BASF’s award-winning Kid’s Lab scoops top awards at Scifest Africa

• Encouraging learners’ interest in chemistry.

• “Clever Foodies” experiments help in making informed, healthy food choices.

Johannesburg, South Africa – 05 April 2018. BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, was awarded ‘Best Exhibition Workshop Presentation’ and received first prize for ‘Best Exhibition Workshop’ for its highly successful Kids’ Lab workshops at the National Science Festival (SciFest) in Grahamstown held in March 2018.

Once again, children between the ages of 7 and 14 had the opportunity to participate in fun-filled, interactive chemical experiments to detect and identify vitamins while learning about healthy nutrition. The Kids’ Lab programme, “Clever Foodies”, uses storytelling and modern, practical educational methods to raise nutritional awareness on how healthy eating positively contributes to a healthy lifestyle. The BASF Kids’ Lab team yet again worked in collaboration with the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, whose fully trained team members assisted in supervising the experiments.

Since 2011, Kids’ Lab has evolved into an award winning global program, with over 800 000 children having participated in the interactive experiments in 40 countries so far. In South Africa, BASF has reached out to over 20 000 children, and has been recognized with the following Scifest awards:

·     2013 – Best Newcomer Exhibition

·     2014 – Exhibitor of the year

·     2016 – Best Workshop: Outreach

·     2017 – Best Workshop: Innovation

According to Benoit Fricard, Managing Director of BASF South Africa, Kids’ Lab enables young people to gain a better understanding of chemistry and encourages them to find out more about the world around them. “BASF has a strong focus on its social engagement efforts on education. Through the Kids’ Lab programme, BASF aims to stimulate an interest in science and foster curiosity. The hands-on chemistry experiments encourage young girls and boys to be researchers and discover the world of science,” he said.

At the end of each workshop, each child received an Experimentation Diploma as well as experiment tips and background information with classroom tips for teachers. Apart from the greater emphasis on sustainable impact, the Kids’ Lab programme also contributes to the implementation of numerous United Nations development goals.

The Kids’ Lab workshops are designed to encourage children’s sense of discovery and teaches them good science methods and skills. Much of what they experience and learn is transferrable and will remain in the children’s minds and in their everyday lives.

Scifest is an annual initiative which is supported by the Department of Science and Technology and promotes the public awareness, understanding and appreciation of science, technology and innovation in South Africa. In 2017, Scifest Africa attracted more than 62,000 visitors.

ENDS