New Perspectives in Science Education

Integrating sustainability perspectives into technical education is essential for preparing students to address environmental challenges [1]. This study presents the third intervention of a pedagogical project at Kristianstad University Sweden designed to integrate Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) into practical teaching. The intervention was implemented in the course Water Treatment System - Drinking Water at Kristianstad University. The aim was to connect theoretical understanding of sustainability with laboratory-based learning. To achieve this, a new online module, Water and Sustainable Development, was introduced together with additional reading material on sustainability [2] and a mandatory preparatory Zoom seminar. During the seminar, 17 students discussed global and local water-related challenges in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The subsequent on-campus laboratory session included analysis of drinking water samples, followed by an extended discussion linking the experimental work to the SDGs and Sweden’s national environmental objectives. Students rated the digital seminar and campus sessions highly (4.4 and 4.3 on a five-point scale), and 88% reported that the integrated discussions increased their understanding of the connection between laboratory work and sustainability. Reflections showed that students initially focused mainly on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) but gradually expanded their reasoning to include goals such as SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). The results indicate that combining theoretical preparation, guided discussions, and sustainability-labeled laboratory materials can enhance student engagement and understanding of sustainability issues. This intervention represents an important step toward linking theory and practice in ESD, though continued efforts and recurrent activities across the curriculum are needed for students to fully internalize sustainable thinking and behavior.