BUSINESS: 532 PRACTICES
At BASF, we create chemistry – and have been doing so for 150 years. Our portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas.
Read more: www.basf.gr
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.
After two decades of Kids' Labs, the company's educational commitment is centered now more than ever on "research & discovery." And in line with BASF's new global corporate citizenship strategy, the success of the company's social activities is assessed more emphatically than before in terms of their impact. All this has been addressed in the development of the "Clever Foodies" concept.
kids aged 8 to 12 years
In Greece, BASF Hellas S.A. launched the program in 2017. It will continue in 2018, with a plan to be continued in 2019.
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 30 countries across the globe, including the U.K., the U.S., Australia, Singapore, India and Japan. It was established in 1997 in Ludwigshafen, Germany, and celebrated its 20th anniversary last year.
To mark the anniversary, BASF has come up with a new experimentation program called "Clever Foodies." The 90-minute workshop is scheduled for rollout in more than 30 countries around the world and is about a topic that concerns us all: healthy nutrition. Pitched at young researchers aged 8 to 12, the underlying question is: why are fruits and vegetables colorful and healthy?
The new program uses modern educational methods to teach about healthy nutrition.We provide a fun environment for independent experimenting that's designed to enable the kids to learn nutrition facts hands-on and encourages them to make a positive difference to their eating habits. In three exciting experiments, children investigate dietary components and learn methods to analyze these substances.
After two decades of Kids' Labs, the company's educational commitment is centered now more than ever on "research & discovery." And in line with BASF's new global corporate citizenship strategy, the success of the company's social activities is assessed more emphatically than before in terms of their impact. All this has been addressed in the development of the "Clever Foodies" concept. Close tie-ins with experiments in the Virtual Lab (the company's online lab for children, www.basf.de/virtual_lab), an Experimentation Diploma with experimentation tips for all the family, and background information for teachers with classroom tips all go to create a stronger and more sustainable impact.
Approximately 1900 kids participated in 92 workshops in 2017 and 2018.
National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSR “Demokritos”)
For the Kids’ Lab program, BASF Hellas S.A. cooperates with the National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” (NCSR “Demokritos”). The program is incorporated in the educational program of NCSR “Demokritos” and it is brought for the first time in Greece for primary school 5th and 6th grade students. Kids have the opportunity to visit the laboratories of “Demokritos”, where, in a room specially set up for Kids’ Lab, they discover the magical world of chemistry. In a parallel workshop, the kids participate in an interactive and fun educational session “Discovering Science”, specially designed by “Demokritos”, where they get acquainted with the basic notions of biology as well as other sciences.
Education is an important part of our social engagement strategy. It is the key to personal success for all, and to the ability of our society to face the challenges of the future.
Hence, our Kids’ Labs are a social engagement activity first and foremost. Our long-term commitment ensures the credibility and sustainability of this educational program.
