BASF SE : BASF Brings Kids’ Lab to Freeport Elementary Schools

BASF partners with the Children's Museum of Houston for a three-day event at O.A. Fleming, Velasco and Jane Long Elementary Schools

FREEPORT, TX & FLORHAM PARK, NJ, January 23, 2012 - BASF recently partnered with the Children's Museum of Houston (CMH) to sponsor its popular Kids' Lab program in three Freeport elementary schools, working in conjunction with Brazosport Independent School District (BISD). BASF's Kids' Lab is a global science literacy program through which the company helps children, ages 6-12, explore science concepts and understand the role that chemistry plays in the world around them.

The labs consist of several instructor-led hands on experiments, which use BASF products to teach children about science while they are engaged in the fun activity. Instructors from the museum led the class as each student made their own batch of slime, which introduced the concepts of thickening agents and polymers. Kendolyn Cooper, CMH instructor, commented on the opportunity to teach the students about chemistry and how much fun science can be. "I really enjoyed teaching the students how to make slime," said Cooper. "Watching their faces light up and their enthusiasm surge was very exciting."

"BASF's Kids' Lab is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn more about science and chemistry", said Sheree Speir, BISD Facilitator of Science,. "The students were engaged and loving it!"

"BASF is very pleased to offer this program to BISD and to be able to partner with the Children's Museum," said Leslie Thomson, Sr.Communications Specialist at BASF. "Kids' Lab provides the opportunity to educate children while entertaining them. At BASF, we know how important it is to get children more interested in the field of science, particularly chemistry. With Kids' Lab, children are able to share in the excitement of creating chemistry, something our employees do every day."

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Students in Ms. Randon's fourth grade class at Velasco Elementary School in Freeport were among more than 240 students who participated in the BASF-sponsored Kids' Lab program run by the Children's Museum of Houston.

Children's Museum of Houston

America's No. 1 Children's Museum" by Parents Magazine, winner of Nickelodeon Parents' Picks "Best Museum in Houston 2009 & 2010," Click2Houston's "Best Museum 2010," the Children's Museum of Houston is a Citysearch.com's nationwide 5-star children's museum. It is dedicated to transforming communities through innovative, child-centered learning with a vision to spark a passion for lifelong learning in all children.  Founded in 1980 and housed in a whimsical building designed by internationally acclaimed architect Robert Venturi, the Children's Museum of Houston offers a multitude of innovative

exhibits and bilingual learning programs for kids ages birth to 12 years. The Museum serves more than 1,100,000 people annually and operates as a 501(c)(3) under the direction of a Board of Directors.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has approximately 16,400 employees in North America, and had sales of $17.7 billion in 2010. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit .

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products, and agricultural products to oil and gas. As a reliable partner, BASF creates chemistry to help its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility.BASF posted sales of more than €63.9 billion in 2010 and had approximately 109,000employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at .