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Khon Kaen University

Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Science in Chemistry

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry program is holistically and fundamentally aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, serving as a cornerstone for scientific innovation, environmental stewardship, and industrial progress. The curriculum's philosophy, which emphasizes a deep understanding of molecular science, research skills, and the application of chemical principles to solve real-world problems, makes it a powerful contributor to the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. The program's core strength lies in its profound connection to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through its focus on green chemistry, industrial processes, and materials science. It directly addresses critical environmental challenges related to SDG 6 (Clean Water), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Furthermore, the curriculum is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education) and supports human health (SDG 3) and food security (SDG 2) through its contributions to medicine and agriculture.

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 2 Icon SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Alignment Summary: The program contributes to food security by providing the chemical knowledge necessary for sustainable agriculture. Understanding food chemistry, soil chemistry, and analytical techniques is essential for improving food quality, safety, and production efficiency.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC103362Food ChemistrySupports food security by analyzing the chemical composition of foods, which is essential for developing safe, nutritious, and stable food products (Target 2.1 & 2.2).

SDG 3 Icon SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

Alignment Summary: The curriculum directly supports good health by providing the foundational science for medicine and pharmacology. The study of organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry is critical for drug discovery, medical diagnostics, and understanding the molecular basis of disease.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC103232Organic Chemistry IIIs fundamental to the development of new medicines and treatments for diseases by focusing on the synthesis and reactions of organic molecules (Target 3.B).
SC103342Analytical Chemistry IIContributes to good health by teaching advanced instrumental techniques used in clinical laboratories for disease diagnosis and monitoring (Target 3.D).
SC103433Biochemistry ISupports health and well-being by providing a deep understanding of the chemical processes within living organisms, which is crucial for medical research.

SDG 4 Icon SDG 4: Quality Education

Alignment Summary: As a fundamental science program, the curriculum itself is a vehicle for high-quality education. It is designed to foster scientific literacy, critical thinking, and advanced research skills, equipping students with the knowledge and competencies for sustainable development and lifelong learning.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104891SeminarEnhances education for sustainable development by requiring students to research and present on advanced chemical topics, fostering the skills for lifelong learning (Target 4.7).
SC104892Special ProjectProvides quality education by enabling students to conduct independent research, applying the scientific method to solve problems and create new knowledge (Target 4.7).
SC000213Co-operative Education in ScienceIncreases the number of youths and adults who have relevant skills for employment by providing extensive, hands-on work experience in a scientific or industrial setting (Target 4.4).

SDG 6 Icon SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

Alignment Summary: The program provides the essential chemical expertise for ensuring clean water. The study of analytical and environmental chemistry is crucial for monitoring water quality, identifying pollutants, and developing new technologies for water treatment and purification.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC103342Analytical Chemistry IIDirectly supports the goal of clean water by teaching the instrumental methods used to detect and quantify pollutants in water sources (Target 6.3).
SC104543Environmental ChemistryContributes to the protection of water-related ecosystems by studying the chemical processes that affect water quality and the methods for pollution control (Target 6.6).

SDG 7 Icon SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Alignment Summary: This curriculum contributes to the development of affordable and clean energy by providing the fundamental science behind new energy technologies. Courses in electrochemistry, physical chemistry, and materials science are key to research in batteries, solar cells, and biofuels.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104523ElectrochemistryDirectly supports research and access to clean energy technology by focusing on the chemical processes that underpin batteries, fuel cells, and electrolysis (Target 7.A).
SC103322Physical Chemistry IIContributes to improving energy efficiency by studying thermodynamics and kinetics, which are essential for optimizing energy conversion processes (Target 7.3).

SDG 8 Icon SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Alignment Summary: The program fuels economic growth by producing highly skilled chemists for a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, energy, and materials. It promotes decent work by instilling a strong culture of laboratory safety and professional ethics.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104561Industrial ChemistryContributes to higher levels of economic productivity through technological upgrading and innovation by teaching the chemical principles behind large-scale industrial manufacturing (Target 8.2).
SC100103Safety in Chemical LaboratoryPromotes decent work by ensuring a safe and secure working environment for all workers through rigorous training in laboratory safety procedures (Target 8.8).

