Western Australia’s ‘scientists of the future’ flock to Curtin University labs

Perth, Australia – June 27, 2016 – More than a thousand Western Australian kids will take to the science labs at Curtin University for the annual BASF Kids’ Lab program, which starts today.

The program, an initiative of global chemical company BASF, locally organised in collaboration with Curtin University, will run from June 27-July 1, 2016. It will give around 1,500 primary school children hands-on experience conducting safe, colourful chemistry experiments, under the supervision of a team of scientists.

Through activities such as paper chromatography and making their own sample of slime, the kids will discover how materials react chemically to form new compounds.
BASF Australia and New Zealand’s Chairman and Managing Director, Ross Pilling, said the program opens kids’ minds to science in a safe and controlled environment.

“Year on year, we’re seeing more schools enroll their students in Kids’ Lab programs around the country. Given the public discussion around STEM studies – science, technology, engineering and maths – over the past few years in Australia, it’s never been a more important time to engage our kids in science. We know that when kids engage in STEM activities at an early age, either at home or at school, they’re more likely to be interested later in life.

“Kids’ Lab has been really successful in showing kids how exciting chemistry can be. Who knows, some of these kids may continue on to become some of Australia’s scientists of the future,” he said.

Curtin University Professor of Chemistry, Mark Buntine, said he was pleased to be working with BASF for the third consecutive year.

“Over the past three years that we’ve worked with BASF to bring Kids’ Lab to Perth, almost 4,500 primary school students have taken part,” Professor Buntine said.

“During this program we are able to show kids how fun science can be and that science isn’t just limited to work done in labs - it’s present in almost all of the aspects of our lives daily.”

Today marks the second in a series of annual BASF Kids’ Lab events, with other events being held in conjunction with Monash University in Victoria and the University of Auckland in New Zealand.

About BASF in Australia and New Zealand
BASF posted sales of about €428 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2015, serving key industries in the agriculture, coatings, construction, manufacturing and mining sectors. As of the end of 2015, the company had 442 employees and operated 11 production sites across the sub-region, manufacturing agricultural solutions, performance products and functional materials & solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for more than 90 years, and for about 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on the Internet at www.basf.com/au.

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 112,000 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 more than €70 billion in 2015. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information at www.basf.com.

Photo opportunities
Photo opportunities are available for media at this event. For more information, please contact Angela Beggs at (03) 8855 6273 or angela.beggs@basf.com.