"Changing Key and Chemistry" is a ten-minute film that uses familiar melodies, musical metaphors, and vibrant animations to show viewers that organic chemistry can be understood one note at a time. UCLA Professor Dr. Neil Garg demonstrates how learning chemistry can feel much like learning to play a song, where each atom acts like a musical note and molecules form entire melodies.
Don’t fear organic chemistry. You got this… you can pick up some of the fundamentals, pick up the keys on the piano, the notes in an octave, you have what it takes to learn how to be an organic chemist. Because guess what? Students are naturally curious and creative and they're absolutely brilliant problem solvers.
— Professor Neil Garg
“Changing Key and Chemistry” is targeted towards high school and college students and can be used as a starting point for discussions around organic structure, natural products, creativity in science, molecular design, and more. An accompanying lesson plan is available for teachers free via chemistryshorts.org.
The Chemistry Shorts film series is funded by The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and is endorsed by American Association of Chemistry Teachers, American Chemical Society, and AIChE – American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
Learn about AIChE's Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division
As the film highlights creativity in chemistry, it’s also a great reminder of the work happening across AIChE. The Catalysis and Reaction Engineering Division offers resources and community for anyone interested in reaction pathways, catalysis, and real-world applications.
