizona chemistry professor and the creator of a kid-friendly chemistry comic book series. Her work, which makes complex science accessible and fun, was featured in the Emmy-winning PBS documentary Comic Book Chemistry (2023) and a TEDx talk titled “Molecular Literacy for Ages 8–108” (2025). With over 30 years of teaching experience, Colleen developed creative tools to address students’ struggles with basic chemistry concepts. She holds a Ph.D. from Penn State, conducted postdoctoral research in France with Nobel Laureate Jean-Marie Lehn, and has authored four textbooks and 30+ peer-reviewed articles in chemistry and science education.