MADISON, NJ (08/15/2013)(readMedia)--  Aneesh Patankar of Mine Hill, New Jersey, attended 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. Each year, the program accepts twenty soon-to-be high school seniors for an advanced science program that provides a preview of college life and an opportunity to learn advanced chemistry.

"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 was excited to be a part of the experiences and progress the students made 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 used 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 graduated 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 2014.

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

Former graduates from the program – which started in 2011 – have gone on to pursue their science studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Cornell University, Rice University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Lamar University and University of Alabama among others.

Graduates of the Science Academy Class of 2013 are listed below.

• Nisha Patel, Madison, Alabama

• Hira Hasan, Geismar, Louisiana

• Michelle West, Geismar, Louisiana

• Shay Bue, Palmyra, Missouri

• Delecia Utley, Durham, North Carolina

• Aisha Bosula, Flanders, New Jersey

• Jason Casar, Basking Ridge, New Jersey

• Abraham Gertler, Madison, New Jersey

• Lisa Hu, Cedar Knolls, New Jersey

• Sara Ng, Morris Plains, New Jersey

• Aneesh Patankar, Mine Hill, New Jersey

• Dominick Sarappa, Rockaway, New Jersey

• Gregory Struble, Whippany, New Jersey

• Michael Wang, Boonton, New Jersey

• Elise Zhou, Denville, New Jersey

• Angela Mauri, White Plains, New York

• Paul Schaffer, Whitehouse, Ohio

• Ghitte Neethling, Fort Mill, South Carolina

• Alexandra Elias, Beaumont, Texas

• Nicoles Williams, Suffolk, Virginia

PRESS PHOTO:

http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/08-15-13_ScienceAcademy1.jpg

Suggested caption: Participants in the 2013 BASF Science Academy are front row, from left, Hira Hasan, Dutchtown High School, Louisiana; Sara Ng, The Academy for Math, Science and Engineering at Morris Hills High School, New Jersey; Shay Bue, Palmyra High School, Missouri; Alexandra Elias, Clifton J. Ozen High School, Texas; Jason Casar, Ridge High School, New Jersey; and Angela Mauri, Hackley School, York. Middle row, from left, are Lisa Hu, Whippany Park High School, New Jersey; Elise Zhou, Parsippany Hills High School, New Jersey; Michelle West, Dutchtown High School, Louisiana; Aisha Bosula, Mount Olive High School, New Jersey; Nisha Patel, Bob Jones High School, Alabama; Delecia Utley, Hillside High School, North Carolina; and Ghitte Neethling, Fort Mill High School, South Carolina. Back row, from left, are Nicoles Williams, Kings Fork High School, Virginia; Aneesh Patankar, The Academy for Math, Science and Engineering at Morris Hills High School, New Jersey; Paul Schaffer, Anthony Wayne High School, Ohio; Michael Wang, Mountain Lakes High School, New Jersey; Abraham Gertler, Madison High School, New Jersey; Gregory Struble, Whippany Park High School, New Jersey; and Dominick Sarappa, Morris Hills High School, New Jersey.