BASF Callanish ScienceXperience Programme Wins Community Impact Award at Scottish Impact Awards 2026

• National recognition for BASF Pharma (Callanish)’s ScienceXperience programme that inspires young people across the Isle of Lewis through hands-on STEM learning and career exploration.
• More than 500 pupils have taken part in ScienceXperience since 2022, connecting classroom science with real-world applications and opportunities.
• Award highlights BASF's long-term commitment to supporting education, skills development and future opportunities in the communities where we operate.

Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK – The BASF Pharma team in Callanish has been recognised for its contribution to the local community after winning the Community Impact Award (Large Organisation) at the Scottish Impact Awards 2026.

The BASF team was honoured for its commitment to education, skills development and supporting future opportunities for young people in the Western Isles through its ScienceXperience programme. 

ScienceXperience was launched in 2022 to help inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators in the Western Isles. Delivered in partnership with local schools and supported by BASF employee volunteers, the programme gives primary school pupils hands-on experience of science and technology through visits to the company's pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Callanish. 

Since its launch, ScienceXperience has engaged more than 500 pupils from 10 schools across the Isle of Lewis through 23 events, helping young people explore STEM subjects and discover the opportunities that science and manufacturing can offer close to home.  

The judges said:

“BASF Pharma is recognised for the significant and lasting impact it delivers within its local community. The judges praised the organisation's commitment to education, skills development and supporting future opportunities in a remote area, demonstrating how business can create positive change beyond its core operations.”

Angus Morrison, Site Manager, BASF Pharma (Callanish), said:

"We are incredibly proud to receive this award. As a major employer on the Isle of Lewis, we believe we have a responsibility not only to manufacture products that improve lives around the world, but also to invest in the future of the community where we live and work.

"This recognition belongs to our employees who generously volunteer their time to inspire local young people and show them how science connects to everyday life. Their enthusiasm and commitment are what make ScienceXperience such a success."

Karen Massey, Technology and Development Manager and ScienceXperience team leader at BASF’s Callanish site added:

“Seeing the enthusiasm and curiosity of the pupils who take part in ScienceXperience is incredibly rewarding. It's inspiring to watch young people engage with science in a practical way and begin to understand how the concepts they learn in school can be applied to solve real-world challenges.” 

“For us, ScienceXperience is about broadening horizons and helping young people recognise the opportunities that science, technology and manufacturing can offer. We are proud to play a part in inspiring future generations and supporting our community's future success”.

The Scottish Impact Awards celebrate organisations across Scotland that are delivering positive social, environmental and economic impact through responsible business practices and community engagement. 

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 95,000 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.

Notes to Editors

• In the UK, BASF supplies products and solutions to a wide range of industries, including agriculture, automotive, chemicals, construction, energy and pharmaceuticals. The company employs around 500 people in the UK and operates five manufacturing sites, from Littlehampton on England's south coast to Callanish on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. BASF's UK activities also include research collaborations such as the British Alliance for Research and Innovation (BARI) with Imperial College London.
• BASF Pharma (Callanish) Limited is a global leader in manufacturing highly concentrated omega-3 fatty acids, for pharmaceutical, clinical nutrition and general nutritional applications. Our facility on the Isle of Lewis, off the Northwest coast of Scotland is a dedicated lipid development plant and can deliver commercial quantities of whatever form a customer requires: free fatty acids, ethyl esters, enriched, or reconstituted triglycerides. Our flexible purification methods can be applied to fatty acids from all main sources: marine, botanical and algal. Researchers and pharmaceutical companies use our super-pure lipids to develop active pharmaceutical ingredients. Further information at: BASF Pharma (Callanish) Limited. 
• ScienceXperience is BASF's UK STEM outreach programme, developed with the guidance and support of Professor Leigh Hoath of Leeds Trinity University. The programme connects curriculum-based learning with real-world STEM applications through practical experiments and engagement with BASF employees. The initiative supports BASF's wider commitment to education, skills development and community engagement.  
• The Scottish Impact Awards celebrate the organisations building a better, fairer, and more sustainable Scotland. Delivered by The Herald and Newsquest Events Scotland & NI, these awards recognise the trailblazers who embed purpose into action, creating lasting impact across society, the environment, and the workplace. From empowering communities through regeneration, inclusion, and cultural initiatives, to fostering healthier, more ethical workplaces, each award honours leadership that truly makes a difference. We shine a light on organisations showing progress in Diversity and Inclusion practices, those tackling the climate crisis head-on as Climate Action Champions, and celebrate Innovators driving the circular economy through sustainable design and procurement. Further information at:  The Scottish Impact Awards - Newsquest Scotland Events