UNDERGRADUATE PHYSICS EDUCATION STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION ON SOIL POLLUTION: AN ACTION RESEARCH IN INDONESIAN UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The aim of the research is to find out the Indonesian undergraduate Physics education students’ perception on soil pollution and climate change through watching a Netflix documentary about the first viable, low-cost way to reverse climate change through soil. Action research was conducted in Physics Education study program at two universities in East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. University 1 is a public university and university 2 is a private university. The number of students involved in university 1 and 2 were 36 and 7 students respectively. The research was conducted in the setting of Environmental Physics unit which was offered in both universities during February to June 2024. At university 1, the unit was offered for first year (second semester) students while the students enrolled for the unit at university 2 was second year (fourth semester) students. This paper focused on the 8^th class meeting when students learned about soil pollution. The qualitative content analysis shows some points as follows. First, most students at university 1 and all students at university 1 felt worry, afraid, guilty about and angry at the people who cause soil pollution and climate change after watching the movie. Next, most students at university 1 and half of the students at university 2 do not feel bored when discussing about the soil pollution and climate change. Most students at university 1 and all students at university 2 felt hopeful that soil pollution and climate change can be minimized and felt empowered to take action to minimize soil pollution and climate change. When it comes to commitment to take personal action, most students at university 1 and all students at university 2 committed to make lifestyle choices that have minimal negative impacts on land pollution and climate change, to find out which products and services have minimal impact on soil pollution and climate change, to talk to friends and family about issues related to climate change so that we can all become aware of what needs to be done to address soil pollution and climate change, and to challenge politicians and businesses to do more to tackle soil pollution and climate change. In terms of taking group action, most students at university 1 and all students at university 2 stated their willingness to become member of local or national youth forums that promote to solve soil pollution and climate change issues, to seek opportunities to participate in national and international decision-making on soil pollution and climate change issues, and to participate in public demonstrations (e.g., climate strikes) to support movements to address soil pollution and climate change. However, it was very challenging for most students in both universities to elaborate their willingness to take group action since only very few students stated it. The process of using a documentary movie in teaching and learning activity for Physics education students was powerful to some degree since it encourages students to voice their mind and show their reaction.