The Physics Education Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), organized a series of practitioner lectures for the Environmental Physics course on 19 and 26 November 2025. Conducted online via Zoom, the lectures featured experienced school teachers and conservation practitioners who are also alumni of UNNES. This initiative reflects the university’s commitment to implementing SDG 4 by promoting innovative, relevant, and inclusive learning in higher education.
The first practitioner lecture, held on 19 November 2025, featured Siti Handayani, M.Pd., a senior Physics teacher at SMAN 1 Semarang with more than 25 years of teaching experience. She shared insights into the common challenges of Physics learning, which is often perceived as difficult due to its strong emphasis on mathematical calculations. To address this issue, she introduced an Environment-Based Learning approach that integrates natural, social, and cultural environments as learning resources in Physics education. This approach encourages students to develop scientific thinking and environmental awareness, thereby contributing to SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production.
Through contextual learning activities, exploratory processes, and the creation of authentic student products, this approach demonstrates that effective Physics learning does not always require sophisticated laboratory facilities. She emphasized that teacher creativity plays a crucial role in motivating students and fostering meaningful learning experiences.
During the same session, Physics Education students presented creative projects that transformed waste materials into Physics teaching aids. These innovations demonstrated the practical application of the reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) principles and received positive appreciation for their relevance to environmental education and sustainability.
The second practitioner lecture, held on 26 November 2025, featured Nur Hamid, S.Si., a conservation practitioner and civil servant at the Ministry of Industry, currently serving at the Center for Standardization and Industrial Pollution Prevention Services (BBSPJPPI) in Semarang. In his presentation on scientific ethics and conservation, he emphasized the importance of ethical principles in scientific research and professional practice. He also highlighted the responsibility of scientists and educators to promote environmental conservation and sustainable practices, in line with SDG 13 on climate action.
Overall, the practitioner lecture series provided students with valuable insights into the practical implementation of environmental physics in schools and the ethical dimensions of conservation. The program also supports SDG 17 by strengthening partnerships between the university, alumni, schools, and government institutions in advancing sustainable development goals. Documentation of the practitioner lectures has been archived and is available through the internal learning platform for academic reflection and future reference.
