Company Announcement - German chemical company, BASF, who in 2015 is celebrating its 150 anniversary year, will once again host its highly successful Kids’ Lab workshops at this year’s National Science Festival in Grahamstown from 18 to 24 March. 

Following the success of its Kids’ Labs workshops over the past two years at SciFest - firstly being recognised with the “Best Newcomer Exhibition” award in 2013 and winner the “Exhibitor of the Year” award in 2014 - BASF will once again present young learners with the excitement of hands-on chemistry experiments. 

Throughout its 150 anniversary year, BASF, under the strategic corporate purpose of “We create chemistry for a sustainable future” is focusing on the three major topics of energy, food and urban living and, in particular, the sustainability of our planet. A key component of these focus areas is developing conversations across the globe with all stakeholders, and particularly members of the scientific community.  Explains Joan-Maria Garcia-Girona, Vice-President and head of BASF in South Africa & Sub-Sahara: “From its early beginnings, BASF has always had an innovative and collaborative culture and, to this day, continues to work closely with university researchers, scientists and chemists who have provided the cornerstones for our research,” he said.  “With BASF being a science and research-based company, one of the critical factors for our continued success for the next 150 years and beyond, is supporting the development of the next generations of scientists.  Through initiatives such as Kids’ Lab, BASF continues to foster young people’s interest in natural sciences, especially chemistry, and this year’s Scifest Africa, which celebrates the International Year of Light, is the ideal platform to achieve this goal.”

The Kids’ Lab is aimed at learners between the ages of 8 and 14. It enables young people to gain a better understanding of chemistry, and encourages them to find out more about the world around them. All of this is done in a fun and practical learning environment for both the learners and facilitators. Through participation in a variety of water-themed experiments, learners are given the opportunity to explore the magic of chemistry in the world around us.

They are given the opportunity to conduct their own experiments on water purification and  water storage, directed by picture guides and supervised by the BASF facilitators. Kids’ Lab also encourages learners to recognise the importance of water to the survival of the world, emphasizing that:

• Chemistry plays a key role in life;
• Chemistry offers interesting and challenging problems;
• “Doing” chemistry is fun;
• Water is a critical and valuable resource; and
• Chemistry facilitates the responsible handling of water.

During 2014, SciFest Africa welcomed 68 000 visitors, offered 80 exhibitions and 606 events from participating organisations from 12 countries.