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BASF brings Kids’ Lab program to Minnesota
SHAKOPEE, MN, June 7, 2012 – Chemists from BASF in Shakopee, Minnesota brought science to life for second graders at Sun Path Elementary School. Through the introduction of Kid’s Lab, BASF’s science education program, students were able to conduct hands on experiments to learn about the world of chemistry.
The BASF volunteers helped guide Lisa Lahl’s second grade class in an experiment called “The pHun Factor.” In this experiment, students learned a number of basic chemistry skills and explored the pH scale using a variety of household products and red cabbage juice.
"At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future which includes helping the next generation of scientists to be successful,” said Barry Lassiter, R&D Manager at the Shakopee site. “Through our Kids’ Lab program we focus on science education realizing that today’s students will be the thinkers, innovators and leaders of tomorrow and form the basis of our future workforce.”
“The whole experience opened the students’ eyes to the importance of chemistry in their everyday lives,” said Lahl. “The interactive pH lab built interest and created a fun learning experience, which enhanced our plant unit. Seeing the immediate results of the experiment sparked questions and wonderment among the students. They truly enjoyed every minute!”
The goal of Kids’ Lab is to foster science literacy by encouraging students to gain a better appreciation of and interest in the dynamic world of chemistry. The program triggers their curiosity about chemistry and stimulates their enthusiasm for science.
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Suggested photo captions:
Image 1: Jaelyn Fletes and Breeanna Wrobleski, students at Sun Path Elementary School in Shakopee, Minnesota, use pipettes to drop red cabbage juice into a variety of household substances and observe the color change to measure pH during a BASF Kids’ Lab program. The goal of Kids’ Lab is to foster science literacy by encouraging students to gain a better appreciation of and interest in the dynamic world of chemistry. The program triggers their curiosity about chemistry and stimulates their enthusiasm for science.
Image 2: The class at Sun Path Elementary School in Shakopee, Minnesota is eager to be the first to answer questions about pH from Barry Lassiter, R&D Manager at BASF’s Shakopee site, during a BASF Kids’ Lab program.
About BASF Kids' Lab
The BASF Kids’ Lab is a global program for children (ages 6 – 12) to raise their interest in chemistry through safe and engaging, hands-on experiments. A Kids’ Lab session includes educator-led instruction, interactive lab experiments with BASF products and takeaway items for each participant. The program is provided to families in collaboration with major science centers in Jersey City, NJ; Houston, TX; Mobile, AL and Baton Rouge LA. In addition, volunteers from more than 20 BASF sites are running individual programs in their local community schools. Through Kids’ Lab we are creating fun with chemistry and encouraging kids to explore the connections between chemistry and the world around them.
BASF – The Chemical Company
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $20 billion in 2011. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success, social responsibility and environmental protection. Through science and innovation we enable our customers in almost all industries to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and system solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring healthy food and nutrition and helping to improve the quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF posted sales of about €73.5 billion in 2011 and had more than 111,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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