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BASF Continues Sponsorship of The Science of Survival; Exhibit Set for North American Debut

Posted on: Wednesday, 15 October 2008, 09:00 CDT

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Oct. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Science of Survival, proudly sponsored globally by BASF, is a new, hands-on, family exhibition, which uses the latest environmental research to challenge visitors to create their own sustainable city of 2050. The exhibition highlights possible ways of changing and adapting how we live to ensure that we will be able to survive in 2050. The Science of Survival will make its North American debut at the Liberty Science Center, located in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, New Jersey, from Oct. 18, 2008 through Feb. 22, 2009, before continuing to tour internationally.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081015/NY38944 )

Through interactive exhibits, innovative technologies, and video, visitors will experience how major future trends in mobility, energy and resources, housing and construction and nutrition and health could impact tomorrow's daily life and what technologies and innovative solutions are already in the pipeline today that could bring about these changes.

"At BASF, we are driving the discoveries and innovations that will help power, feed and move future generations," said Kurt Bock, Chairman and CEO of BASF Corporation. "In a fun and engaging way, the Science of Survival puts these challenges and possible solutions into perspective for tomorrow's leaders, scientists and citizens. We are pleased to join with the Liberty Science Center to bring this worthy educational initiative to our neighbors in the Garden State."

The exhibition invites visitors to explore new ways of finding water and creating new super foods, designing vehicles and building new homes and gardens for the year 2050. It reveals how our lifestyles and leisure activities affect the world's environment. Each visitor's choices, designs and creations are stored using their Survival card as they progress through the exhibition until, finally, their own neighborhood of 2050 rises from the ground and combines with the communities created by other exhibition visitors to form an entire city of 2050.

BASF is not only contributing through sponsorship, but has also provided exhibits demonstrating solutions for the future. The exhibition is divided into seven areas: Briefing, Drinking, Eating, Enjoying, Moving, Building and Future City. Innovative products and solutions from BASF can be found in the different areas of The Science of Survival including:

Micronal PCM in the exhibition's Building area -- Working in the construction industry, BASF researchers have developed an innovative material called Micronal PCM (Phase Change Material) that, when incorporated in plaster, wall board insulation, cementious and other various construction materials, acts to store and release latent heat to reduce indoor temperature swings maintaining a more comfortable indoor climate. Micronal PCM has the consistency of white granulated table sugar, but is made up of small durable acrylic capsules with a wax core. As the temperature rises the wax core absorbs heat and melts. When the room temperature falls, the wax solidifies and the heat transfers back into the room. In this way the temperature increase in the room is moderated and the need for cooling energy can be significantly reduced depending on the climate, building and structure.

Fungal disease resistant potato exhibited in the Eating area -- In this case, BASF researchers have transferred genes from a Latin American wild potato to a cultivated potato, with the result that it is now resistant to the potato disease late blight. Every year, late blight causes harvest losses of approximately 20 percent. BASF Plant Science expects the new potato will be launched on the market in about seven years.

The fuel cell in the Moving area -- BASF Fuel Cell GmbH is working on the technology of the future in the form of fuel cells, specifically focusing on MEAs (membrane electrode units). The MEA is the core of a fuel cell. This is where the chemical reactions that produce energy from the hydrogen -- i.e. the fuel --- take place. A fuel cell is like a small chemical factory that converts hydrogen and oxygen into water (vapor). This produces power and heat. Besides their environmental compatibility, fuel cells are also extremely efficient; laptops can run up to five times longer than with conventional lithium-ion batteries.

The Science of Survival appeals strongly to families, but visitors of all ages will find something to interest them within the exhibition. The exhibit, currently showing at the Science Museum in London, is expected to visit twenty venues at science centers and museums around the globe during its five-year run.

The Science of Survival was devised by the "The Science of...", a partnership between The Science Museum, London and Fleming Media of the UK. For the duration of the exhibition's tour, The Science of Survival is sponsored by three global organizations: HSBC, Nissan and BASF. More than four million visitors are expected over the course of the exhibition's tour. The previous exhibitions, The Science of Aliens and The Science of Spying, which are still touring the globe, have received resounding accolades especially for their innovative and creative approach. More information on the exhibition can be found at http://www.scienceof.com/survival.

BASF - The Chemical Company. We don't make a lot of the products you buy. We make a lot of the products you buy better.(R)

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 15,000 employees in North America, and had sales of approximately $16.4 billion in 2007. For more information about BASF's North American operations, or to sign up to receive news releases by e-mail, visit http://www.basf.com/usa.

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from oil and gas to chemicals, plastics, performance products, agricultural products and fine chemicals. As a reliable partner, BASF helps its customers in virtually all industries to be more successful. With its high-value products and intelligent solutions, BASF plays an important role in finding answers to global challenges, such as climate protection, energy efficiency, nutrition and mobility. BASF has more than 95,000 employees and posted sales of almost euro 58 billion in 2007. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at http://www.basf.com/.

About The Science of...

"The Science of..." is an exhibition and communications company, founded by a partnership between the Science Museum London and Fleming Media. Conceived to take popular science to a global audience, The Science of... produces exhibitions, publications, TV and online projects -- all focused on bringing to life the impact of science and technology in everyone's lives. This is the third exhibition in The Science of... series, following The Science of Aliens and The Science of Spying, now touring through North America and Asia. "The Science of wants you to explore, play and learn through participating in a new, vibrant world of science." http://www.scienceof.com/

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081015/NY38944AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/http://photoarchive.ap.org/AP PhotoExpress Network: ADD PRN#AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN4PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

BASF Corporation

CONTACT: Daniel Pepitone for BASF Corporation, +1-973-245-7168,Daniel.pepitone@basf.com

Web Site: http://www.basf.com/usahttp://www.scienceof.com/survival

Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall

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