Physics of Sound to Raise Awareness for Sustainable Development Goals in the Context of STEM Hands-On Activities

Abstract

This paper aims to present an interdisciplinary approach intended to raise awareness for Sustainable Development Goals in the context of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) hands-on activities targeted to elementary and secondary school. In particular, contents related to the physics of sound are used to warn about the dangers of noise pollution and its consequences for health, well-being, and productivity. Therefore, it is crucial to inform and raise community awareness on this issue, as well as on the measures needed to prevent its consequences. This research is inserted in a broader pedagogical project that includes primary school and secondary school teachers’ professional development and visits to schools to perform several hands-on activities in class aiming to provide students with 21st-century skills related to STEM education. Based on the literature, questionnaires, and participant observation, an empirical study was conducted with teachers who participated in a professional development programme. It is concluded that teachers and students understood the dangers of noise pollution and the measures to be taken to prevent them. Therefore, higher education institutions have a crucial role in the community, namely, through partnerships with schools and teachers’ training centres to raise awareness and disseminate and increase Sustainable Development practices in the community.