Light up Curiosity: BASF Kids’ Lab 2026 Shanghai special session launched, inspiring children to explore the wonders of electrochemistry
- Electrochemistry experiments and displays unveil the science behind batteries and showcase real‑world applications of electrolysis
- Over 20 years of collaboration with Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, advancing science education among children
Shanghai, China – January 27, 2026 – Today, BASF kicked off the Shanghai special session of its popular Kids’ Lab program at Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM). Focusing on electrochemistry, the program engaged children with hands‑on experiments and themed displays to explore the evolution of batteries, learn how chemical reactions generate electricity, and understand its everyday applications, bringing concepts to life and fostering children’s interest in science.
“Education drives societal progress, and chemical innovation powers the future. For over two decades, BASF has been promoting science education in China with our partners. We are delighted to bring our ‘Kids’ Lab’ program back to SSTM at the beginning of the new year. Through this program, we will continue to spark children’s curiosity and creativity, promote sustainability, and inspire the innovators of tomorrow,” said Dr. Jeffrey Lou, President and Chairman of BASF Greater China.
As one of the world’s leading chemical companies, BASF is committed to corporate social responsibility and to advancing science education. Over the past 20 years, BASF Kids’ Lab program has been held in various cities across Greater China—including Beijing, Shanghai, Zhanjiang, Taipei, and Kaohsiung, offering an exploratory learning experience that integrates scientific knowledge, hands‑on experiments, and engaging activities. To date, the program has benefited more than 210,000 school‑age children in Greater China.
In Shanghai, BASF has maintained a strategic partnership with SSTM since 2005 to co‑host the Kids’ Lab program, attracting more than 90,000 children in Shanghai. The program’s engaging activities and high‑quality science education content are widely recognized by the public.
The experiments at the 2026 BASF Kids’ Lab Shanghai special session:
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 migration of electrons between reactants that occurs 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 to choose the appropriate electrode material and electrolyte to build a primary cell. Children will experience the thrill of lighting up a small light bulb and cherish the hard-won electricity.
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 €8.6 billion in 2024 to customers in Greater China and employed 12,687 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 112,000 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 €65.3 billion in 2024. 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.
