Research Background

Kelley`s primary research interest and first loves are polyhedral boron hydride clusters. These mini-architectural wonders break all the rules with their non-classical bonding which contributes to their powerful reactivity. No matter if you have just two borons, or twenty, boron hydride chemistry follows its own rules. She has also been interested in recycling and reclaiming precious metals from laboratory waste and turning the reclaimed silver into clay from which we’ve made jewelry. Inorganic chemistry is known to be a mile-wide and an inch deep and it has been a playground for her and her students for years.

Current Research:

Her current focus is on communicating science better and more clearly. As a society She fears that we are again approaching the burning of the Library of Alexandria and it is the job of scientists, as writers, to bridge the growing gap of scientific literacy in the world. Her work with the Abbaspourrad group is to find ways of making science relatable to everyone and to bring return to the idea that science writing is as literary, as it is scientific. Her goal is to put the art back in science and to inspire reader.