Chemistry lessons from kids’ books and sneakers

Chemistry adventures Aside from the laboratory, the outdoors is Erin Joy Araneta 's favorite place to be. When the pandemic hit, she found herself with more time to hike, paddle, and rock climb . . . and to reflect. Chemistry was at work all around her— in the water, air, and rocks. How could she foster children's natural curiosity about it? "I wanted to help kids see how cool chemistry is," says Araneta, a chemistry graduate student at the University of Southern California. As the idea of a book aimed at her 6-year-old cousin—who she describes as "a very spicy girl"—took shape in her mind, she knew the nerdy male stereotype of chemists needed to go. "I wanted a fun, bubbly character who's relatable," she tells Newscripts. And so, Chemist Clara was born. Think Dora the Explorer but with a backpack and brain full of chemistry tools and tricks to