Hyderabad, India — More than a thousand schoolchildren from municipal schools in Hyderabad are learning about climate action by doing it themselves: purifying water, running simple chemistry experiments and discovering how small everyday actions can help protect the planet.
The BASF Kids’ Lab, held from 26 to 31 October 2026 in collaboration with the CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT) in Hyderabad, is expected to engage 1,150 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12. The programme pairs hands-on chemistry with lessons in sustainability, environmental protection and climate action.
A week of hands-on climate science
The Hyderabad edition takes place at CSIR-IICT, with support from the Education Department of the Government of Telangana, which helped identify and facilitate participation by government schools. Through age-appropriate experiments and interactive learning modules, the children explore environmental sustainability and see for themselves how small actions can contribute to a more sustainable future.
One of the favourite activities, according to the organisers, is the water purification experiment. Gouthami, a student at Government High School, Peteri, said the session was enjoyable and educational, and that the volunteers explained the concepts in a simple and friendly manner. She said she had learned many new things, wanted to share the knowledge with friends and family, and would try to use what she learned about climate action in daily life.
Key facts
- What: BASF Kids’ Lab, a hands-on chemistry and climate education programme for children aged 8 to 12.
- Where and when: Hyderabad, India, 26 to 31 October 2026, at CSIR-IICT.
- Who takes part: 1,150 schoolchildren from municipal schools, with support from the Telangana Education Department.
- Partners: BASF and CSIR-IICT, a premier research institution under India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
- Reach in India: Running since 2004, the programme has reached more than 62,000 schoolchildren across India and operates in more than 30 countries worldwide.
Why climate education matters now
The Hyderabad week comes just days before COP31 opens in Antalya, Türkiye, on 9 November 2026, where governments will negotiate the next steps in global climate action. Organisers say the aim is to help the next generation become informed and responsible innovators who understand the role of science in addressing real-world challenges.
Kim Höffken, Managing Director of BASF Digital Solutions Private Limited, said children learn best when they can explore, experiment and discover for themselves, and that connecting chemistry with sustainability and climate action can inspire young minds to ask questions and think critically. Dr D. Srinivasa Reddy, Director of CSIR-IICT, said such initiatives offer invaluable learning experiences, particularly for students from government schools, by nurturing scientific curiosity and environmental responsibility.
Climate education is also part of the wider run-up to COP31: the United Nations-backed Verified for Climate programme is bringing creators and scientists together at the summit to counter climate misinformation, as Watan News reported earlier.
A programme with a long reach
The Kids’ Lab programme was first introduced in India in 2004. As part of BASF India’s corporate social responsibility initiative, it was relaunched in 2023 with a renewed focus on climate protection. Since then it has been held in Chennai, Navi Mumbai, Mangalore, Bengaluru and Delhi, and has reached rural and tribal children in Nashik district.
Dr Reddy linked the Hyderabad collaboration to CSIR’s Jigyasa programme, which promotes experiential science education among schoolchildren, and thanked the Telangana Education Department for its support in bringing government schools into the programme.
The organisers say the goal is simple: children who understand the science behind climate change today are more likely to become the responsible citizens and climate champions of tomorrow.
