High School Students From Across the U.S. Explore Chemistry and Careers at the BASF Science Academy

FLORHAM PARK, NJ--(Marketwired - Jul 28, 2014) -  Twenty soon-to-be high school seniors previewed college life and learned advanced chemistry during the BASF Science Academy, a two week summer science program sponsored by BASF Corporation at the Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) College at Florham campus in Madison, New Jersey.

"The Science Academy aspires to develop the technology based workforce of the future by exposing students to practical business applications and potential careers in chemistry," said Robin Rotenberg, Vice President of Corporate Communications for BASF in North America.

"The partnership between business and academia is a successful model for helping students to understand the practical applications of what they are learning," said Amber Charlebois, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Fairleigh Dickinson University. "I am excited to be a part of the experiences and progress the students make during the intensive two week program."

The Science Academy targets students who will be high school seniors in the fall; who completed at least one year of high school chemistry and have a demonstrated record of academic excellence and a strong interest in the sciences.

Following the curriculum theme "From Molecules to Marketplace," students learn advanced level science from FDU professors and interact with BASF scientists and business leaders through lectures, hands-on lab experiments and field trips. In addition to basic scientific method, the students study polymerization, the chirality and analysis of chemical components, the properties of fragrances and colors, environmental science, product development, product marketing, and project management.

Working in teams, the students use BASF chemistry to formulate their own personal care products for which they developed business and marketing plans that they presented to a panel of BASF executives.

Students graduate from the program with two transferable college science credits to encourage their continuing pursuit of science education. In addition, FDU offered graduates $5,000 scholarships if they choose to attend FDU in the fall of 2015.

As an on-campus residential program, the Science Academy gives students a preview of college living. They use the university's classrooms, labs, dining hall, dorms and receive college-level instruction. BASF covers the full cost of the program, including student tuition and travel, and works with the FDU staff to develop the Science Academy course curriculum.