BASF Kids’ Lab 2023 kicked off its Chongqing program, celebrating over one decade of partnership with Chongqing Science and Technology Museum

• Collaborating with the Chongqing Science and Technology Museum since 2013 to promote science education among children in Chongqing and the surrounding areas
• Two experiments – to illuminate eco-friendly printing and climate change – were introduced this year, helping children to experience how chemical innovation could contribute to sustainability
   

Chongqing, China – Today, BASF kicked off its annual Kids’ Lab Chongqing session at the Chongqing Science and Technology Museum (CQSTM), celebrating a decade of partnership between the program and the CQSTM. This year, children will participate in two hands-on experiments focusing on eco-friendly printing and climate change, allowing them to learn about how chemical innovation contributes to a more sustainable future.

BASF has been dedicated to promoting science education for children in China, with the Kids' Lab being a crucial part of this effort. The Kid’s Lab program was introduced to China in 2002 and has attracted more than 200,000 children over the past 20 years. At the launch ceremony in Chongqing, 24 children from the surrounding communities of BASF Chongqing site were invited to experience the fascinating world of science through interactive experiments.

“BASF is committed to providing safe and fun scientific experiences for children through the BASF Kids’ Lab program. The theme of this year's experiments is closely tied to BASF's commitment to sustainability. We look forward to engaging children in the fun of chemistry while inspiring their creativity and curiosity,” said Dr. Jan Nouwen, Vice President, General Manager of BASF Polyurethanes (Chongqing) Co., Ltd.

At the launch ceremony, BASF donated 300 copies of the science picture book Cool the Planet – Lead a Low-carbon Lifestyle to CQSTM for educational purposes.

“We believe that science education is crucial for fostering creativity and innovation among children. We are pleased to partner with BASF to create a scientific world full of exploration and fun for children through the BASF Kids' Lab program,” said Zhu Jiayi, Chairman and General Manager of Chongqing Science and Technology Museum Management Co., Ltd. “Looking forward, we expect to extend our cooperation with BASF and launch more popular science education activities in new and exciting formats.”

In 2008, BASF Kids’ Lab was first introduced to Chongqing under the “Germany and China – Moving Ahead Together” initiative. Since 2013, BASF has cooperated with CQSTM to develop Kids’ Lab into a popular summer activity for children in Chongqing and its peripheral areas. This year, more than 50 students from well-known universities – such as Peking University, Zhejiang University, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Ningbo University, and Southwest University – will become volunteer teachers to guide children in the experiments.
 

In Chongqing, the 2023 BASF Kids’ Lab arrangements are as below.

Magic Ink (45-minute workshop, eligible for children aged 6-12 years old)

Printing, one of the remarkable inventions of the Chinese people, has enabled the dissemination and exchange of knowledge and is now inseparable from our daily lives. This year, Dr. Bubbles will guide children in the essential wetting and adhesion stages of the printing process, use handmade ink to print patterns on the plastic folders, and experience the magic of printing together.

Cooling Experience (45-minute workshop, eligible for children aged 6-12 years old)

Global warming is a serious issue in today’s world. In this experiment, children will make a cooling layer for ice water, build a simple electric cooling circuit, and make a gel that changes its color by a temperature change. With the experiment, children can experience the temperature changes firsthand, start to understand the importance of sustainable development and adopt a low-carbon lifestyle to help "cool" the earth together.

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 €11.6 billion in 2022 to customers in Greater China and employed 11,411 people as of the end of the year. For further information, please visit www.basf.com/cn.

About Chongqing Science & Technology Museum

Chongqing Science & Technology Museum (CQSTM) is one of the ten key social and cultural infrastructure projects administered by the local government. It is a modern, comprehensive, and multifunctional venue open to the public to promote science education. CQSTM comprises six themed exhibition halls featuring over 400 exhibits. Additionally, there are two thematic exhibition halls, namely, Children's Science Paradise and Light of Industry. For more information about CQSTM, please visit: www.cqkjg.cn.