Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools Sept/Oct 2015 | Page 17
Student explores chemistry, business at BASF Science Academy
A Union County high school student took a peek into his possible future earlier this month while
attending a summer science program in Madison, New Jersey.
Nicholas Mitchell of Marvin Ridge High School joined students from across the United States,
Canada and Central America for a preview of college and the business of chemistry during the fifth
annual BASF Science Academy.
The two-week summer program, developed by BASF Corporation, was held at Fairleigh
Dickinson University (FDU).
Merritt Sink, site manager for BASF in Charlotte, said the science academy attempts to
develop the technology-based workforce of the future by exposing students to practical business
applications and potential careers in chemistry.
“This is especially important to BASF since we are celebrating our 150th Anniversary this year,”
Sink said.
The science academy targets rising seniors who have demonstrated a record of academic
excellence with at least one year of high school chemistry and a strong interest in pursuing a
degree in science.
“I have to physically do something with my hands to feel like I am helping others,” Mitchell
said. “My favorite part of the science academy was taking water samples at Loantaka Brook
and physically collecting the data. I would like to do field research in the future to try and solve
environmental issues that we will face.”
Working in teams, the students used BASF chemistry to formulate their own personal care
products for which they developed a marketing plan and presented it to a panel of BASF executives
and FDU academic leaders.
Students graduate from the program with two transferable college science credits in an effort to
encourage their pursuit of science education.
In addition, FDU offers graduates a $5,000 scholarship if they choose to attend FDU in the fall
of 2016.
BASF covers the full cost of the program, including student tuition and travel while working with
academy curriculum.
As a graduate of the 2015 BASF
Science Academy, Nicholas Mitchell of
Marvin Ridge High School, explored
the connections between business and
advanced science at Farleigh Dickinson
University in New Jersey.
the FDU staff to develop the science
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Parent Teacher Magazine • Sept/Oct 2015 • 15