BASF Kids’ Lab 2018 promotes science learning with new experiment at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum
- Brand new experiment launched in Shanghai
- Guided museum tour helps children discover wonders of chemistry
- New visitor exploration area creates an all-around, interactive and immersive learning experience for all stakeholders
Shanghai, China – July 5, 2018 – BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, is bringing a new experiment, “Who’s Inflating the Balloon”, to children in Shanghai this summer. BASF Kid’s Lab is taking place at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM) on July 4 – 15. At the same time, a visitor exploration area is being introduced for the first time to bring the wonders of chemistry to families and other stakeholders as well.
“For more than two decades, BASF has been organizing Kids’ Lab worldwide to encourage children to explore science and discover the magic of chemistry through hands-on experiments. It helps them to learn how chemistry enhances our daily life,” said Dr. Harald Lauke, President, Advanced Materials & Systems Research, Research Representative Asia Pacific BASF. “We are happy that BASF scientists from the Innovation Campus Shanghai have become more engaged in voluntary science education activities at SSTM in recent years, by contributing their knowledge and passion for chemistry.”
In addition to the hands-on experiments, BASF and its long-term partner SSTM jointly organised a guided tour to help children explore various mineral ores exhibited in the museum and uncover the stories behind them, led by a BASF scientist. In the future, they will also act as volunteers to promote exhibits and museum programs through science lectures, interactive experiments and guided tours each month. The program aims to engage little science enthusiasts, aged 8 to 13, to help them learn about science, especially chemistry, and its role to drive innovative and sustainable solutions.
“Shanghai Science and Technology Museum has hosted BASF Kids’ Lab for more than a decade. This summer science education program aims to foster children’s interest in science and inspire their passion for learning through fun-filled and interactive chemistry experiments,” said Mr. Yao Qiang, Deputy Party Secretary of Shanghai Science and Technology Museum.
Students from the neighboring Zhulin Elementary School from Gaoqiao Town, Pudong, mostly immigrant children, are again the first group to try the new experiment. As a responsible member of the community wherever it operates, BASF not only invests in production, but also takes on its social commitment by including young neighbours in Kids’ Lab to help shape their scientific thinking from an early stage.
This year, BASF created a visitor exploration area to engage not only the kids but their families with interactive exhibits and hands-on experiments. BASF also developed a portfolio of digital learning resources, available to all students across China, to promote self-exploration and learning at any time, from anywhere.
Experiments to be staged at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum include:
Who’s Inflating the Balloon? (45 mins workshop, for 8 to 12-years-olds)
This experiment shows how an acid and a base react to form carbon dioxide (CO2) which will inflate a balloon. This chemical reaction is also applied in many daily uses including in fire extinguishers.
Red Cabbage Indicator (45 mins workshop, for 8 to 12-years-olds)
Natural colorants give fruit and vegetables all kinds of colors. Children will learn to extract anthocyanin, a plant pigment, from red cabbage and observe how its color changes in different pH conditions.
Interactive and unique exploration area to explore world of science (for 6 to 12-years-olds and their families)
A dedicated exploration area is open to children and parents to access a variety of educational resources. The area includes 1) Experiment Tips booth, 2) Voice of Advanced Science booth; 3) Experiments Area, 4) Virtual Kids’ Lab booth, 5) Emoji booth and 6) Reading Area. An educational tour designed for both kids and their parents is also available online.
BASF and Shanghai Science and Technology Museum initiated the partnership in 2005 to bring BASF Kids’ Lab to Shanghai. Since then, more than 70,000 children have experienced the joy of chemistry through this signature summer science program in a safe and interactive environment.
From early July to the end of August, Kids’ Lab will tour across China in partnership with various science and technology museums in Shanghai, Beijing and Chongqing this year.
For more information on BASF Kids’ Lab in China and how to participate in it, please visit: www.basf.com/kidslab/cn
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into five segments: Chemicals, Performance Products, Functional Materials & Solutions, Agricultural Solutions and Oil & Gas. BASF generated sales of €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.
About Shanghai Science & Technology Museum
The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum serves as a national first-class museum, a national level 5A scenic site, a post-doctoral research station, and one of the first batch of research and educational tourism bases in China. It includes two branches, the Shanghai Natural History Museum and the Shanghai Planetarium (under construction). It has become a comprehensive museum, integrating the functions of Exhibition and Education, Collection and Research, Science popularization and culture exchange together. The museum has attracted over 6.42 million visitors from China and abroad in 2017. In the newly published report of AECOM/TEA, Shanghai Science and Technology Museum rose to 6th place in the list of the worlds’ 20 most popular museums (www.sstm.org.cn).
Media Contacts
| BASF Greater China | Shanghai Science & Technology Museum |
| Clare Zhang | Ivy Huang |
| Phone: 021-2039 3383 | Phone:021- 68622000 EXT 7614 |
| zhaolai.zhang@basf.com | huangyi@sstm.org.cn |
