Students from Seneca Valley High School explore chemistry and careers at the BASF Science Academy

EVANS CITY, PA, August 30, 2012 -- Seneca Valley High School students Dhruv Kohli and Michael Glatz, were among 20 soon to be high school seniors who recently previewed college life. They also learned more about the field of chemistry during a two week summer science program called “Science Academy” sponsored by BASF Corporation at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) in Madison, New Jersey.

“BASF recognizes the importance of immersing students in science education -- realizing they will be the thinkers, innovators and leaders of the future,” said Judy Brinkman, Evans City Site Manager. “The Science Academy aspires to develop the technology based workforce of the future by exposing students to practical business applications and potential careers in chemistry.”

Kohli and Glatz visited the BASF site in Evans City on June 25 for a program orientation prior to departing to New Jersey.

Consistent with the program theme “From Molecules to Marketplace,” the students learned advanced level science from FDU professors and interacted with BASF scientists and business leaders through lectures, hands-on lab experiments and field trips.

Working in teams, the students used BASF chemistry to research and formulate their own products for which they developed marketing plans that were presented to a panel of BASF executives.

“I came to the Science Academy knowing only one person,” said Glatz. “We sat next to each other in our AP Chemistry class and we were both in the same Honors Physics class. Dhruv and I both heard about this amazing opportunity through our AP Chemistry teacher, Ms. Kelly. Weston.”

Because the Science Academy was an on-campus residential program, it gave students a preview of college living. They used the university’s classrooms, labs, dining hall, dorms and received college-level instruction. BASF covered the cost of the program including student tuition and travel and worked with the FDU staff to develop the Science Academy course curriculum.

Students graduated from the program with two transferable college science credits.

After a successful pilot program in 2011, which accepted students from the school districts nearest to the BASF North America Headquarters in Florham Park, New Jersey, the company extended the program this year to applicants from communities nearest to its largest U.S. operations. As a result, the Science Academy class of 2012 included participants from eight different states: Alabama, Louisiana, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

Each year, the Science Academy targets students who will be high school seniors in the fall; who completed at least one year of high school chemistry; and have a demonstrated record of academic excellence and a strong interest in the sciences.

For press photos, please click on the following links: http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/08-02-12_ScienceAcademy1.jpg   

Suggested caption: Participants in the 2012 BASF Science Academy include from left (front row) Jessica Lu, Randolph High School, NJ; Christina Hum, Parsippany High School, NJ; Katelyn McCoy, Port Neches Groves High School, TX; Vannary Seng, Nasemond-Suffolk Academy, VA; Dhruv Kohli, Seneca Valley Senior High School, PA; Heather Davis, Nasemond River High School, VA; Rohith Vudatha, West Morris Central High School, NJ;

(second row) Gabriella Hummel, Fort Mill High School, SC; Daniela Cleary, Madison High School, NJ; Rachel Ryan, Anthony Wayne High School, OH; Kelley Fruge, Dutchtown High School, LA; Shreyes Joshi, The Academy for Math, Science and Engineering at Morris Hills High School, NJ; Michael Glatz, Seneca Valley Senior High School, PA;

(back row) Brian Gates, Dutchtown High School, LA; Matthew Bradshaw, Lakeland High School, VA; Hamza Shad, Mountain Lakes High School, NJ; Adam Herrmann, Anthony Wayne High School, OH; Sean Haughey, Madison High School, NJ; Mark Liotta, Chatham High School, NJ; Ryne Harrison, Leroy High School, AL.

http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/08-27-12_ScienceAcademyLocal.jpg    

Suggested caption: Seneca Valley High School students (from left) Dhruv Kohli and Michael Glatz attended the BASF Science Academy program for two weeks in New Jersey.

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.

Like the BASF Science Academy on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ScienceAcademyatBASF

 

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