Light up curiosity: BASF Kid’s Lab returns to Shanghai Science & Technology Museum this summer
- Electrochemistry-themed experiments and exhibits guide children to explore the secrets of batteries
- Over 20 years of partnership with Shanghai Science & Technology Museum to promote children’s science education
Shanghai, China – July 8, 2026 – BASF kicks off its annual flagship science education program, Kids’ Lab (“Kids’ Lab”) at the Shanghai Science & Technology Museum (SSTM), marking its first return during summer holidays since SSTM’s reopening after renovation.
This year’s program focuses on electrochemistry, featuring the hands-on experiment “The Secrets of Batteries”, where children explore the chemistry behind batteries and its everyday applications. Onsite interactive exhibits highlight the evolution of batteries, the generation of electricity through chemical reactions, and the practical uses of energy—offering an engaging learning experience that sparks curiosity and discovery. From now until July 11, children between 6 and 12 years old are welcome to register and take part in the program at SSTM.
“BASF Kids’ Lab has inspired children in China for more than two decades, in close collaboration with Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, one of our most valuable partners. This year, under the theme of ‘electrochemistry’, we enable children to explore the connection between chemistry and electricity through hands-on experiments, sparking curiosity and a lasting passion for science and sustainability,” said Haryono Lim, President and Chairman of BASF Greater China, at the opening ceremony. “Looking ahead, BASF will continue to leverage Kids’ Lab as a key platform to work with partners in supporting science education in China, and empower the next generation to unlock the full potential of chemical innovation.”
Xin Ge, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, said, “Following the recent reopening, SSTM continues to expand its exhibition offerings and strengthen its role as a sustainable platform for lifelong learning, creative exploration, and cross-sector collaboration. Through partnerships with leading companies such as BASF, we are bringing innovative and engaging science education experiences to a broader audience of young people. We look forward to further deepening our collaboration with BASF and inspiring the next generation through hands-on chemistry learning and discovery.”
As one of the world’s leading chemical companies, BASF is committed to corporate social responsibility and promoting science education. Over the past two decades, the BASF Kids’ Lab program has reached more than 210,000 children across Greater China. Since 2005, BASF has maintained a long-standing partnership with SSTM and co-hosted this program, reaching over 90,000 children In Shanghai.
In addition to the session in Shanghai, BASF Kids’ Lab will continue its journey in Beijing and Zhanjiang this year, collaborating with local communities and NGOs to inspire more children through interactive electrochemistry experiments.
The experiment at 2026 BASF Kids’ Lab in Shanghai:
The Secrets of Batteries (45 minutes, for children aged between 6-12)
The primary cell is the basic model for almost all batteries. It generates an electric current through the transfer of electrons between reactants in a redox reaction. It generally consists of a positive and negative electrode with an electrolyte. But what does it take to light a bulb? In “The Secrets of Batteries” experiment, volunteers will guide children in selecting appropriate electrode materials and electrolytes to build a primary cell. Children will experience the thrill of lighting up a small bulb, and cherish how precious and hard-won electrical energy can be.
About BASF in Greater China
BASF has been a committed partner to Greater China since 1885. With large production sites in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing and Zhanjiang, as well as a regional research and development hub in Shanghai, BASF is a major foreign investor in the country’s chemical industry. BASF posted sales of approximately €8.2 billion in 2025 to customers in Greater China and employed 12,452 people as of the end of the year. For further information, please visit www.basf.com/cn/en
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 108,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.
