STEM education, environment, and industries – Toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal through a knowledge transfer programme

¹ School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
² Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
³ Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Process Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia
⁴ Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
⁵ State University of Jakarta, Physics Education Program, Rawamangun, Kota Jakarta Timur, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 13220, Indonesia
⁶ State University of Surabaya, Physics Education Program, Surabaya 60213, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: mabhadi@utm.my

Abstract

STEM education is important for protecting the environment. However, efforts to educate industries on environmental protection should be made to ensure sustainable practices within those industries. This study aims to report on efforts made to educate an industry on environmental protection using the case of wastewater treatment technology through a knowledge transfer programme (KTP) by a university. The KTP was conducted to expose industrial players, who were the research participants, to the issue of protecting the environment through the introduction of new technology in treating industrial wastewater. The main content included sharing knowledge on current bio-based technology and how the industry may be able to adopt the new technology for environmental protection. The participants were also exposed to a national study on the need for new technology in wastewater treatment. After the programme, they assessed the programme’s effectiveness and the outcomes. The key finding is that the KTP has increased the participants’ knowledge and awareness of the importance of adopting new technology in wastewater treatment as a means for achieving sustainable cities and communities. This effort is critical to ensuring the success of translating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among industries.