BASF employees bring chemistry to life at Sci-Port Discovery Center
Experiments, demonstrations highlight National Chemistry Week program

SHREVEPORT, La., October 22, 2004 -- A group of chemists from BASF provided visitors to the Sci-Port Discovery Center with a “window to their world” during a series of presentations and experiments held this week to highlight National Chemistry Week.

An outreach program of the American Chemical Society (ACS), National Chemistry Week aims to enhance the public's awareness of the contributions of chemistry to everyday life.

During their presentations, BASF chemists Tam Nguyen, Loretta Hudson, Kim Jacobs, and Lynn Massad provided "hands-on" experiments and discussed their specific roles at the chemical company that is known for “helping make products better.”

“Chemistry is a part of many products we use everyday,” said Massad. “Our visit gave the students a chance to see that science can be fun, and that it is all around us and helps us in many ways.”

“We appreciate having the opportunity to partner with the Sci-Port Discovery Center as part of our National Chemistry Week activities,” said Dan Leal, Manager of BASF’s Shreveport site. “Students are able to have fun while learning about science, and they get a chance to see how science is reflected in their daily lives.”

Sci-Port Discovery Center is a 67,000 square-foot science and entertainment center in Shreveport-Bossier, featuring over 200 “hands-on” science exhibits and programs, an IMAX Dome Theatre, demonstration theater, gift shop and café.

BASF’s Shreveport facility manufactures and packages a range of pharmaceutical products. With about 200 full-time employees, the site is a leading manufacturer of prescription-strength ibuprofen. The site is located on more than 40 acres along I-49 in Shreveport.

BASF – The Chemical Company. We don’t make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.®
BASF Corporation, headquartered in New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF AG, Ludwigshafen, Germany. We employ about 11,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $9 billion in 2003. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. Our goal is to grow profitably and further increase the value of our company. We help our customers to be more successful through intelligent system solutions and high-quality products. BASF’s portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. Through new technologies we can tap into additional market opportunities. We conduct our business in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. In 2003, BASF had sales of approximately $42 billion and over 87,000 employees worldwide. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Debbie Hynes
BASF
Shreveport, La.
Tel: (318) 861-8310
E-mail: hynesd@basf.com

Glenn Majeski
BASF
Florham Park, N.J.
Tel: (973) 245-6070
E-mail: majeskg@basf.com