Baton Rouge and Geismar, Louisiana, USA
March 28,2016
BASF and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum will “create chemistry” for the sixth year by offering BASF Kids’ Lab classes to area schools and the community. As in years past, BASF will fund the award-winning chemistry program and presenting new hands-on experiments throughout 2016.
“BASF is dedicated to science education, especially at an early age,” said Tom Yura, Senior Vice President and Manager of the BASF site in Geismar. “Our goal is to introduce kids to the basics of chemistry through hands-on learning. Kids’ Lab provides students the opportunity to explore the connections to chemistry in their world through the products they use daily. Our hope is these experiments lead to an appreciation for science and possible interest in STEM-related careers.”
The BASF Kids’ Lab program enhances science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related education for students ages 6 – 12 creating fun with chemistry and encouraging kids to explore the connections between chemistry and the world around them.
“BASF has supported the Art & Science Museum in many ways, from sponsoring our First Sunday free programs for the public, to showcasing experiments at our annual Engineering Day,” said Carol Gikas, Executive Director of Louisiana Art & Science Museum. “But the Kids’ Lab initiative is truly where BASF shines.”
Since fall 2011, nearly 8,000 fourth graders experimented with hands-on chemistry at no cost through BASF Kids' Lab at the museum. In addition, nearly 6,000 weekend visitors enjoyed these exciting instructor-led workshops. Each participant also receives a backpack that includes a lab apron, safety glasses, mechanical pencil, graph notebook, and certificate of participation.
“By combining the resources and subject matter expertise of BASF and the fun, informal learning environment of the museum, we see whole families take interest in STEM,” said Gikas. “Studies about preparing our future workforce for STEM careers confirm what Louisiana Art & Science Museum and BASF have already witnessed – schools cannot do it alone. It takes communities, families and good corporate citizens to cultivate a culture for the love of life-long learning.”
In North America, BASF supports numerous programs that encourage students to pursue an interest in science and explore career possibilities in STEM related fields. Today, more than 90,000 students have participated in the award-winning BASF Kids’ Lab programs throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Housed on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum enhances the understanding and appreciation of art and science for general audiences and students by presenting unique, educational and entertaining experiences that encourage discovery, inspire creativity, and foster the pursuit of knowledge. More information on Louisiana Art & Science Museum is available on the Internet at www.lasm.org.
About BASF
BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.4 billion in 2015. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.
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.
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