SDG 9 Icon SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

Alignment Summary: Chemistry is the central science that drives innovation across nearly all industrial sectors. This program is fundamentally about fostering innovation by providing the knowledge to create new materials, develop cleaner industrial processes, and conduct the research necessary for technological breakthroughs.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104561Industrial ChemistryDirectly supports the upgrading of industrial infrastructure and the promotion of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes (Target 9.4).
SC104522Polymer ChemistryEnhances scientific research by focusing on the synthesis and properties of polymers, which are essential materials for countless industries (Target 9.5).
SC104892Special ProjectSupports scientific research and innovation by training students in the process of discovery and development of new chemical knowledge and applications (Target 9.5).

SDG 11 Icon SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Alignment Summary: The program contributes to sustainable cities by providing the chemical expertise to monitor and mitigate urban pollution. The study of environmental chemistry is crucial for managing air and water quality and for dealing with waste in human settlements.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104543Environmental ChemistryContributes to reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities by focusing on the chemical analysis and control of air, water, and soil pollution (Target 11.6).

SDG 12 Icon SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Alignment Summary: This curriculum strongly promotes responsible production patterns through its dedicated focus on Green Chemistry. It provides the principles and techniques to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances, which is the very definition of sustainable and responsible chemical production.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104562Green ChemistryIs the epitome of responsible production, directly focusing on achieving the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle to minimize their adverse impacts on human health and the environment (Target 12.4).
SC104561Industrial ChemistryPromotes the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by teaching how to optimize chemical processes to maximize yield and minimize waste (Target 12.2).
SC103342Analytical Chemistry IIEncourages companies to adopt sustainable practices by providing the quality control methods necessary to ensure product quality and process efficiency, thereby reducing waste (Target 12.6).

SDG 13 Icon SDG 13: Climate Action

Alignment Summary: The program provides the essential science for climate action. Environmental chemistry is key to monitoring greenhouse gases and understanding their atmospheric effects, while green chemistry offers pathways to develop industrial processes with a lower carbon footprint.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104543Environmental ChemistryImproves education and awareness-raising on climate change mitigation by studying the chemistry of the atmosphere and the processes related to greenhouse gases (Target 13.3).
SC104562Green ChemistryContributes to climate change mitigation by promoting energy efficiency and the use of renewable feedstocks in chemical manufacturing, which helps to integrate climate change measures into industrial practice (Target 13.2).

SDG 14 Icon SDG 14: Life Below Water

Alignment Summary: The program contributes to the conservation of aquatic ecosystems by providing the analytical tools to detect and measure water pollution. The study of environmental chemistry is crucial for understanding the fate of pollutants in marine environments and for developing strategies to mitigate their impact.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104543Environmental ChemistryHelps to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, by teaching how to identify, quantify, and manage chemical pollutants that can enter waterways (Target 14.1).

SDG 15 Icon SDG 15: Life On Land

Alignment Summary: The curriculum supports the protection of terrestrial ecosystems by providing the chemical expertise to understand and remediate soil pollution. Environmental chemistry is essential for assessing the impact of contaminants on land and for developing methods to restore degraded soils.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC104543Environmental ChemistryContributes to the restoration of degraded land and soil by providing the analytical methods to assess soil contamination and the chemical principles behind remediation technologies (Target 15.3).

SDG 17 Icon SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Alignment Summary: The program fosters partnerships through its cooperative education and research projects, which create a vital bridge between the university and chemical industries, research institutions, and environmental agencies. This collaboration is essential for sharing knowledge and technology to achieve the SDGs.

Course CodeCourse TitleAlignment Rationale
SC000213Co-operative Education in ScienceDirectly encourages and promotes effective public-private and civil society partnerships by immersing students in real-world industrial and research environments (Target 17.17).
SC104892Special ProjectEnhances the global partnership for sustainable development by contributing new, publicly accessible scientific knowledge and often involves collaboration with industrial partners (Target 17.6).