600 students and underprivileged children learn about role of chemistry in conserving water at BASF Kids’ Lab 2017

BASF brings interactive education program to Vietnamese kids for seventh consecutive year 

School children learn about the critical role of water saving through fun experiments

Celebrating 20th anniversary of BASF Kids’ Lab worldwide
 

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – November 24, 2017 – For the seventh consecutive year, BASF and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education & Training are co-hosting BASF Kids’ Lab at District 10 Children’s Palace. On November 24 and 25, almost 600 children in Ho Chi Minh City will participate in this interactive education program to learn about how chemistry helps conserve water, a vital element in daily life. 

Primary students doing experiments to learn about what water means to our daily life

Participants include primary students from Trần Danh Lâm and Âu Dương Lân Primary Schools in District 8, Trương Định and Trần Văn Kiểu Schools in District 10, and Lạc Long Quân, Phùng Hưng schools in District 11. The program is also offered to children of BASF employees and customers, as well as needy children from District 8 Orphanage and Lucky House Social Welfare Center, Bình Tân District. 

Guided by BASF employees and university student volunteers, the children conducted two hands-on experiments relating to water. 

Water storage experiment

This experiment teaches students how a chemical compound, called superabsorbent polymer, can absorb water and offer a wide variety of applications in daily life, including baby diapers. 

Water purification experiment

Primary students doing experiments to learn about what water means to our daily life

In this experiment, students learned how dirty water is purified and turned into clean water by using activated charcoal. The experiment underscores the value of clean drinking water and the importance of purifying wastewater from houses and factories, to be recycled and reused before it flows back into the rivers and lakes. 

Students writing their answer to take part a quiz to test their knowledge on the role of water
 

“Access to clean water is a pressing issue in many areas of the world. Solving this problem requires a concerted effort from many different stakeholders, and education plays a crucial role. By introducing these two water experiments, we aim to raise awareness of the urgency of water conservation among the next generation at an early age. Children will also understand how chemistry plays a role in contributing to a sustainable future,” said Tanachart Ralsiripong, Managing Director, BASF Vietnam. 
 

BASF Kids’ Lab, the company’s long standing social engagement program, is designed to help children learn from an early age about how chemistry can improve quality of life and conserve natural resources. Originated from BASF’s headquarters in Ludwigshafen, Germany in 1997, BASF Kids’ Lab has been brought to more than 40 countries around the globe. As of 2017, the program has reached out to over 3,500 Vietnamese students thanks to support of the Primary Education Unit (HCMC Department of Education & Training).
 

“To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Kids’ Lab worldwide in a meaningful way, we are extending this unique experience to a group of underprivileged children, to inspire them to continue their science education and lifelong learning, and prepare them for future success,” Ralsiripong added.

Volunteers from universities taking group photos with the children

Note to Editor: 

A dedicated Facebook page has been set up for participants and interested parties to share photos and comments: BASF Kids’ Lab Asia Pacific Facebook.
 

About BASF Kids’ Lab

Education is the key to the future of our children, and it plays an important role in the development of society. With our Social Engagement Strategy, we want to open up learning opportunities and to encourage children's sense of discovery and teach good science methods and skills. This helps us to meet the challenges of tomorrow and to create a sustainable future. The BASF Kids’ Lab program is an interactive, fun and free chemistry education program designed for kids aged 6 to 12 years to discover the world of chemistry through simple and safe hands on experiments. The program has been brought to more than 40 countries across the globe, including China, the U.K., the U.S., Australia, Singapore, India and Japan. It was established in 1997 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

About BASF Vietnam

BASF has been active in Vietnam since the establishment of its representative office in 1994. BASF Vietnam Limited was set up in 2009 and the company operates two production sites for construction chemicals. BASF Vietnam also maintains three sales offices in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Danang. It provides a wide range of products, including plastics, petrochemicals, construction chemicals, fine chemicals, performance chemicals, paper chemicals, and crop protection. BASF sales to customers in Vietnam were approximately €245 million in 2016. BASF employed 142 people in Vietnam as of the end of 2016. Further information on BASF in Vietnam is available at www.basf.com/vn. 

About BASF

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 more than €58 billion in 2016. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (BAS). Further information at www.basf.com .