BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, together with the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Indonesia (FMIPA UI), helps children explore the wonders of chemistry in daily life at BASF Kids’ Lab on August 8-10, 2019.
Held at FMIPA UI campus in Depok, this is the first BASF Kids’ Lab in collaboration with a local university in Indonesia. “BASF Kids’ Lab allows children to explore chemistry in an interactive and enjoyable way, so that they can develop appreciation and interest in science, especially chemistry, from a young age,” said Agus Ciputra, President Director of BASF Indonesia.
“We are pleased to collaborate with the University of Indonesia to nurture children’s curiosity in science. This will prepare them to meet the rapid science and technology developments in Indonesia and around the world.”
Similarly, Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, Dean of FMIPA UI applauds the initiative to introduce science to young children using fun approach. This year, approximately 800 primary school students conduct simple, safe, and hands-on chemistry experiments under the guidance of UI lecturers and students, as well as BASF volunteers. The experiments include:
Red Cabbage Indicator
Children will discover fascinating chemical reactions when they mix different solutions with natural colorant extracted from red cabbage. Using everyday materials, they will learn how pH value plays a role in the determining color change.
Where is the Vitamin C?
Children will compare vitamin C content in different orange juices using iodine solution, beaker and pipettes. This teaches them that different fruit
juices may contain different concentrations of essential vitamin.
Paper Chromatography
Children will learn about a simple chromatographic process used to separate the components of a compound substance. As the water moves
up the paper filter, it takes the soluble dyestuff from the felt-tip pen and significantly change the color of the felt-tip pen into the color characteristic of it.
BASF Kids’ Lab is a free and interactive chemistry education program designed for children between 6 and 12 years old. Through simple and safe hands-on experiments, BASF Kids’ Lab helps children discover the world of chemistry to understand how chemistry is everywhere in our daily lives. Since its launch in 1997, the program has been brought to more than 30 countries and regions across the globe. In Indonesia, around 9,000 children have attended BASF Kids’ Lab since it was first introduced in 2005.