Semarang – Students of the Physics Education Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), carried out the Environmental Physics for Sustainable Development (EPISODE) program as part of the implementation of learning activities in the Environmental Physics course. The activity was supervised by Dr. Ellianawati, M.Si., the course lecturer, and conducted at SDN 1 Sekaran, Gunungpati District, on Tuesday, November 16, 2025.
The EPISODE program provided a platform for students to apply the results of their mini-research projects in the form of instructional teaching aids and learning products focused on waste processing and sustainability. Through this activity, students not only examined environmental physics concepts theoretically but also applied them contextually to address real environmental issues.
Over the two consecutive years of the EPISODE project implementation, the program has also involved an international partner from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, namely Mohammad Mubarrak Mohd. Yusof, M.Ed. The collaboration was realized through online reviews and evaluations of the innovative products developed by the students. This international partnership strengthened the academic quality of the EPISODE program and broadened students’ perspectives on the development of environmentally based learning media in a global context.
Various innovative products were developed during the activity, including a Mini Water Turbine, a solar-powered stove, and a simple thermometer, all of which serve as learning media for energy and temperature concepts. In addition, students also produced learning products utilizing waste and local resources, such as banana stem chips, liquid fertilizer made from orange peels, aromatherapy candles from used cooking oil, and natural cleaning solutions derived from betel leaves.
These products reflect the implementation of the reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) principles and contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). In line with these goals, the EPISODE program also supports the UNNES Conservation Pillars, particularly those related to environmental conservation, values and character development, as well as the preservation of science and technology.
The activity received positive feedback from the fifth-grade teachers of SDN 1 Sekaran. Ms. Isnona Arifdiyani, S.Pd., stated that the teaching aids developed by the students greatly assisted pupils in understanding science concepts in a concrete and enjoyable manner. Meanwhile, Mr. Muhammad Arifin Baihaqi, S.Pd., M.Pd., noted that the EPISODE program effectively fostered students’ environmental awareness from an early age through contextual and applicative learning experiences.
Dr. Ellianawati, M.Si. emphasized that the EPISODE program represents a form of project- and research-based learning that integrates science, education, and conservation values. “Students not only learn environmental physics concepts, but also practice communicating science to elementary school students through simple, environmentally friendly, and meaningful learning media,” she stated.
Through this activity, Physics Education students of UNNES are expected to further develop their competencies as prospective educators who possess strong scientific literacy, environmental awareness, and a commitment to sustainable development in accordance with UNNES’s vision as a conservation-oriented university.
