BASF extends commitment to STEM education through community partnerships with The Smith Family and Science Gallery Melbourne

• Budding future scientists will continue to be supported in their STEM education thanks to BASF’s community partnership program renewal
• BASF announces extension of sponsorship of Science Gallery Melbourne’s Mediator program until 2025
• BASF also extends support of The Smith Family to improve education, retention and achievement for disadvantaged students

Melbourne, Australia – 25 May 2023 – BASF Australia and New Zealand announces their continued support of STEM education for Australian youth through the extension of partnerships with, Science Gallery Melbourne and The Smith Family.

Science Gallery Melbourne is a permanent, multi-use gallery space located at the University of Melbourne’s ‘Melbourne Connect’ innovation precinct, dedicated to exploring the intersection between art and science through themed exhibitions to involve, inspire and transform curious minds. Recent exhibitions have focused on current themes important to young people, including mental health, technology, race, culture, waste management, sustainability, identity, group behaviour and societal expectations among many others.

Since 2018, BASF has been the sponsor of Science Gallery Melbourne’s Mediator program, which comprises of STEM and creative industry students, as well as recent graduates who become the public face of the gallery, responsible for guiding visitors and engaging them in discussion around the exhibitions with the intention of sparking curiosity and career pathways in STEM. This latest sponsorship will mark a three-year extension to BASF’s involvement in the Mediator program, up till 2025.

Dr. Ryan Jeffries, Director at Science Gallery Melbourne shares, “We are proud of our longstanding partnership with BASF. From the very inception of Science Gallery Melbourne, BASF have believed in our vision in sparking curiosity and inspiring young minds into STEM. The Mediator Program is an important part of this and has supported many students develop their science communication skills and build strong career pathways.”

BASF also penned an extension to their MOU with The Smith Family, a charitable organisation committed to delivering educational and support programs that respond to the needs of disadvantaged children, young people, families and communities.

Under this agreement, BASF will help fund two initiatives; the first one being the Learning for Life program which will provide financial support for up to 20 students to cover the costs of their education and access to The Smith Family’s range of evidence-based learning and mentoring support programs so that students can keep up with their peers. The other initiative funded by BASF is Girls at the Centre, which encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in Years 7 to 9 to stay at school and boost their educational achievements through a range of cultural and social activities. This MOU would also be for three years, until October 2025.

Doug Taylor, CEO of The Smith Family said BASF had donated more than AUD 760,000 to support children and young people living with disadvantage since 2004, saying “BASF has been a long-time, generous supporter and corporate partner of The Smith Family. Over the coming three years BASF will contribute a further AUD 33,000 annually to help support students in our Learning for Life program, and our Indigenous program Girls at the Centre. It’s this type of engagement that allows us to empower children and young people to create brighter futures for themselves.”

David Hawkins, Managing Director and Chair of BASF Australia and New Zealand shares, “BASF has always been committed to sparking an appreciation for science in youth and we’re very excited to continue working with our partners to inspire students from different backgrounds and stages of their STEM journey. After having experienced firsthand, the positive impact that we’ve been able to make together with our partners, I’m looking forward to continuing our collaboration with both Science Gallery and The Smith Family, in making a difference to the lives of youth through STEM education.”

In addition to these partnerships, BASF also leads Kids’ Lab events, a wholly BASF-owned platform that provides primary school children from Grade 4 - 6 the chance to be scientists for a day, by introducing them to STEM topics through simple but fun science experiments.

About BASF in Australia and New Zealand

BASF serves key industries in the agriculture, coatings, manufacturing and mining sectors, and posted sales of about €492 million in Australia and New Zealand in 2022. As of the end of 2022, the company had 374 employees and operated 6 production sites across Agricultural Solutions, performance products and functional materials and solutions. BASF has been active in Australia for over 100 years, and about 60 years in New Zealand. Further information is available on www.basf.com/au and www.basf.com/nz.

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €87.3 billion in 2022. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.