Kids Lab puts real science into hands of young

However a new facility in Yorkshire is the first in the country to be designed to give hands on laboratory experience to pupils still in primary school.

The Kids Lab, which was officially launched by chemicals company BASF in Bradford yesterday, is already helping to get children from its neighbouring schools inspired by science.

Now the firm hope the laboratory, which is run by volunteers within the company, can benefit young people from around the region.

A BASF spokesman told the Yorkshire Post that health and safety concerns meant that the amount of work done in laboratories in secondary schools was limited.

The Kids Lab initiative aims to get children from as young as nine to work alongside professional scientists on fun experiments to get them interested in science as a subject for secondary school, university and a potential future career.

Bradford children have been conducting experiments melting and dissolving materials, testing the acidity of every day items and solving problems set for them.

Jackie Casagrande from BASF said: "We try to show the young people how science and chemistry is a part of their everyday life.

"From the water that comes out of their tap, to the shampoo they use or the bus that helped to bring them here."

Children from Marshfields Primary, in Bradford, visited the laboratory for the official launch yesterday.

Their science teacher Talwinder Bhambra said: "It was the first time they had been to the science lab and they absolutely loved it.

"For all of them it was the first chance they have had to do experiments in a proper laboratory and it shows science in a real context which has an impact on their lives.

"Science is a part of our school improvement plan and the Kids Lab means we can ensure they are making progress by learning in a practical situation."

BASF develops products for water treatment at its manufacturing site in Bradford and works with water providers and the oil and mining industry.

BASF's site communicator Joanne Love who helps to run the new facility said: "We show the young people how water can be treated and we look at leaking pipes and what materials can be used to provide the best sealant.

"We also measure the pH of different things and children can be surprised when they find that products like orange juice are not neutral.

"The emphasis is on getting young people interested in science, so that they think of it as a course to study at university or an area they can work in after school."

So far seven primary schools in Bradford have been working in the Kids Lab.

Rebecca Craddock, science co-ordinator at Low Moor Primary, in Bradford, said: "It has got the pupils really excited by science. This year we introduced something called the international primary curriculum which has seen us focus on a main topic in lessons rather than teaching different subjects at the same time.

"At the moment our year five pupils' topic is creating new materials.

"Previously we have sent our pupils in their final year to BASF but when we approached them to see if they could put something together for year fives they were really helpful.

"For children that age to work in a science laboratory is fantastic.

"The making new materials topic has got them very excited. We have been making rockets and fizz powder and we are looking forward to going to the laboratory."

Caroline Balaam, science co-ordinator at Hill Top Primary in Bradford, said pupils not only enjoyed the lab work but also being able to tour a chemicals plant to see scientists at work.

She said: "This is great for the children as they were able to put on safety helmets and goggles and the lab coats.

"They have done their own experiments and investigations and science is a subject that they find really interesting.

"Working in the laboratory shows them science is not just something they have to learn in school, it is something which they could do as a job once they leave," she added.

The launch event yesterday was also attended by Bradford South Labour MP Gerry Sutcliffe whose constituency includes the BASF plant.

Facility first of kind in britain

THE Kids Lab facility is the first of its kind in this country but builds on a tradition of working with schools which the company has developed both in Bradford and around the world.

The first BASF Kids Lab was set up by the firm in Germany in 1997 attracting 6,000 pupils every year to take part in scientific experiments and learn more about the chemical industries.

The approach has been rolled out across the world and the multi-national firm now runs Kids Labs in 15 different countries - including 12 in its Asia Pacific Region which has more than 20,000 young people taking part each year.

Although the facility has only just been launched in Bradford, the plant itself has a history of working with local schools. Before BASF took it over, the chemical firm CIBA had also provided science teaching to schools in the city from the site in the Low Moor area.

BASF says the Kids Lab scheme aims to raise interest in chemistry and allow young people to see that it provides "the basis of our lives".