BASF Virtual Lab helps local students conduct chemical experiments

HCMC – German multinational chemical company BASF has introduced three additional chemistry experiments in Vietnamese at its BASF Virtual Lab (http://thinghiemvui.basf.com), an online platform that allows children to perform a variety of interactive chemistry experiments.

The three newly launched experiments comprise “Plastic Pros,” “Sweet Bread,” and “Rust protection for food.”

Through the “Plastic Pro” experiment, children can learn about the different properties of plastics and how they can be used to segregate plastic waste, which is one of the major steps in the recycling process, according to BASF. They can also learn about the benefits of plastics in daily life and why responsible use of plastics matters, it added.

The “Sweet Bread” experiment is meant to help children learn about enzymatic degradation as well as various nutrients contained in daily food, the company informed.

Meanwhile, the “Rust protection for food” experiment aims to explain how ascorbic acid or Vitamin C, a common substance found in fruits and vegetables, can help preserve food and keep people healthy owing to its antioxidant properties.

Up to now, BASF has launched 10 virtual experiments for Vietnamese primary students. In partnership with the HCMC Department of Education and Training, BASF hosted a training workshop for teachers and students from Tan Hung Primary School in District 7 to familiarize them with the experiments and learn about the application of chemistry in their daily lives.

The company said it also donated 20 computer sets to help the teachers and more than 700 students gain access to computer science and technology.

“In partnership with the HCMC Department of Education and Training, we have introduced BASF Virtual Lab to Vietnamese students since 2018 as part of our education program ‘BASF Kids’ Lab,’ active in the country since 2011. Today, we are very pleased, that a total of 10 online experiments in the Vietnamese language have been offered to the country’s next-generation, which will help them develop their passion for chemistry,” said Erick Contreras, managing director of BASF Vietnam.

BASF Virtual Lab, an extension of BASF’s global hands-on chemistry education program Kids’ Lab, provides a wide range of interactive experiments online. The experiments allow children to apply the principles of chemistry anytime and anywhere by playing the role of researchers and conducting experiments in a virtual laboratory, the company said.