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BASF and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum will create chemistry for the seventh year by offering Kids’ Lab classes to area schools and the community. The company fully funds the award-winning Kids’ Lab chemistry program providing hands-on science experiments to thousands of local students.
“BASF is dedicated to bringing hands-on science education to students in our area, especially at an early age,” said Tom Yura, BASF’s Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Geismar site. “Our goal is to introduce kids to the basics of chemistry through our Kids’ Lab program, which provides students the opportunity to explore the connections to chemistry in their world through the products they use daily. These experiments will lead them to an appreciation for science and possible interest in careers in the chemical industry.”
Support of the museum is part of the company’s ongoing effort to promote and enhance science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the region.
“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 10,000 fourth graders, more than 700 teachers, and 2,000 adult chaperones from Ascension, East Baton Rouge, and surrounding parishes have experienced hands-on chemistry at no cost through BASF Kids’ Lab at Louisiana Art & Science Museum. In addition, 7,300 weekend visitors from the general public have enjoyed these exciting instructor-led Kids’ Lab workshops that explore chemistry through safe, engaging experiments and interactive demonstrations. Each participant also received a backpack that includes a lab apron, safety glasses, mechanical pencil, graph notebook, and certificate of participation.
“Science can be overwhelming to some people,” says Art & Science Museum Interpreter for Science and Kids’ Lab Coordinator Nita Mitchell. “In addition to the resources they provide, BASF takes a hands-on approach with this program. They send engineers, chemists and many more employees to volunteer with the kids making sure they enjoy chemistry. Science is about making the world a better place, and these programs help make it very relevant and practical the concepts just come alive!”
BASF developed its global Kids’ Lab program to encourage children ages 6-12 to gain a better appreciation of and an interest in the dynamic world of chemistry.
In North America, BASF supports many programs that encourage students to pursue an interest in science and explore career possibilities in STEM related fields.
About Louisiana Art & Science Museum
A nonprofit organization housed on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Baton Rouge, the Louisiana Art & Science Museum (lasm.org) 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.
About BASF
BASF Corporation (basf.us), headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 17,500 employees in North America, and had sales of $16.2 billion in 2016.
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 114,000 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 about €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS).
Contact: Keith Dixon - Louisiana Art & Science Museum
P: +1 225-344-5272 x130 - E: kdixon[.]lasm.org.
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blythe.lamonica[.]basf.com 
