BASF continues its support of local high school robotics program
Donation enables students to participate in ‘2007 FIRST Robotics’ competition

WASHINGTON, N.J., November 29, 2006 -- BASF recently presented Warren Hills Regional High School with a $1,000 “Helping Make Communities Better” grant that will be used to support the school’s participation in the 2007 FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition in Science and Technology) “robotics” competition. This is the fourth consecutive year BASF has provided funding for this competition.

“The grant will be used by students in the Engineering class to purchase material to fabricate the robot competing in this year’s competition,” said Dave Rader, Industrial Arts teacher at the school. “Students will benefit from this competition because they will be exposed to real life challenges in a controlled environment. They can apply critical thinking, decision making and problem solving skills to meet the challenge.”

BASF employee Ray Menegus is also donating his time to advise the Warren Hills team as the students construct the robot and fabricate its specialty parts.

FIRST is a national program that aims to generate interest in science and engineering among today’s youth. The competition connects a team of high school students with engineers from business and universities for an exciting hands-on project. During the course of six weeks, the team must design, construct and test a robot for competition.

"We're proud to continue our partnership with Warren Hills Regional High School and our company-wide commitment to science education," said Mike Barone, Manager of Maintenance and Engineering at BASF’s Washington site. "BASF is known as the company that ‘helps make products better.’ We also have a strong commitment to helping make the schools and communities in which we live and work better.”
 
FIRST was founded in 1989 by Dean Kamen, inventor of the Segway Human Transporter. Nationwide FIRST competitions are organized and staffed by more than 5,000 event and committee volunteers. Through these volunteers, FIRST programs engaged more than 50,000 youths during the last year.

BASF’s Washington site employs 66 people and produces surfactants used in consumer and industrial laundry and cleaning products, healthcare products, coatings, and plastic additives.

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. BASF employs about 16,000 people in North America and had sales of approximately $11.3 billion in 2005. 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: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals to crude oil and natural gas. As a reliable partner to virtually all industries, BASF’s intelligent system solutions and high-value products help its customers to be more successful. BASF develops new technologies and uses them to open up additional market opportunities. It combines economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, thus contributing to a better future. BASF has approximately 94,000 employees and posted sales of more than €42.7 billion (approximately $50.4 billion) in 2005. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

For more information, contact:
Mike Barone
BASF
Washington, N.J.
Tel: (908) 689-7470
E-mail: michael.barone@basf.com

Maureen Paukert
BASF
Florham Park, N.J.
Tel: (973) 245-6077
E-mail: maureen.paukert@basf.com