By Team Mangalorean

Mangalore : BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, organized an inter-school essay competition in the city as part of its ongoing  initatives to celebrate the Year of Germany in India. 

Aiming to generate greater interest in chemistry amongst students, the competition attracted over 100 participants, who are in Class VI and VII from across 25 public and private schools in and around Mangalore city.
 
Participants gathered at the factory of BASF Mangalore and contributed their essays on a chemistry topic, which was announced on the spot. The competition commenced with a brief introduction on the topic, followed by 30 minutes of preparation time for the participants. Thereafter, students presented  their essays in English or Kannada within an hour.
 

Chairman, BASF Companies in India and head South Asia Prasad Chandran, speaking on the occasion said, “BASF strives to inspire children’s dynamic thinking by introducing various initiatives that promote the concept of sustainable development.  We continue to organize Kids' Lab every year because we want to introduce more children to topics related to innovations and sustainability, thus enhancing their interest in chemistry."

He further said, "Through participating in the inter-school essay competition, children are encouraged to question, think and analyze various scientific innovations around them.  By showing them the role chemistry plays in our day to day lives, they understand the countless ways we contribute to their quality of life”.
 
A panel of judges were to select three best entries from both groups out of all the English and Kannada entries received. Winners will be rewarded in a special function during the Bangalore stop of the Indo-German Urban Mela.

In addition to the prizes, winners will be presented a unique opportunity to visit and participate in BASF Kids’ Lab, a hands-on chemistry lab, set up at the BASF pavilion in Bangalore. All the participants in the contest will be awarded with a certificate of participation.

As an official partner to the event, BASF has one of the largest and most prominent pavilions that will exhibit the company’s innovations from across the globe in the areas of mobility, health and nutrition and construction. BASF Kids’ Lab, the company’s signature chemistry education programme, popular amongst the youth is also featuring at the pavilion and includes water-related experiments among others.

United Nations has declared the period 2005-2014 as the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD). The initiative is aimed at integrating the values, principles and practices of sustainable development into all aspects of education and learning, in order to address the social, economic, cultural and environmental problems that the current and future generations will face. BASF, as the world’s leading chemical company is undertaking a series of educative and interactive activities globally to promote and create awareness on the role of chemistry in shaping the future.