Teens’ Lab brings chemistry to life for 20 area students
BASF and the University of South Alabama stir up excitement for college and career opportunities in chemical manufacturing
MCINTOSH, AL, May 15, 2018 – Twenty high school juniors in Washington County attended BASF’s Teens’ Lab – a two-day program hosted at the University of South Alabama in Mobile – geared towards high school students connecting classroom work with modern day careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“Teens’ Lab is a workforce development initiative that provides a pipeline of talent for our industry,” said Jason Slinkard, Site Director for BASF in McIntosh. “Through this joint effort with the University of South Alabama, BASF is providing scholarship and internship opportunities in the chemical manufacturing industry for local students.”
On the first day, students and their parents learned about the college application and scholarship process, toured BASF laboratory facilities, and networked with BASF professionals who provided advice and answers on school and career choices.
“I always wanted to be a nurse,” said Sarah Bailey, Leroy High School. “The experience with Teens’ Lab has made me think about exploring different options. I love being in the lab and working with other people to figure things out.”
The next day’s activities consisted of Teens’ Lab participants working alongside graduate students to investigate characteristic material properties and identifying substances by chemical and physical investigational methods.
“Our collaboration with BASF provides an opportunity to connect with some bright high school students through a common interest in chemistry,” said Dr. Christy Wheeler West, Associate Professor of the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Department at USA. The program exposes the students to potential careers in chemistry and chemical engineering and offers a sense of how to get started on that path through a college education."
The Washington County school district identified the Teens’ Lab participants. High school juniors currently enrolled in chemistry, or those who have taken chemistry, were eligible to participate.
Students who complete the Teens’ Lab program are eligible for a University of South Alabama scholarship and a summer internship at the BASF facility in McIntosh, Alabama.
For more information about careers at BASF, visit www.basf.us/alabama.
For a press photo, please click on the following link:
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2018/05/05-15-18_teenslab1.jpg
Suggested caption: Twenty high school juniors in Washington County, Alabama, participate in BASF’s Teens’ Lab at the University of South Alabama.
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2018/05/05-15-18_teenslab2.jpg
Suggested caption: Participants in BASF’s Teens’ Lab investigate material properties and identify substances by chemical and physical methods.
https://www.basf.com/press-photos/us/en/photos/2018/05/05-15-18_teenslab3.jpg
Suggested caption: BASF collaborates with the University of South Alabama to show students how chemistry and careers are created in the Teens’ Lab program
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 18,200 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.9 billion in 2017. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The more than 115,000 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 €64.5 billion in 2017. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com.
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