Engaging physics students with the key competencies for sustainability through reflective assessment tasks

Project leader(s):  Martin Braun

• Theme:  Innovative assessment
• Project faculties:  STEM
• Status:  Archived
• Date:  November 2023 to March 2026

This project reports on the design, implementation and evaluation of a sustainability-focused intervention across three undergraduate physics modules at different study levels. A bespoke VLE audit tool identified authentic integration points for Key Sustainability Competencies (KSCs) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), informing targeted revisions to study materials and assessment. Pre- and post-intervention surveys, supplemented by a contemporaneous control group, examined changes in sustainability-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours (KAB). Findings indicate increased awareness of KSCs and SDGs and stronger recognition of sustainability relevance within physics modules. Behavioural change was limited but included small increases in selected energy-saving practices. Attitudinal measures did not show consistent improvement. The study demonstrates that sustainability can be embedded in discipline-authentic ways without major structural redesign, while highlighting the challenges of influencing attitudes and behaviours through short curriculum interventions.

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