BASF donates science experiment kits to kids in Ulsan, Yeosu and Daejeon

• BASF provides teaching support amid COVID-19, with science kits and online program content
• Aimed to foster future scientists through fun and interactive science experiments, the kits are aligned with the school curriculum

Seoul Korea – November 17, 2020 – BASF Korea has developed and contributed science experiment kits and online programs as part of its BASF Kids’ Lab outreach, to support young scientists in Yeosu, Ulsan and Daejeon, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 2,000 kits were donated to elementary school children during a donation ceremony at Yeosu City Hall, on November 16. Oh-Bong Kwon, Mayor of Yeosu city, Young-Yull Kim, Representative Director of BASF Korea, Un-Sin Lee, BASF Korea Yeosu site Manager, and Jong-Sik Park Principal of Sangam Elementary school in Yeosu attended the ceremony.

Aligned with the elementary school curriculum, the BASF Kids’ Lab science kit includes three experiments: the ”dirty water change” that shows mixture separation and water purification, the ‘lava lamp’, allows children to observe the weight and density of substances, and the ”hydrogen fuel battery”, which demonstrates water electrolysis. The kit can be used for educational purposes under the supervision of teachers, and the online programs can be accessed using QR codes included in the kits. The science kits will be distributed to elementary school and child welfare centers in Ulsan, Yeosu and Daejeon.

“We are grateful to BASF for their continuous contributions to the local society in fostering future young scientists,” said Oh-Bong Kwon, Mayor of Yeosu. “We are delighted to provide a fun and interactive way for the children to experience science amid these unprecedented times. This is a meaningful contribution in that we plan to deliver the kits to children in isolated areas, who have limited access to education.”

“Although we are not able to host BASF Kids’ Lab  this year due to the pandemic, we are still able to provide a fun science experience for children with contactless methods,” said Young-Yull Kim, Representative Director of BASF Korea. “BASF Kids’ Lab has been hosted for more than 20 years in Korea. It represents our commitment to grow alongside society, and we will continuously work to strengthen our corporate social responsibilities.”

As a key part of BASF’s social engagement activities focus on science education, BASF Kids’ Lab was first established in 1997 in Germany. It takes place annually in more than 30 countries around the world, with the aim to raise children’s interest in chemistry. This year, BASF Korea has developed science experiment kits and online programs to bring a safe, contactless educational experience for the children, as opposed to the physical events held across the country in the past. This initiative is in addition to the ‘Virtual Kids’ Lab’ which was launched in Korea in 2017 in celebration of the 20-year anniversary of BASF Kids’ Lab in Korea.

About BASF in Korea

BASF has been a committed partner to Korea since 1954. As a leading foreign investor in the chemical industry in Korea, BASF operates eight world-scale production sites in the country. The company also maintains the regional headquarters of its Electronic Materials business and the Electronic Materials R&D Center Asia Pacific in Suwon. In addition, three technical development centers are located across Korea. In 2019, BASF posted sales of approximately €1.3 billion to customers in Korea, and employed 1,142 employees as of the end of the year. Further information is available on the Internet at www.basf.com/kr.  

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 117,000 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 six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.