BASF's Kids' Lab™ Creating Chemistry in Site Communities Across the United States

Kids' Lab offers a fun way to explore aspects of chemistry and science with hands-on experiments

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Mar 08, 2011, 08:45 ET

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., March 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After successfully launching its Kids' Lab™ program at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, BASF is expanding its Kids' Lab program nationally. So far, 30 BASF sites across the United States will be hosting Kids' Lab programs in their local school communities to provide fun, hands on learning for children ages 6-12 as they explore various concepts in chemistry.

"BASF has a strong focus on science education realizing that today's students will be the thinkers, innovators, discoverers and leaders of the future," said Robin Rotenberg, Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at BASF. "Through our Kids' Lab program, we hope that children will gain a better appreciation and interest for the dynamic world of science, while at the same time having fun."

Each instructor-led Kids' Lab workshop offers safe and engaging chemical experiments, coupled with interactive demonstrations. Some of the experiment topics include Activated Charcoal, Chalk and Paper Chromatography, Red Cabbage pH Indicator and Slime. Children also receive a lab apron, a certificate of participation and a pouch filled with other takeaway items. Accompanying these materials is the Kids Lab mascot, morpH™, a cartoon-like element that can "morph" into any of the basic forms of matter -- a solid, liquid or gas.

BASF's Kids' Lab was recently introduced to 25 third and fifth grade students at Community Christian School in Richmond, Indiana, by one of BASF's Tipp City, Ohio, employees Dan Jackson. Teacher Heather Jackson had this to say: "The students loved it and so did I! It was not only a great way for us to learn about BASF and the things they make, but also a great way to motivate students to pursue careers in chemistry," said Jackson. "A fifth grader's parent told me that her son is already planning to be a chemist for BASF when he grows up."

In addition to Tipp City, four other BASF sites in West Memphis, Arkansas; East Setauket, New York; Tarrytown, New York and Florham Park, New Jersey, ran programs this fall that reached more than 250 children. The company's site in Suffolk, Virginia, launched the program in their local schools in January with a goal of reaching 500 students by the end of April. "The schools are very happy to have a ready-made chemistry program that will teach science in an exciting way," said Beverly Nedab, BASF employee volunteer who is coordinating the Kids' Lab program in Suffolk. "The program brings together our employees, teachers and parents who all work together to present the program to the students."

Kids' Lab was established at BASF's global headquarters in Germany in 1997, and is currently available in 16 countries worldwide. In North America, BASF's aim is to foster science literacy. The company supports several programs that encourage students to enjoy and pursue their interest in science and explore career possibilities in the fields of science, math and technology.

Throughout 2011, BASF will continue to sponsor science education programs that will support the global goals of the International Year of Chemistry. The U.N. General Assembly designated 2011 as the "International Year of Chemistry" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Madame Curie's Nobel Prize and the founding of the International Association of Chemical Societies; to increase public appreciation of chemistry in meeting world needs; to generate enthusiasm for the creative future of chemistry and to increase the interest of young people in chemistry.

To see Kids' Lab in action at Liberty Science Center, please click here to check out a video on YouTube.

For photos of BASF's Kids Lab program, please click on the following links:

http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/03-08-11_BASFKidsLab1.jpg

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Pictured are children learning about the pH scale, just one of the activities that were conducted during a session of BASF's Kids' Lab at Liberty Science Center.

http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/03-08-11_BASFKidsLab2.jpg

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Pictured are students at Community Christian School in Richmond, Indiana, displaying the results of BASF's Kids Lab Slime experiment with BASF Tipp City, Ohio employee Dan Jackson and teacher Heather Jackson.

BASF - The Chemical Company.

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF posted sales of more than euro 63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com or in the Social Media Newsroom at newsroom.basf.com.

SOURCE BASF