“Science is here, and we want to share it,” said Prof. Jarosław Bosy, Director of Łukasiewicz – PORT, welcoming the international delegation of BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions. Members of BASF’s regional boards visited Wrocław to see firsthand how the BASF ECMS Academy educational program is implemented on site. The program has been jointly run for a year by Łukasiewicz – PORT and BASF’s plant in Środa Śląska.
To date, 323 students have taken part in free workshops at Łukasiewicz – PORT, where they learned how automotive catalysts work and prepared catalyst samples themselves in the institute’s laboratories.
“Thanks to our collaboration with BASF, children learn in a modern and engaging way. They come back to take part in more classes and continue exploring the world of science,” notes Marek Staniewicz, Director of the Department of the Social Responsibility of Science at Łukasiewicz – PORT.
During the visit, BASF representatives toured the laboratories where young science enthusiasts create catalyst samples. For workshop needs, the institute reproduced—in microscale—the production processes used at BASF’s catalyst factory in Środa Śląska. This gives participants a unique opportunity to observe how theory translates into practice.
The guests emphasized that collaboration between science and industry is an investment in the future.
“Young people see that science helps solve real problems. We believe the best investment is an investment in education, which is why we want to share knowledge and inspire the next generation,” said Maciej Świerczyński, Site & Community Relations Manager, EMEA at BASF.
Anna Tarasewicz, Global HRBP & Board Member, BASF Catalyst Polska, added:
“We want to show young people that their future can be connected to science and technology. It’s a way to spark curiosity and build competencies needed both in research and in industry.”
A new edition of the BASF ECMS Academy will soon start at Łukasiewicz – PORT. This time, 400 students from grades 7–8 of primary schools and from high schools in Wrocław and the surrounding area will participate. During the workshops, students will learn about modern environmental technologies and prepare their own catalyst samples using methods developed by BASF experts.
Workshops are led by educators from Ogrody Doświadczeń (Experience Gardens) at Łukasiewicz – PORT. Participation is free of charge—BASF funds the program as part of its long-term commitment to education and local community engagement.
“Both sectors—science and industry—need well-educated, motivated young people. That’s why our shared goal is to inspire them and prepare them for their future careers,” concludes Prof. Bosy.
Łukasiewicz – PORT educators continue to develop new workshop concepts, and the institute remains open to similar partnerships with future collaborators.
