Khon Kaen University - SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Science in Physics

SDG Alignment for Bachelor of Science in Physics

Overall SDG Alignment Evaluation:

The Bachelor of Science in Physics program is fundamentally aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals by providing the foundational scientific principles that underpin technological advancement, environmental understanding, and innovation. The curriculum's philosophy, which emphasizes rigorous scientific inquiry, analytical problem-solving, and the application of physical laws to real-world phenomena, makes it a powerful contributor to numerous SDGs. The program is a cornerstone of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), with core courses in thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and nuclear physics providing the scientific basis for new energy and materials technologies. It directly addresses critical environmental challenges related to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) through the study of atmospheric physics and geophysics. Furthermore, the curriculum is a flagship of SDG 4 (Quality Education), supports human health through medical physics (SDG 3), and prepares graduates for high-value careers that drive economic growth (SDG 8).

SDG Related Course(s)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

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Alignment Summary: The curriculum directly supports good health and well-being through the specialized field of medical physics. This area applies the principles of physics to develop and improve medical imaging technologies and radiation therapy, which are essential tools for diagnosing and treating diseases like cancer.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC514661	Medical Physics	Directly supports good health by applying physics principles to medicine, particularly in the development and use of technologies for medical diagnosis and cancer therapy (Target 3.4).
SC513331	Nuclear Physics	Provides the fundamental science behind technologies like radiation therapy and nuclear medicine imaging (PET, SPECT), which are critical for treating non-communicable diseases (Target 3.4).

SDG 4: Quality Education

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

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC514891	Seminar	Enhances education for sustainable development by requiring students to research and present on advanced physics topics, fostering the skills for critical thinking and lifelong learning (Target 4.7).
SC514892	Special Project	Provides quality education by enabling students to conduct independent research, applying the scientific method to solve complex problems and create new knowledge (Target 4.7).
SC000213	Co-operative Education in Science	Increases 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: Clean Water and Sanitation

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to the understanding and management of water resources through geophysics. This field uses physical methods to study subsurface structures, which is essential for mapping groundwater aquifers and monitoring water-related ecosystems.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC514641	Geophysics	Supports the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems by providing techniques to study groundwater systems and the physical properties of the earth that control water flow (Target 6.6).

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

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Alignment Summary: This curriculum is central to the development of affordable and clean energy. It provides the core scientific principles behind all major energy technologies, including renewable sources like solar and wind, as well as nuclear energy. Courses in thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and nuclear physics are fundamental to advancing clean energy solutions.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC512221	Thermodynamics	Directly supports the goal of improving energy efficiency by teaching the fundamental laws of heat and energy conversion, which are critical for designing efficient power plants and engines (Target 7.3).
SC513331	Nuclear Physics	Contributes to increasing the share of clean energy by providing the scientific foundation for nuclear power, a major source of low-carbon electricity (Target 7.2).
SC512211	Electricity and Magnetism	Supports research and access to clean energy technology by teaching the principles of electromagnetism, which are essential for generators, motors, and solar cell technology (Target 7.A).
SC514614	Alternative Energy	Directly focuses on ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy by exploring various forms of renewable energy sources and the physics behind them (Target 7.2).

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

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Alignment Summary: The program fuels economic growth by producing graduates with high-level analytical and technical skills for a wide range of industries, including technology, energy, manufacturing, and research. It promotes decent work by instilling a strong culture of laboratory safety and professional ethics.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC514623	Materials Science	Contributes to higher levels of economic productivity through technological upgrading and innovation by providing the knowledge to develop new and improved materials for industry (Target 8.2).

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

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Alignment Summary: Physics is the foundational science that drives innovation in all technological and engineering fields. This program is fundamentally about fostering innovation by providing the knowledge to understand the physical world, create new technologies, develop new materials, and conduct the basic research that leads to technological breakthroughs.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC513311	Electronics	Supports sustainable industrialization and innovation by teaching the principles of electronic circuits, which are the building blocks of all modern technology and infrastructure (Target 9.4).
SC514623	Materials Science	Enhances scientific research by focusing on the properties and applications of materials, which is essential for developing new technologies and upgrading industry (Target 9.5).
SC514892	Special Project	Supports scientific research and innovation by training students in the process of discovery and development of new physical knowledge and technological applications (Target 9.5).

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

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Alignment Summary: The program contributes to making cities more resilient and sustainable through the study of atmospheric physics and geophysics. This knowledge is crucial for understanding urban weather patterns, air pollution, and the geological stability of land for safe and sustainable urban development.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC514641	Geophysics	Contributes to making human settlements safe and resilient by assessing geological conditions and hazards for urban planning and infrastructure development (Target 11.3 & 11.5).
SC514642	Atmospheric Physics	Contributes to reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities by studying the physics of the atmosphere, which is essential for understanding and mitigating urban air pollution (Target 11.6).

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

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Alignment Summary: The curriculum promotes responsible production by providing the physical principles for the efficient use of energy and materials. The study of thermodynamics and materials science is key to designing more efficient industrial processes that minimize waste and resource consumption.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC512221	Thermodynamics	Promotes the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources by teaching the laws of energy efficiency, which can be applied to reduce energy consumption in production processes (Target 12.2).

SDG 13: Climate Action

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Alignment Summary: The program provides the essential scientific knowledge to understand and combat climate change. The study of atmospheric physics is critical for modeling the climate system and understanding the impacts of greenhouse gases, while thermodynamics is key to developing more energy-efficient technologies to mitigate climate change.

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC514642	Atmospheric Physics	Improves education and awareness-raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and impact reduction by teaching the fundamental physics of the Earth's climate system (Target 13.3).
SC512221	Thermodynamics	Contributes to climate change mitigation by providing the principles to improve energy efficiency, which is a key strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (Target 13.2).

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

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

Course Code	Course Title	Alignment Rationale
SC000213	Co-operative Education in Science	Directly encourages and promotes effective public-private and civil society partnerships by immersing students in real-world industrial and research environments (Target 17.17).
SC514892	Special Project	Enhances the global partnership for sustainable development by contributing new, publicly accessible scientific knowledge and often involves collaboration with other researchers and institutions (Target 17.6).